Let's talk about sex
Or more accurately, same-sex.
As today's Washington Post reports, on Thursday South Africa's highest court recognized the constitutional legality of same-sex marriage, and gave the nation's Parliament no more than twelve months "to extend legal marital rights to all same-sex couples." In fact, the only dissent was from a justice who felt that a year was too long to wait, and that existing prohibitions on same-sex marriage should be overturned immediately.
I can't help but second Andrew Sullivan's observation that:
I mean, really, I just don't get it. To this day I've yet to hear one convincing, factual argument for the increasing marginalization and persecution of this group of fellow human beings, who differ from the straight population in no respect other than their God-given sexual orientation.
Let me say that once again. Their God-given sexual orientation.
Why, even a majority of those who oppose same-sex unions acknowledge that none of us choose our sexuality. It is a force beyond our control, no more a voluntary selection than the color of our skin. How then can we as a culture continue to justify this ridiculous campaign of legislated prejudice against our fellow citizens for a single characteristic which is A) nobody's business; B) nothing more than an accident of birth; and C) nothing less than a recurring aspect of the rich and varied fabric of human existence that's been around since... well, since human existence?!
So I challenge conservative readers of this column to step up to the plate and offer some compelling arguments as to why monogamous couples in love should be denied the right to participate in this joyous ritual of commitment called marriage, simply for the particular way in which their puzzle pieces fit. These are our neighbors, our friends, our children, after all, individuals who, according to many of you, have been "intelligently designed" to be exactly who they are by the Big Kahuna himself.
And if I'm preaching to the choir here, I'd ask that liberal visitors send this link to their conservative friends, and ask them to offer some manner of coherent response to the question at hand.
I really want to know what the homophobes responsible for America's deplorable, ongoing bigotry against the gay community have in their corner that remotely resembles fact, reason, or even simple human compassion. You know, something other than the usual disingenuous litany of "the foundation of society" and "for reproduction of the species" and "they're a danger to the children" and "the Bible told me so", all of which have been repeatedly shown to be as rooted in truth as our reasons for invading Iraq.
The alarming, officially-sanctioned policy of apartheid against our gay brothers and sisters must end, and soon. If not, it may truly be time to rethink whether the label "American" is a source of pride, or a badge of shame.
As today's Washington Post reports, on Thursday South Africa's highest court recognized the constitutional legality of same-sex marriage, and gave the nation's Parliament no more than twelve months "to extend legal marital rights to all same-sex couples." In fact, the only dissent was from a justice who felt that a year was too long to wait, and that existing prohibitions on same-sex marriage should be overturned immediately.
I can't help but second Andrew Sullivan's observation that:
Who would have guessed twenty years ago that the land of apartheid would now be ahead of the United States in its support for civil rights and equal protection of laws?Compare the news from Johannesburg with this story from the good ol' American heartland (an ironic nickname these days, if ever there was one). Republican Senator Thomas E. Brinkman Jr. of Ohio is suing one of the state's top colleges, because it provides benefits to long-term partners of the university's gay employees. In an article published Monday, The Chronicle of Higher Education writes:
An Ohio lawmaker has filed a lawsuit alleging that Miami University's policy of offering benefits to its employees' same-sex domestic partners violates an amendment to the state's Constitution banning civil unions. The suit puts Ohio among a growing number of states where the ability of public colleges to offer such benefits has been challenged in state legislatures or the courts... Laws or constitutional amendments prohibiting same-sex marriage have been adopted by 45 states, 41 of them since 1996.45 states. Good Lord, what a petty, pathetic, paranoid society America has become. There's no denying that this is our apartheid - or that the entire nation should be thoroughly ashamed of those numbers.
I mean, really, I just don't get it. To this day I've yet to hear one convincing, factual argument for the increasing marginalization and persecution of this group of fellow human beings, who differ from the straight population in no respect other than their God-given sexual orientation.
Let me say that once again. Their God-given sexual orientation.
Why, even a majority of those who oppose same-sex unions acknowledge that none of us choose our sexuality. It is a force beyond our control, no more a voluntary selection than the color of our skin. How then can we as a culture continue to justify this ridiculous campaign of legislated prejudice against our fellow citizens for a single characteristic which is A) nobody's business; B) nothing more than an accident of birth; and C) nothing less than a recurring aspect of the rich and varied fabric of human existence that's been around since... well, since human existence?!
So I challenge conservative readers of this column to step up to the plate and offer some compelling arguments as to why monogamous couples in love should be denied the right to participate in this joyous ritual of commitment called marriage, simply for the particular way in which their puzzle pieces fit. These are our neighbors, our friends, our children, after all, individuals who, according to many of you, have been "intelligently designed" to be exactly who they are by the Big Kahuna himself.
And if I'm preaching to the choir here, I'd ask that liberal visitors send this link to their conservative friends, and ask them to offer some manner of coherent response to the question at hand.
I really want to know what the homophobes responsible for America's deplorable, ongoing bigotry against the gay community have in their corner that remotely resembles fact, reason, or even simple human compassion. You know, something other than the usual disingenuous litany of "the foundation of society" and "for reproduction of the species" and "they're a danger to the children" and "the Bible told me so", all of which have been repeatedly shown to be as rooted in truth as our reasons for invading Iraq.
The alarming, officially-sanctioned policy of apartheid against our gay brothers and sisters must end, and soon. If not, it may truly be time to rethink whether the label "American" is a source of pride, or a badge of shame.
posted by Bob P @ 4:00 AM
2 Comments:
One minor correction. You stated:
"Why, even opponents of same-sex unions acknowledge that not any one of us chooses our sexuality."
Well, that's not completely true. Your buddy Jimmy Dobson believes it is a chosen way of life that can be corrected through the appropriate "teaching."
Not everyone believes sexual preference is oprdained at birth, and I bet behind closed doors many who "say" they believe it publicly, are doubters in private.
Otherwise, the trend in the US towards banning civil unions would have no basis at all.
There's always a reason - and hypocracy is usually a contributing factor.
Many people can talk the talk, but...
Good observation. I'm guilty here of a slight generalization - although this statement has been made publicly by many who contend in the same breath that they have a mission to "protect marriage."
I guess my point was more about the tacit admission of this lack of choice inherent in even Dobson's belief that God is the grand architect of everything on this Earth, and that we are all created in His image. Obviously, that "image" has included homosexuality since the dawn of time.
Of course, as you correctly point out, "hypocrisy is usually a contributing factor."
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