Yeah, I'm a Brit and it's none of my business, but I'm so pleased that the Supreme Court ruled in favour of marriage equality. And almost equally pleased that the religious right have had their bigotry shoved up their collective arse!
Love & best wishes to all
Sammy B
Love & best wishes to all
Sammy B
Hello Sammy
ReplyDeleteLike yourself, I was pleased to hear of the recent Supreme Courts ruling. However, I think it's far from being the end of the matter. Despite numerous court rulings and changes to laws over the years, hate crimes and bigotry are still endemic in many parts of the world, including the USA and the UK. So I wouldn't be surprised if, before very long, we start to hear of gay marriages being interrupted by protests and demonstrations, or even, perish the thought, even worse. Particularly in some of the more, shall we say, "bible-belt" states.
You can change laws, sometimes in very short order, but changing the mindset of religiously motivated bigots will probably never happen.
While equality in marriage is obviously a step in the right direction, I don't see it furthering our cause any. In fact, as the previously "persecuted" gay couples settle down in their new cloak of repectabilty, they will, no doubt, join in with the hysteria and vitriol that is all too often directed in our direction.
Tom Robinson once wrote in one of his songs: "The buggers are legal now, what more are they after?"
To paraphrase music hall legend, Al Jolson - "We ain't seen nothing, yet" !
Warmest regrads - Dave
Hello Dave
DeleteOf course, the Supreme Court ruling is no panacea, but it is a big step forward, as far as I'm concerned. I'm sure you're right in saying that some bigots, whether religiously motivated or otherwise, will never accept the legitimacy of marriage equality, just as some unreconstructed racists still oppose interracial marriage, but, as same-sex couples become 'part of the landscape', I'm sure they'll eventually come as much figures of derision as the 'race warriors'.
As you say, though, none of that has any benefit for us, we'll still be just as reviled as ever. I might be rather more optimistic than you for the overall LGBT 'community', but I have not the least expectation that anything will change in our case, except for the worse, in my lifetime.
Love & best wishes
Sammy B
I don't share thedavefrom1952's view that things will be awful going on. I suspect things will even out as soon as the dang religious right realizes that not one of us cares to intrude on their bigoted churches for marrying us. Quite frankly, even as a Christian, I doubt I'd want a church wedding, even at an accepting church. I actually saw a rainbow flag hanging from a local church's sign along a main road near my house today. So they're not all bad, but the loudest always get the face time.
ReplyDeleteYAY FOR US! C'mon, Sammy, let's set the wedding date!
Peace <3
Jay
Hello Jay
DeleteAs I said to Dave, once same-sex marriages become commonplace, they'll become 'invisible', too, in a sociological sense, rather than being a huge 'issue' as has been the case hitherto. And I'm sure even church weddings will be available, too, for those who want them, at more inclusive places like your local church, although, from my perspective, both as gay and an atheist, I can't see why anyone would.
And as for me getting married again? Isn't going to happen, for reasons that you're well aware of.
Love & best wishes
Sammy B
I sincerely hope I'm wrong to speculate about such disruption occuring on what should be the happiest day of anyones life. Yes, I'm sure the debate will go on, and no doubt extreme views will continue to be expressed. But hopefully, as Jay suggests, things will even themselves out.
ReplyDeleteTo anyone contemplating marriage or partnership, I would say: "if it's what you want and it makes you happy, that's all that really matters".
For myself, it isn't an option.
Warmest regards - Dave
Hello Dave
DeleteI would imagine that the first wedding or two, especially in more 'conservative' areas, might attract attention - hopefully positive as well as negative - but when the majority of people see the 'happy couple(s)' settling down and going about their business without the sky falling in, subsequent ceremonies should fall into the 'just another day' category.
And, as with you, it isn't going to be me being part of any of them. Whatever else, a settled relationship with anyone we would want to be with is never going to be feasible. Sadly.
Love & best wishes
Sammy B
Don't leave out the 'Obamacare' SCOTUS ruling, or the Confederate flag being taken down in South Carolina...conservative Republican heads are exploding all across our country...I *love* it!!!
ReplyDeleteThey wil no longer be able to use these things as 'wedge' issues with which to fear-monger voters.
But now the backlash is sure to include lobbying for 'religious freedom' which is simply a thinly-veiled euphemism for discrimination of LGBT folk.
The biggest conundrum for me, however, is that even as Obama cements his legacy with these sweeping social changes, he seems ready to torpedo it with his dogged allegiance to the odious TPP deal.
Stay tuned...
:-)
-Andy
Hello Andy
DeleteI regularly read a blog called Despatches From the Culture Wars which keeps me well up to date with issues that exercise the religious right (and just plain hard-right ideologues), to the extent that I probably know more about what's going on over there in this subject area than I do about equivalent topics in good old Blighty! And, of course, progress in areas other than marriage equality that enhance the development of a more just society are very welcome indeed. I have to admit, though, that I hadn't even heard of the TPP deal until I read your comment, and know nothing about it beyond what I read after a very brief Google search a few minutes ago. Economic illiteracy? Mea culpa!
Love & best wishes
Sammy B