Signs of the Times

I'm very proud to say that, as of yesterday, we now have a "Vote No: Don't Limit the Freedom to Marry" sign for our front yard. Neither Christopher nor I had had a chance to get to one of the MNUnited offices to pick one up, and a friend of ours got an extra for us. So, finally, one of the gay households on our block (there are at least 4) will have one.

It's kind of funny, really, that there are already 3 of those signs on the block, but none at the "gay" houses. I have to say, though, that it's nice when I'm out walking to know that there is support for equal marriage rights for all.

Granted, if the amendment to the MN constitution gets voted down in November, it won't mean that gay marriage will suddenly be legal in Minnesota. You see, it's already illegal in the state. The amendment is, basically, just a way to rub salt in the wounds of the people who have been together for longer than most Hollywood (or Vegas) marriages. It's another way for a portion of society to say "Nyah nyah. We hate you enough that we're going to make it harder and harder for you to get equal rights."

Of course, a lot of these people will also say "We don't hate you. We just feel that gay marriage will devalue marriage - and it's not what God wanted." Apparently, for those people, the 48-hour marriages, and the 7th marriages, and the Kardashians are fine and upstanding in the eyes of the Lord. And it also means that those people are probably picking and choosing which Bible passages they live by. But... anyway... that's a whole different set of fundamentals.

What does bug me, though, is the number of people who don't realize that it's not *just* this amendment that we're voting on this November. We're also voting on gay rights, in general.

President Barack Obama is the first sitting president who has spoken out in favor of equal marriage rights for gays and lesbians. His opponents are running on platforms which - among other things - very specifically state that they are anti-gay rights.

I know that, in a political world, it's bad to base your voting on single issues. But, if your options are to vote for someone who is *for* equal rights for people like me and Christopher who would like

• to be protected equally under the law,
• to be able to visit each other in the hospital,
• to be able to own property together without penalty,
• to be able to maybe even stand up in front of our families and friends and solidify the relationship that is already longer than that of many of our straight friends' marriages...

Well, then I think that maybe voting against Minnesota's "Anti-Marriage" amendment and re-electing Obama in the fall is probably the right thing to do.

If you're not in favor of helping Christopher and me gain equal rights, or if you think that it's really not that bad if you don't take a stand because this issue doesn't directly effect you... Well, then I feel kind of sorry for you. Because the next time someone's rights are being taken away through fear and hatred, they could be yours.