In reaction : the vote for gay marriage in New York

Readers,

What does the 'yay' vote for Gay Marriage in New York mean? It means several things at once: Our nation is slowly healing (slowly progressing to a realization of true equality for women, minorities, LGBT, etc-though slowly is the operative word), millions of people can now get legally married in NY, millions of people will not be denied the essential human right to simply have the opportunity to make a big mistake, get divorced, or to commit lovingly to another human being until death finally separates a bond that life could not, millions more will see that Gays and Lesbians can have marriages that are as loving (if not more) and as dysfunctional as any straight couples' marriage, and lastly it means that the ascension of human rights and human dignity has conquered fear and discrimination (at least for a day).

I can't wait to attend the first gay marriage in Utah. Yes, I do believe gay marriage will be legalized, not always loved or supported, but legalized through out the U.S. A majority of Americans (53%) support the legalization of gay marriage and the President's views are evolving toward that consensus. Change is coming-yes we can! Some religious institutions have stood in the way of meaningful change (and some have embraced change), e.g. interracial marriage, female equality, a naturalistic world view (Evolution, Democritus' Atomism), but their opposition has crumbled when the populace has embraced human rights and shunned bigotry and oppression. These gains will not be reversed without a substantial fight as well.

Equality in Utah:

The equality movement is growing in Utah as reds and blues begin to agree that providing essential rights to all is a good thing. Equality Utah has been extremely successful in pushing for ant-discrimination ordinances-having successfully passed ten initiatives. These initiatives are important, because without them, a landlord could kick out respectable and rent-paying individuals just because of their sexual orientation. Also, the LGBT were not allowed to visit their spouse in the hospital as they couldn't legally be known as a 'spouse'. I can't imagine the heartbreak this causes. Here is a list of Equality Utah's substantial accomplishments:

Equality Utah is committed to passing non-discrimination ordinances in 10 cities in 2010! Learn More

1. Salt Lake City - Passed November 2009

2. Salt Lake County - Passed January 2010

3. Park City - Passed March 2010

4. Logan - Passed May 2010

5. West Valley City - Passed June 2010

6. Summit County - Passed June 2010

7. Taylorsville - Passed July 2010

8. Murray - Passed November 2010

9. Moab - Passed November 2010

10. Grand County - Passed December 2010

Thanks for reading and join the fight for marriage equality and equality in general! My heart is full as America inches closer to a realization of the ideals of Freedom and Equality.

-Cameron

In support of Marriage Equality

Friends,

This is my soon-to-be published Letter to the Editor. Look for it in the Standard Examiner.

Thanks for reading!

The United States is in three wars, its economy is stagnant at best, and Americans are struggling with issues like sky-high gas prices, unemployment, and any number of other problems in their day to day lives. Yet, to some, it’s not enough to be distracted and worried by global crises and economic woes, so they invent a new bogeyman: marriage equality. The New York Senate is soon to vote yay or nay on a marriage equality act and to some it is inconceivable that two same-sex individuals who love each other should get married. But why? Well, the reasons run the gamut from selective quoting of the bible to their own insecurities and biases against people that are different from themselves. Some even seem to believe that a same-sex marriage will bring about the end of procreation and even society itself.

The surprising part about this rhetoric is not the novelty of this bigotry, but the fact that these ‘arguments’ are simply re-hashed and shameful slanders from those of our recent history in which African American & White marriages were routinely attacked. In fact, until 1967, some states outlawed interracial marriage. For approximately 300 years, there were laws in the Colonies, and later, the States, that prohibited the union of Whites and Blacks- something we are no doubt ashamed of today. The underlying cause for such opposition to interracial marriage, as well as same-sex marriage, is ignorance and fear, mixed with that ever-present discrimination which has too often yoked our great history of tolerance and liberty. It is time that we speak out for marriage equality and the fulfillment of the American Dream.