LGBT Equality: The Best and Worst of 2009

2009 was a topsy-turvy year for LGBT rights supporters, marked with a mix of hard-fought victories and bitter defeats. Here is a summary of the best and the worst this year had to offer:

The Best of 2009

Congress Passes the Hate Crimes Prevention Act

Formally known as the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, the law expands existing Hate Crimes legislation to cover crimes based on gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. The bill was first introduced to the House of Representatives in April, 2001, and finally signed into law by President Obama on October 28th, 2009 as part of the 2010 Defense Bill.

Right wing opponents portrayed the bill as one that would somehow inhibit free speech and infringe upon the rights of 'people of faith'. The fact is that the Federal Hate Crimes Law has been in force since 1969 and is specific to violent crimes and actions, not free speech. This act was simply extending protections beyond race and religion to other groups who have been victimized. According to FBI Hate Crime Statistics, sexual identity ranks closely behind religion as the third most common class of hate crimes in the United States.

If not for the heroic efforts of Judy Shepard, this bill would not have come to pass. Since the death of her son more than ten years ago, she has fought tirelessly to raise awareness, change perceptions, and influence legislation.

Judy Shepard - I'm so sorry for the tragic loss of your son, and am deeply moved by and thankful for your courage to do something about it. I can't imagine where the LGBT equality movement would be without your passion and commitment. You are a true inspiration.

Same-Sex Marriage Triumphs Around the US and the World

At the start of 2009 only two states in the US, Massachusetts and Connecticut, permitted same-sex marriage. Over the course of the year, three more states followed suit - as did our nation's capital - while two more states added domestic partnership language.

Here is a quick run-down of who did what in the US:

• Iowa Supreme Court Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage (4/3/09)


• Vermont Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage - overriding Governor veto (4/7/09)


• New Hampshire Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage (6/3/09)


• Wisconsin Recognizes Domestic Partnerships (6/29/2009)


• Washington State Passes "Everything But Marriage Law" (12/3/2009)


• Washington DC City Council Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage (12/18/09)

The US wasn't the only country who stepped forward on the same-sex marriage front. Here are some notable victories from around the world:

• Sweden Legalizes Gay Marriage (4/1/2009)


• Mexico City Legalizes Gay Marriage (12/21/2009)


• Argentina Holds first Gay Marriage (12/28/2009)

National Equality March Draws Approximately 250,000

On October 11, 2009, a sea of humanity engulfed the grounds of the United States Capitol in Washington DC, carrying a resounding message to Congress: We demand equal rights for all LGBT Americans.

Skeptics said we wouldn't come. We did. Antagonists said that the LGBT community was too fractured and apathetic to summon a true identity, let alone speak with a unified voice. They were wrong. We were one, and we spoke with conviction and power. As was said many times throughout the orations, we are on the right side of history and we will persist until this battle is won.

Thanks to the leadership and vision of Cleve Jones, along with contributions from LGBT activists across the country, this event was a phenomenal success. An estimated 250,000 people marched, and many were inspired to bring the message back home to their local communities. The key question is whether the momentum will continue into 2010 - especially on the heels of some bitter disappointments in the November elections. Only time will tell.

Either way - kudos to those who worked so hard to make this vision a reality.

Gays win Office Around the US and the World

2009 was a banner year for 'out' politicians. According to the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, over sixty openly gay and lesbian candidates won office around the United States. Some notable victories included:

• Annise Parker - Mayor of Houston, TX


• Mark Kleinschmidt - Mayor of Chapel Hill, NC


• Simone Bell - State Legislator in Georgia

Likewise, gay candidates fared well in other key elections worldwide. Here are two highly visible international positions:

• In Iceland, Johanna Sigurdardottir becomes world's first openly lesbian Prime Minister (2/1/2009)


• In Germany, Guido Westerwelle becomes world's first openly gay Foreign Minister (10/28/2009)

Milk Wins Best Original Screenplay and Best Actor

The LGBT community rejoiced when the blockbuster motion picture Milk - based on the true story of Harvey Milk, gay activist and California's first openly gay elected official - won Academy Awards for best original screenplay (Lance Black) and best actor (Sean Penn).

