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photoMay 21, 2013 4:02 pm
I did a comic about marriage equality…
(Original: http://www.roostertailscomic.com/?p=1588)
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photoMay 20, 2013 8:12 pm
Millennials maintain vastly different world and social views. Melissa Harris-Perry’s table discussed whether it is possible that this generation could succeed in ways that past generations haven’t in building a more inclusive and diverse democracy.
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photoMay 19, 2013 8:12 pm
And Then There Were Twelve: Minnesota Becomes Twelfth State To Legalize Same-Sex Marriage
With Governor Mark Dayton’s signature on Tuesday, Minnesota officially became the 12th state in the nation — and the second in the midwest — to legalize gay marriage. They’re the third state just this month to do so, joining Delaware and Rhode Island in making marriage equality the law this May. Minnesota’s law takes effect on August 1st.
As we’ve noted before at The Atlantic Wire, the wave of states legalizing gay marriage in recent months follows two big anti-gay pushes during the Clinton and George W. Bush presidencies. So, even though the current President, a majority of the Senate, and a majority of the American population support it, the fight for same-sex marriage in the U.S. is far from over, as our updated GIF map clearly shows. In fact, Minnesota voters were asked just six months ago to vote on writing the state’s then-existing ban on gay marriage into its constitution. That effort, obviously, failed. Sorry, Michele Bachmann.
So, what’s next? A measure to legalize same-sex marriage is currently pending in Illinois. If the bill, which passed in the state Senate on Valentine’s Day, also manages to pass the House (which is far from a given at this point), Governor Pat Quinn has vowed to sign it into law.
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linkMay 14, 2013 3:22 pm
Read this now: "'Gay Marriage' and 'Marriage Equality' -- Both Terms Matter"
When we talk about the recent victories in Delaware and Rhode Island or the hopefully impending repeal of DOMA and Prop 8, are we talking about “gay marriage” or “marriage equality”? Or both?
LGBT activists have taken lately to using the latter term over the former, myself included. The standard argument is that all marriages should be treated equally, so there’s no sense in distinguishing “gay” ones from straight ones. But HuffPo columnist Murray Lipp doesn’t agree, arguing that there is value in specifying which marriages are between couples of the same sex.
His primary argument in defense of the phrase “gay marriage” is that it brings visibility to same-sex unions, upending the assumption that marriages are inherently heterosexual. Plus, the term is well-known and easily recognizable. Here’s why he wants us to use both “gay marriage” and “marriage equality”:
“Gay marriage” refers to the actual phenomenon of same-sex marriage, the legal union between two people of the same sex. It’s something which is legal or not in any given part of the world. “Marriage equality,” on the other hand, refers to the equal allocation of rights and benefits to all married couples, regardless of whether those couples are opposite-sex or same-sex. It does not describe a type of marriage. It describes an outcome, an achievement or goal, that being the attainment of equality.
When a same sex couple marries, yes it’s a “marriage,” but it can also be described as a “gay marriage” — the adjective “gay” adds further descriptive value which may have significant communicative utility depending on the context. Using the word “gay” helps specify difference but it does not imply “better than” or “less than.” Furthermore, when a same-sex couple marries that marriage is not called “marriage equality” — the term does not describe a type of marriage.
The attainment of “marriage equality” is impossible without “gay marriage” first being legalized. When a given state or country legalizes same-sex marriage and additionally provides equal rights and benefits to all married couples irrespective of whether a couple is same-sex or opposite-sex, then it can be said that “marriage equality” has been achieved in that region. While “gay marriage” is now legal in various states of the USA, “marriage equality” has not yet been achieved in the USA nationally as the federal government does not recognize same-sex marriages.
I’m not certain I totally agree with this, mostly due to the portion I bolded above. I am hesitant to focus too explicitly on the difference between a “gay marriage” and a “straight marriage,” particularly because the premise of the fight for marriage equality is that all marriages are the same, gay or straight. Or is pointing out the existence of these “different” marriages key in eventually having them treated equally?
Clearly I need to better organize my thoughts, but only because there’s a lot to say about this. What’s your take on this topic?
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photosetMay 13, 2013 2:13 pm
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photoMay 13, 2013 12:49 pm
Reblog if you want Minnesota to become the 12th state where same-sex couples can share in the freedom to marry! http://bit.ly/14hsxBS
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linkApr 24, 2013 1:01 pm
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linkApr 18, 2013 10:20 am
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linkApr 12, 2013 3:22 pm
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videoApr 10, 2013 3:22 pm
Edie & Thea: A Very Long Engagement (2009) 1h 1min.
After 42 years, feisty and delightful lesbian couple Edie and Thea are finally getting married. From the early ’60s to the present day, the tireless community activists persevere through many battles, both personal and political. As Edie says, We just went on with this talent we have for wrestling joy from the shit. A love story of two remarkable women whose commitment to each other is an inspiration to us all.
