Yes we did, but we're by no means done.

[kjpepper]

Read this on Katrina Gamble's facebook. She was a Lamontster at Smith with a bunch of us... and this was so well said that I needed to yoink and repost.

"While my Obama high can't be taken at this moment, I did have to pause when the results came in on the state propositions. I was beyond disappointed to find that Prop 8 is likely to pass in California and to learn that Florida and my home state, Arizona, passed constitutional amendments banning gay marriage. And Arkansas essentially banned gay adoption and fostering. What makes this even more bittersweet is that the same high black turnout that helped elect Obama also likely helped pass these discriminatory measures. Exit polls showed that 70 percent of African Americans supported Prop 8 compared to 47 percent of whites. As a black lesbian it is tough sometimes, to put it mildly, to maneuver in these two communities that are often at odds with each other.

"One step forward, but many many more to be taken. I truly believe in Obama's message of HOPE, so I am HOPEFUL that soon LGBTI people will achieve full equality. Obama says he wants to lead a MOVEMENT for change, which means we can't become complacent post-election. There is much more work to be done. Another day, another fight."

Oh dear me yes. Yes. Preach sister, yes. That's the thing to remember folks. This is just the beginning, and while I fully advocate and approve of the raucous celebration that is going on worldwide, we cannot rest on our laurels. The passing of Prop 8, and the insanely racist comments in response to Obama's acceptance speech on youtube, and the fact that Obama is entering the Presidency with the country pretty much in shreds that he and his administration have to painstakingly piece back together shows this. Change only began to happen last night, folks - if we want it to stick around, we all have to shove up our sleeves and keep fighting for it today, tomorrow, and every single day.

So. Lets get off our jaded, apathetic duffs and get cracking. This is our country, lets make it what we want it to be.

Comments

[nieceytee.livejournal.com]

Exactly. May I yank your post for my livejournal? I know two same sex couples that lost their marriage status last night in California. This needs to stop, and the wtfuckery must be addressed.

[kjpepper.livejournal.com]

sure. :)

[nieceytee.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[sixswordsamurai.livejournal.com]

gays marrying. that never REALLY happens does it?

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gays marrying. that never REALLY happens does it?

<_< >_>

*runs away*

[kjpepper.livejournal.com]

Hey to some people, it's important. I'm personally against civil marriage entirely, as I really don't like having the government on any level having anything to do with people's personal lives, and the primary benefit I can see for it would be rendered null and void by a universal health care plan. But I know taking marriage off the books ain't gonna happen, so I'd rather have everyone have at least the option of doing so.

[sixswordsamurai.livejournal.com]

Nope. It's not null and void. If people pay for the premium care, their partner can get on it, and not have to wait on long assed lines to get care.

I think Civil unions are really the ONLY way to go. Basicly what you're doing in the eyes of the government is becoming an incorporated unit, and should be able to be given X benefits as part of being in this corporation. It should be legal to do that on ALL levels of relationship. Then you can take it to any church you want, and get "married" or "blessed" or whatever.

Prop 8 is a freakin Abomination that completely undercuts the "history" that was made last night.

Negros occasionally annoy me.

[prisoner007.livejournal.com]

You hit on the head. Even premium care doesn't guarantee your partner access to you if you're not married. The simple fact of the matter is that church has no place in the "legal marriage" business due to the separation of church and state. Civil marriages should be entirely different legal situations than religious marriages.

[sixswordsamurai.livejournal.com]

It's the use of the word "Marriage" that's the kicker. remove it. It's a legal union. (or a Civil incorporation) that can then be taken to $holyplace and given $religiousacknowledgement.

[prisoner007.livejournal.com]

I think you can't take the word out of it though. A lot of gays have said that the word holds just as much importance to them as the rights do. I think you need to differentiate though, ie civil marriages (rather than union) and religious marriage.

[austingoddess.livejournal.com]

Completely agreed. If the religious reich wants to embrace 'marriage', no problem. The gov't isn't in the business of supporting or favoring one religion over another, and shouldn't be supporting religious institutions, so no more legal marriages. All legal civil unions. A church can do the religious part if the couple (or more) want it, but it's all civil unions as far as the gov't goes. That, I think, is the way it will end up being. Certainly it'd be the most fair.

[11th-letter.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, we already *have* legal heterosexual marriages that are recognized by and required to be registered with the government...and government is not in the business of repealing laws.
Certainly not for purposes of being fair.

[austingoddess.livejournal.com]

Myself, I don't think it a big legal deal to substitute 'civil union' and its definition for 'marriage'. They've had amendments that undid other amendments, so I think they can and will do this.

[firinel.livejournal.com]

fyi, the reason it concerns me is immigration.
People are allowed to immigrate on the basis of being married to a citizen. What if the person (*coughs*people*coughs*) I'd fallen in love with were British women, rather than men? We'd be SOL.

[prisoner007.livejournal.com]

Hope isn't entirely lost though. In all likelihood, Obama will replace at least one supreme court justice, possibly two, during his term. So when the gay marriage issue reaches the supreme court, and these new props will most likely take it there, it will be a much more liberal court that approaches the issue.

Equality

[shyanne1980.livejournal.com]

This is coming from a married woman, to a man, actually 2nd marriage, lol and I am Bi, so no real bias here, but I feel that every human being should have the same rights to fall in love with whom their heart chooses to and get married and be miserable like the rest of mankind, LOL. We are not in the middle ages here, more and more people are "coming out" we should be praising every one for honestly and good moral standing, I think its crazy to not give one human being the same rights as another just because they choose to have a lover with the same bits. One small step forward, lets see if we can make a few more.

[morlock.livejournal.com]

LGBT...I? wtf is "i" now? they keep adding letters and not informing me.

[austingoddess.livejournal.com]

Intersexed. Every day, children are born with signs of both genders, and we're finally moving past the desire to quickly cut their bodies up as infants just so they'll look like 1 gender on the outside. Thankfully. My partner is one.

[nekosensei.livejournal.com]

Ugh. That's just sickening. That does not bode well considering the fact that California is a trend-setter for the rest of the United States.

They're not going to make the marriages of those people who have already gotten married null and void now, are they? That would be even crazier.