Harvey Milk was a heroic champion of LGBT equal rights, and the movie did an outstanding job portraying his life and honoring his legacy.

Sports Stars Speak Out About their Sexuality

• Donal Og Cusack - "All Ireland hurling star" reveals he is gay in his autobiography Come What May released 10/21/2009.


• Gareth Thomas - Welsh Rugby legend - Comes Out of the Closet: On December 19th, 2009, Gareth Thomas, professional rugby player and national team veteran, announced to the public that he is gay.

Homosexuality Decriminalized in India

On July 2nd, 2009, The Delhi High Court declared that the 1861 law pertaining to homosexuality violates India's Constitution - in effect, legalizing homosexuality in the country's capital city and paving the way to legalization throughout India.

For an overview of homosexuality laws worldwide, visit Wikipedia's page on LGBT Rights by Country or Territory, which includes a color-coded world map and a table that nicely summarizes each nation's laws.

The Worst of 2009

U.S. LGBT Hate Crimes on the Rise

The FBI's annual publication of hate crime statistics showed that anti-LGBT hate crimes rose by almost 13% in 2008. While 2009 numbers have not yet been reported, the chilling story of Jorge Steven López Mercado - a 19 year old gay Puerto Rican who was murdered, burned, dismembered, and decapitated on November 13th, 2009 - reminds us all of the true horror of hate crimes and the homophobic scourge that plagues our society.

Same-Sex Marriage Defeated in Key States

While we celebrated same-sex marriage victories in several states around the US, we were reminded that victory is not always certain, and is sometimes only fleeting. Until we win the right to same-sex marriage on a Federal level, we will continue to be subjected to costly and bitter battles on a state by state basis.

• California Supreme Court Upholds Proposition 8 (5/26/09)


• Maine Repeals Same-Sex Marriage Legislation (11/3/09) - Original legislation was signed by Governor on 5/6/09


• New York State Senate Votes Down Gay Marriage Bill (12/2/09)


• New Jersey Gay Marriage Bill is Destined for Defeat (1/1/2010)

Persecution of Gays Escalates Around the World

2009 also revealed disturbing trends around the world, where gays are not only fighting for equality, but for their very lives:

• Iraq - Execution squads terrorize the LGBT community while the international community does nothing


• Burundi - Homosexuality criminalized in response to LGBT community's demand to end discrimination (April 2009)


• Rwanda - Debating legislation to criminalize homosexuality


• Uganda - Legislation proposes to criminalize homosexuality, including penalty of death for some


• Honduras - Gay hate crimes surge in wake of presidential coup

Gay Bars Raided 'Stonewall Style'

• Fort Worth: The Rainbow Lounge is raided by police while celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots (6/28/2009)


• Atlanta: The Atlanta Eagle is raided by police, laying 62 handcuffed patrons face down on the floor for an hour while they search the establishment (9/10/2009)

Key Federal Battles Fizzle in the US

While passage of the Hate Crimes Prevention Act offers new protections for the LGBT community, it is only one step forward in the march to equality. There are still several key battles yet to be fought at the federal level, and patience is wearing thin for LGBT political leaders who continue to wait until 'the timing is right'.

The fundamental rights I believe are crucial to LGBT equality include:

1. The right to live freely - without fear of physical or verbal abuse due to sexual identity


2. The right to love and marry a same-sex partner - receiving the same federal and state benefits extended to heterosexual couples


3. The right to raise a family - including the right to adopt children


4. The right to earn a living - without fear of being fired or harassed due to discriminatory policies based on sexual identity


5. The right to serve one's country in any of the armed forces without having to hide one's sexual identity

To achieve these rights, we must repeal discriminatory legislation such as the Defense of Marriage Act, and Don't Ask Don't Tell.

