Sure, most bloggers are happy about the election…but you know, I’m not. To not comment on Proposition 8 seems negligent as a lesbian blogger….So, I’ll say my peace and move along. I’m a realist.
I understand that most people would far rather pay $5 for a download of me and my gf having sex than to actually support us making a commitment, that ministers browse my site but vote against me, and that millions of middle-american housewives are content to dance with Ellen…but not allow her to have a personal life of her choosing.
I had this moment watching the Democratic Vice-Presidential debates where I sat with my girlfriend and we watched as both Joe Biden and Sarah Palin agreed that gays shouldn’t marry, but should have rights. It was a real “suck” moment – it seemed to take the oppression of those gays to bring the parties together. I wanted to vomit when they both shared an awkward chuckle at my expense.
This election, on the surface we seem to have made great strides. We have a President-Elect of mixed ethnic background who won both the popular and electoral votes. He says a lot of great things…but the one thing he says that seemed to cost us was that, while he supports having equal rights for gay and lesbian people, he believes marriage is between a man and a woman. Although I understand why gay people support him (after all he does advocate some rights), I did wonder why they did with such enthusiasm.
Think about it. While Obama won by a landslide in California, many of the same people who voted for his change and his unifying message also voted for Proposition 8, which actively will take away the right of gay and lesbian people to marry. They didn’t get the message…or maybe, in part, they did. We’re still not equal.
I don’t blame Obama for this…but I don’t think he’s the next Messiah either. That right is reserved for Gisele, my girlfriend in french lingerie, and maybe Angelina pre-Brad.
Excuse me for saying so, but I’m kind of sick of settling for “some” recognition, or “some” rights. Truth is, there wasn’t one candidate of the two that actually advocated for us as equals.
Maybe it’s too much to ask. Too much to be seen as a committed couple the same as anyone else, too much to be seen as having a family worthy of having the same name of “marriage” under the federal and state governments, or too much to just be able to call my spouse “my wife.” Is it really that bad?
As I watched the faces of those who cheered when Obama won…and then watched the faces of those who cheered as Proposition 8 was passed, I wondered….what is happening here?
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
I feel the same way. I’m not much fond of being “tolerated.”
You made some good point here Juls. There has been massive media coverage of the Presidential race in Ireland, as there has been around the World. I think it’s accepted by many that neither candidate were the “ideal”. Both have policies which are questionable but I think gay voters were always going to turn to Obama as partial recognition is better than the alternative- McCain and homophobic Palin! By the way- totally agree with you on the pre-Brad Angelina!
Well said. I’m Canadian and I will never forget what our Prime Minister said right before gay marriage became legal in Canada: ‘you cannot cherry-pick human rights.’
The mere idea that you can vote on a basic human right is ridiculous. Seems that your feds only treat you equally when they want your tax dollars.
In conclusion, please send all your lesbians up north. :)
Great points here. Even though I am not from CA, or even FL OR AZ where they also banned gay marriage I took it real personal. It doesn’t sink in with me…at all. Why? Why are we not equal? Why are we still considered second class citizens? Why are we not deserving of equal rights? How can a group of people so ignorant take our rights away? I personally would never want to cast a vote knowing I would be taking rights away someones basic rights. I feel we’ve taken many steps backwards in this election. Not that anyone really notices…oh yeah except us.
So true. As much as I cheered for Obama’s victory, my heart aches for the anti gay legislature that passed in CA, AZ, FL, and AR (AR passed a law prevented gay couples from fostering or adopting). The only option I have is to place some trust in President Obama, that he can lead the way to eliminating some of these backwards mistakes.
“Truth is, there wasn’t one candidate of the two that actually advocated for us as equals.”
Obama has said on the record that he does not believe that homosexuality (or I suppose, by extension, bisexuality) is immoral. He can get away with saying that, apparently, but if he had said at any point that he actively supported gay marriage, he would have lost this election. Remember 2004? Gay marriage is the issue that weighed most heavily on Americans’ minds, and favor it they did not. Why gay marriage was a more important issue than the war in Iraq is something I will never understand, but in any case, had Obama gone the route of the Gay Champion, he’d still be a community organizer in Chicago. I rather prefer it the way things now stand.
As for myself, I’m hoping to immigrate to Canada with my boyfriend after a few more years of school. If that plan fails, there’s always Massachusetts. Anything would be better than remaining in Texas. Including suicide.
KC
Beautifully written and you are 100% right on! While I am still so sad and disappointed, I do feel a bit better after reading your post.
For most of the election, I supported Obama, that is, until my school paper did an article on the candidate’s views. It completely changed my perspective. I was so convinced that Obama was the one who would protect my rights, and let me get married sometime in the future, and it was heartbreaking to realize that nobody running supported our rights.