This topic has been a reigning issue for the better part of two decades. There are so many jaded opinions, but just as much support. A recent study showed that about 70% of Americans support equal rights for the LGBTQ community, but just about as much opposition involving same sex marriages.
Why is it that marriage is such a major issue? I recently engaged in a conversation regarding this topic and quite a few things stated that stuck with me. "If marriage is only the recognition of a union in front of your GOD, then why does it matter who you marry?" "There was not a clause that stated marriage was exclusive to the opposite sex until the 20th century!" "What about marriage makes people fear it enough to exclude anyone from it?" What does marriage entail other than a piece of paper and a few statements that causes people to not want it for a certain group of people?" The last thing stated really hit home for me. "If marriage is so sacred, then why is divorce optional?" I went and I thought about these questions and that conversation. i thought long and hard and I could not honestly give an answer to any of them. All of the questions have valid points and no one in the conversation could give a sustainable answer.
What confuses me the most about this issue is the lack of support from the LGBTQ community. While entertaining this subject a dear friend to me said, "It's disturbing and selfish that more LGBTQ people aren't supporting this cause!" How can you, as a member of said community, not support a cause to help create equal rights for people of your own distinction? I'm not hardly discrediting any of the support of anyone. I believe that there is a plethora of help in regards to this cause, but why not from everyone. You may not want the right yourself, but why not help someone in your own community to obtain that right for themselves.
Marriage allows partners to acquire or share medical insurance on the same plan, Make decisions in case of medical emergencies, Access to your finances, Inheritance rights, as well as many other things. Why is it that if someone can honestly dedicate their life to someone, regardless of sex, should they not be allowed these rights? Why is it that the government has the ability to control who can receive a certificate that has all that power? Banning same sex marriage isn't going to make the LGBTQ community dissipate, so why fight so hard against it? Here's my final thought..... There was once a time where our society thought that immigrants, women, and slaves did not deserve equal rights, now look at our society. What's the difference?
As always please feel free to leave comments and suggestions. I would love to hear your point of views and progression is always possible with an honest opinion. Thanks and I hope you enjoyed!
What is also interesting to me about this plight, is the irrelevance to historical equality movements that many people seem to disconnect from it. Certainly people look at slavery and the civil rights movement and link it to the essence of this cause, but what does that really mean or evoke? Is it enough to say that this is a right that everyone should have? Or does this discussion require further examination of the fundamentals (or elements) of social change theory. Another point for me, is the lack of attention this matter has on the health and wellness of the LGBT community. Any significant shift in the cultural or societal oppression that looms over this community, will surely impact the state of public health in it. Psychosocial and other behavioral determinants accurately reflect what many researchers, policy guru's and service providers are aware of.....the rights and privilege associated with a group or community is connected to their overall health and functioning. But, I wonder how racial/ethnic minorities (as a whole) will factor into this seeing as how they are (and have historically) not had the same degree of privilege as their white counterparts.
ReplyDeleteI believe this is a really good topic and more ppl need to be expose to it
ReplyDeleteI'm loving this post! We as the people of this country have to stand up for equality for all!
ReplyDeleteI agree with this topic and ya statement i can understand about how some people in the gay community can not support is because its something that they might not do but i cant understand why ppl wouldn't want it to be legal I mean like come on ppl want things thats not truly important to be legal......society today
ReplyDeleteThis is a very touchy topic. As I've expressed to you in the past, there are fundamentals that are established in a person's mind that would keep them from seeing things in this light. All my life I've been raised and taught that a man with a man was just wrong.So the idea of the same sex marrying one another is completely unheard of. After some growing and learning for myself I believe my views on this issue has changed tremendously. I'd hate for something to happen to either of us, and we wouldn't be given the rights to make decisions for one another, especially when we play major roles in each other's life. Another thought that came threw my mind just now is, say we went to a state that allows same sex marriages, then come home to the state we reside. Will they honor our marriage in the case of some emergency??? Just food for thought.
ReplyDeleteLove you and keep up the great work. GREAT BLOG