And we must add legislation such as the Employment Non-Discrimination Act to the existing arsenal of Equal Employment Opportunity Laws to prevent discrimination based on sexual identity from occurring in the workplace.

The Verdict

Only time will tell where 2009 ranks in terms of progress towards LGBT equality. The Mathew Shepard Bill was certainly a major victory, as were many of the same-sex marriage battles in states around the U.S. And as anyone who attended the National Equality March will attest, it was an emotional and inspiring event that had all the hallmarks of a legitimate civil rights movement.

Yet as I compare where we are now to where we were in the days Harvey Milk championed LGBT equal rights, I feel like social attitudes toward the LGBT community have progressed significantly while legislative progress has been almost stagnant. Each battle we win at the state level is contested and repealed when brought to a public vote. Meanwhile, as these political battles are waged, a backlash of anti-LGBT violence seemingly follows.

We will not be successful in achieving equal rights for all until federal legislation mandates it. Our legislators will not enact legislation until they hear their constituents demand it. We are their constituents.

Will your voice be heard in 2010?

Help Voters Achieve LGBT Equality NOW!

Last week I listed some things you can do in 5 minutes or less to promote LGBT equal rights, and I was thrilled with the response (thanks all)! This week, I'm including some activities that will take more time, but can help tip the scales for LGBT equality in several key state elections.

If you have some time to invest today or tomorrow... please consider investing it in one of these causes:

1. Phone for Maine

It's time... sign up to call for equality! Maine is in a heated battle to protect same-sex marriage in their state. Having previously passed legislation that ended discrimination in marriage against same-sex couples, question #1 on the ballot attempts to take away these rights - similar to Prop 8 in California. The polls say voters are split in a virtual dead-heat. You can help tip the scales by making calls to encourage voters to vote NO on question #1 this Tuesday. Interested? SIGN UP NOW!

2. Phone for Washington State

Similar to the Maine situation, Washington State is trying to protect domestic partnership legislation by passing Referendum 71. If you are interested in joining their phone banks - from the privacy of your own home - please SIGN UP NOW. The clock is ticking!

3. Send an Email for Kalamazoo

Help spread the word in Kalamazoo, Michigan, about Ordinance 1856, a non-discrimination ordinance that will protect the rights of LGBT citizens. No matter where you are living now, if you know voters in Kalamazoo, please tell them to vote YES for equality before November 3rd. SEND AN EMAIL NOW. It's easy, and you can help make a difference!

4. Phone for New Jersey

Help Jon Corzine in his bid for re-election as Governor of New Jersey by joining the phone banks. He has been a strong supporter of marriage equality, and his opponent Chris Christie is making an eleventh hour push by denouncing Corzine's support for marriage equality, and pledging to support a Marriage Protection Amendment in New Jersey. If you would like to make calls on Corzine's behalf, SIGN UP NOW.

If you don't personally have the time to support these causes today or tomorrow, please forward this on to your friends and family. You never know who might want to join the cause!

LGBT Equality in 5 Minutes or Less

Want to make a difference in the fight for LGBT equality? Here are three easy things you can do RIGHT NOW in 5 minutes or less...


1. Speak Out Against "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"
(under 1 minute)

Help repeal the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, by sending a pre-written email to your Congressional Representative. HRC makes it SO easy, that it literally took me less than 1 minute to complete:
Repeal DADT Now

If you're not sure how you feel about "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", perhaps you should read about the US Navy officer who is resigning after being caught for terrorizing gay and lesbian military personnel for two years. One of the victims who finally spoke out against him was discharged for being gay. Another officer committed suicide. It wasn't reported earlier because a gay who speaks out in the military is summarily discharged. The offending officer is retiring in January - with pension:
US Navy Gay Hazing

2. Support Same-Sex Marriage in Maine by watching a video (under 4 minutes)

Did you see the YouTube video of Phil Spooner - an 86-year-old WWII vet who testified in support of marriage equality before the Maine legislature? It's powerful. It's moving. And it has exploded on the internet in the last three days.



YouTube views have climbed to over 570,000, and it's #3 on YouTube's list of top-rated News & Politics videos. This video helps convince Maine voters on the fence to vote NO on Question 1. Additionally, Mr. Spooner motivates supporters in Maine and across the country to do just a little bit more in these final days. Can you help move this video even further? Let's vault this to #1!

3. Join Pink Out Loud (less than 1 minute)

We'll continue sharing ways you can help achieve LGBT equality. Join us now!

• Follow / Subscribe to this blog: (See options on the right)
  
• Follow us on Twitter
  
• Join our Facebook Group
  
• Check out our website (currently being re-designed!)

National Equality March: Why We March...

On October 11, 2009, a sea of humanity engulfed the grounds of the United States Capitol in Washington DC, carrying a resounding message to Congress: We demand equal rights for all LGBT Americans.

As masses of marchers - numbering in the tens, if not hundreds of thousands - weaved their way through the streets of our nation's capitol, brandishing signs and chanting equality mantras, it was clear that this was not simply a protest... it had the hallmark of a full-blown civil rights movement.

Congregating on the lawn of the U.S. Capitol Building, the immense crowd was enthralled as speaker after speaker eloquently and passionately expounded on the injustices endured by LGBT Americans, and resolved to fight the battle for equality until it is won. Men and women of all ages, races, ethnicity, religious beliefs, and sexual identity were unified with a singular mission: equal rights for all.

Skeptics said we wouldn't come. We did. Antagonists said that the LGBT community was too fractured and apathetic to summon a true identity, let alone speak with a unified voice. They were wrong. We know who we are, we knew why we were there, and we spoke with conviction and power. As was said many times throughout the orations, we are on the right side of history. And we will persist until this battle is won.

The National Equality March achieved its objective. It marked not the end of a journey, but the beginning of one.

While many may have heard the inspiring collection of speeches delivered on the steps of the Capitol Building (if you haven't, I encourage you to go to YouTube and listen to each and every one), equally as inspiring are the reasons individual citizens gave for joining the cause.

Here are some of the response people (including me) gave when asked to explain "Why I March":

• I march because my conscience demands it
• I march to demand the repeal of DOMA
• I march to honor the sanctity of marriage for all committed couples
• I march to speak out against bigotry and hatred towards gays
• I march for the right to join the military - regardless of my sexual orientation
• I march for the right to raise a family with my same-sex partner
• I march because I'm proud of who I am
• I march for respect, dignity, and equality
• I march to make a difference
• I march to give the finger to the Phelps freaks
• I march not to impose my beliefs on others, but to protect myself from others imposing their beliefs on me
• I march to stand up against the National Organization for Marriage
• I march because apathy is our biggest enemy
• I march so congress will know I'm LGBT and I'm serious
• I march because LGBT equal rights can only be achieved at the federal level
• I march because every voice counts
• I march to end LGBT discrimination in the workplace
• I march to make my mother proud
• I march to show the world I'm not afraid
• I march to raise awareness of the rise in LGBT hate crimes
• I march to remind Obama why we voted for him
• I march because I am equal, and I deserve equal rights
• I march because in my lifetime, our marriage was illegal (interracial heterosexual couple)
• I march because I'm from California, and we lost Proposition 8 - and we're not going to lose anything else, Goddamnit!
• I march so my partner and I can have equal rights for our baby son
• I march for liberty and justice for all - equal rights for everyone
• I march (and rode the bus all night to get here) because LGBT rights are human rights, and I'm tired of waiting
• I march so our baby daughter can grow up and love who she wants to love
• I march because it's the right thing to do. I want my children to have the rights that I don't currently have
• I march for equal rights for all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity
• I march because our family should be respected just like any other family
• I march so I can actually marry my partner of 10 years and have the same rights that every straight couple has
• I march because I deserve equal rights, as does my girlfriend
• I march because "if you are gay, gay is OK" (spoken by a little kid)
• I march because we need equal rights, and we need them as soon as possible... like today... or tomorrow... or NOW
• I march because I don't understand why people are so afraid of she and I getting married
• I march because I think you should be able to love whomever you want to love
• I'm marching for my family and for myself. I am a lesbian, and my Latino family is largely an immigrant population
• I march for 100% equality. We've been together for 21 years, yet we don't have any legal rights
• I march to send a message to President Obama to keep his promise on equal rights
• I march for the generations to come and those cast to the margins - ignored by the media and decision makers
• I march for all those who can't
• I march because I was married for 30 years and enjoyed all the legal rights of a married person. Now I'd like the same rights married to a man
• I march for equality and safety, which has been denied on our campus
• I march because we've been together for 31 years in February, and we want to get married
• I march because I trust the president, and wish him well, but he can do more for us and I think he will. He gives great speeches... we want great acts
• I march because I want to have a family with my girlfriend
• I march for full equality for all Americans
• I march for love... for pure honest love in all circumstances
• I march so Americans can have the same rights we enjoy in Canada
• I march because no one should be a second class citizen
• I march for those who cannot
• I march because sometimes it takes a bunch of people to get together before people notice them
• I march because I feel that everyone should have a choice and an opportunity to be with the one they love
• I march for our four kids that need our support. We want to get married and we can't. We deserve equal rights
• I march because 'Don't Ask Don't Tell' hurts our troops and hurts our country
• I march to protect love
• I march because I think Bert and Ernie should have gotten married
• I am marching for me, so I can have a stronger commitment to this movement
• I march to support the repeal of DOMA and "Don't Ask Don't Tell", to support adoption rights, and international marriage
• I march to be counted
• I march because they've been telling us it's not our time since Stonewall
• I march because everyone should have the same rights and privileges in America
• I march as a straight guy who supports the cause of equality
• I march not because I believe change is possible, but because I believe it is inevitable

This is just a small sampling of why we marched. These are real voices from real people who invested the time, money, and energy to make sure their voices were heard in Washington DC. Make no mistake... every voice counts.

The National Equality March was just the beginning. We will continue to fight the battle until it is won. We will contest every piece of bigoted legislation at all levels of government. We will introduce and support LGBT equality legislation on every front. We will use our collective strength to ensure our elected officials are advocates for equality.

We are not asking for equal rights, we are demanding it.

[Special thanks to Tweeter @jaysays for his tireless efforts in interviewing scores of marchers and posting the videos on Twitter - from which many of these quotes were compiled. Bravo!]

A Message to Maggie Gallagher

Dear Maggie,

After reading your Five Predictions About Gay Marriage , in which you respond to Steve Chapman's request for opponents of same-sex marriage to provide "simple, concrete predictions about measurable social indicators" (see An Odd Silence on Gay Marriage), I couldn't help but share my own perspective with you and anyone else who may be interested. Granted, I'm not a seasoned activist, savvy politician, or "old marriage debate person", but I am an American citizen who happens to be gay and still enjoys the right to free speech.

In short, your stance against same-sex marriage tells society that the LGBT community is not to be seen for its humanity, but for its sexual identity. It reinforces the idea that it is OK to deny people their basic civil rights if they don't match your beliefs. It threatens the very fabric of a free society by imposing the beliefs of one religious doctrine over another. And it ultimately encourages people to view gays through a filter of myths and stereotypes, which fertilizes the seeds of fear, hatred, and violence.

Your predictions seem trivial compared to the injustice your stance on gay marriage embodies.

Prediction #1: In gay-marriage states, a large minority people committed to traditional notions of marriage will feel afraid to speak up for their views, lest they be punished in some way.

My View: I'm fascinated by your concern about people feeling 'afraid' to share their views, and the associated 'punishment' they might experience. While I can't quite empathize with what that fear might feel like (right wing heterosexuals afraid to speak out against gays? Really?), I can share the fear that the LGBT community experiences in many aspects of life - every day, in every state:

• Fear: Showing any form of public affection - whether it's walking arm in arm, holding hands, or kissing
  Punishment: Being verbally or physically assaulted
  
  
• Fear: Revealing sexual orientation in the workplace
  Punishment: Being fired (or discharged in the case of the army)
  
  
• Fear: Revealing sexual orientation to friends and family
  Punishment: Being disowned, losing friends, becoming socially vilified and ostracized
  
  
• Fear: Revealing sexual orientation to church
  Punishment: Being labeled a 'sinner', subjected to 'healing' or even exorcism, or possibly excommunication

I could go on about the fears gay couples have about estate planning in a legal system that does not protect our joint assets, or the void some couples feel for being denied the right to raise a family, or the devastation we experience when the law prevents us from making medical decisions on behalf of our loved one. I could go on about these things, but I won't. There's no point, as I don't expect you to relate to the inhumanity behind the policies.

Of course, all of these things can be addressed in a gay relationship if one has the financial resources and legal savvy to buy these securities, but they are not extended as rights to gay couples in the same way they are to heterosexual couples. And that is the problem.

It is wrong that American citizens have to buy rights that are freely extended to the rest of American society.

Prediction #2: Public schools will teach about gay marriage.

My View: I'm struggling to understand the concern you're trying to represent here. I'm not sure to what extent schools even teach children about traditional marriage (I don't recall that class, actually), but I can't imagine that it would be overshadowed by lessons on same-sex marriage.

To my knowledge, schools don't spend much time on other arcane marriage issues such as mixed-race or mixed-faith matrimony, or even the current epidemic of divorce in our country. Nor do I believe they teach children about the pros and cons of co-habitation or 'common law' marriage, which is certainly frowned upon by many religions. Why do you feel that same-sex marriages would be treated any differently?

I would also be curious to know your perspective on whether schools should teach children about other topics such as evolution and our solar system. As I'm sure you know, many faith groups believe these are moral battlegrounds as well, and assert that children should be sheltered from such heresies. Are you of that opinion?

Prediction #3: Parents in public schools who object to gay marriage being taught to their children will be told with increasing public firmness that they don't belong in public schools and their views will not be accomodated in any way.

My View: Your prediction infers that teaching children about societal law equates to teaching children about the morality around those laws. In my mind, these are distinctly different things. For example, one can teach about the laws pertaining to marriage, co-habitation, and divorce, and still remain neutral on whether co-habitation and divorce are moral.

I believe that schools should teach children facts (reading, writing, arithmetic, science, etc) blended with culture (history, civics, law, arts, war, politics, faith, etc). Facts should be taught as such - sharing all that man's quest for knowledge has proven to be tested and true (with appropriate distinctions between scientific facts vs scientific theories). Culture should be shared in all its diversity - recognizing that society is influenced by countless factors, and is only defined by the filters and beliefs applied by those defining it.

As children are taught about culture they should also be taught the art of reason, so they know how to form their own views. The art of reason includes the ability to listen to various viewpoints, to form a rational opinion, and to articulate and defend your position. It is the art of reason that has allowed civilization to prosper and evolve.

Schools should teach children the rationale behind differeng viewpoints on issues of social morality. Let them exchange ideas, debate, and challenge each other so they have the skills and tools necessary to stand behind their ideologies when they are old enough to shape society. If children aren't taught how to debate sensitive topics in a classroom with respect and reason, how can we expect them to do so in society as adults? Perhaps that's a fundamental gap in society today.

Regarding your concern that a parent will no longer have the right to dictate what a school should or shouldn't teach their child about moral issues - I don't agree they have that right to begin with. Parents have every opportunity to shape their child's belief system at home and at church. If parents are worried that their child will learn things in school that will cause them to abandon that belief system, perhaps the parents need to spend more time with their child to ensure they establish a sound moral gounding, whatever they believe that to be.

Prediction #4: Religous institutions will face new legal threats (especially soft litigation threats) that will cause some to close, or modify their missions, to avoid clashing with the government's official views of marriage (which will include the view that opponents are akin to racists for failing to see same-sex couples as married).

My View: I don't understand how the government can bring forward 'soft litigation threats' to religious institutions... perhaps you can educate me on this. I understand that the government can affect religious institutions through tax status, but I can't imagine how same-sex marriage would cause the government to play that card in any way, shape, or form. I'm hoping someone more educated on this topic can weigh in, as I certainly have no expertise here.

I personally believe the biggest risk to religious institutions is whether they can maintain their faith base in a rapidly evolving society. Civil litigation can come from anywhere - with or without same-sex marriage being honored by the government - and I expect these institutions will be challenged by their own base regardless of legislative policy. Whether the challenges involve litigation, or simply manifest themselves in attrition, I don't know. But it's not the government the church has to worry about.

From my perspective, the religious institutions are the ones who need to grapple with the morality of same-sex marriage. It is up to each faith how they want to interpret their religious doctrines and apply them in modern society. The government should have no part in that interpretation.

If a same-sex couple chooses to be married by a church, they will choose a church that sanctions same-sex marriage and the government should honor their marital status. If a same-sex couple chooses to be married without subscribing to a specific religious faith, they should be able to apply for marital status through the government just like any other couple. If an opposite-sex couple believes strongly that gay unions are immoral and should not be sanctioned by their church, they should belong to a church that shares their belief.

Regardless of the views of the various religious institutions, the government's role is simply to honor the relationship and defend the rights, obligations, and benefits that are extended to married couples. It's as simple as that.

Prediction #5: Support for the idea "the ideal for a child is a married mother and father" will decline.

My View: The ideal for a child is to be raised in a safe and supportive home by parents who love and care for them. In case you haven't noticed, our nation is plagued with dysfunctional families of all shapes and sizes - many of whose issues stem from single parents and/or divorce. Same-sex marriage can't realistically have any impact, positive or negative, on this nationwide crisis.

If your goal is to strengthen the sanctity of marriage, perhaps you should focus your energy on teaching couples how to cooperate, collaborate, negotiate, and reason with each other rather than worry about the respective genders of the married couple. The sanctity of marriage is not defined by the genders involved as much as it is the commitment to the institution of marriage. That commitment is no stronger or weaker for a man and woman than it is for a same-sex couple.

In Conclusion:

I thank you for sharing your predictions, as they provide insight into how you (and presumably your like-minded peers) perceive the risk of same-sex marriage on society. I'm disappointed that your predictions aren't quantifiable societal indicators as Mr. Chapman originally requested, but at least you had the moral conviction to respond. I can only hope that more of your peers will respond in fashion, as it will only help encourage the debate and dialogue on this topic.

For the record, I disagree with your views, and am somewhat surprised that your predictions aren't more damning of same-sex marriage considering your notable stance on the subject.

From my perspective, the war against same-sex marriage has been waged from a position of fear and contempt. If you take the time to read through some of my previous blogs, you'll see that I believe the basis of this fear stems from societal myths and stereotypes rather than the reality of the LGBT community. Myths and stereotypes breed fear, which leads to hatred and ultimately violence.

As a gay man who has been in a committed relationship for almost 16 years now, I can say with certainty that societal fears and persecution will not change the fact that I am gay, nor will it prevent me from sharing my life with my partner. As an American citizen, I will demand equal rights not because I want to impose my beliefs on others, but because I will not have others impose their beliefs on me. As a human being, I will urge my fellow man to accept and respect me for who I am - not based on the labels they attach to me.

Maggie Gallagher, if your real goal is to enrich society and ensure its longevity, then I urge you to consider that society can only evolve by embracing and encouraging diversity. The darkest days in the history of the human race are steeped in intolerance and injustice. Let's not repeat those mistakes; we're better than that.

I welcome your response.