It’s nothing to do with marriage.
Across the country, people are making commitments to life partners, some to partners of the opposite gender, some to same gender partners. They do so in ceremonies and celebrations attended by friends and family as well as more private ceremonies. Together, then, they create homes.
Laws and constitutional amendments do not prevent or even deter this. No matter what North Carolina (or any other state) residents vote, people will continue exchanging vows to love one another through this life. No law can affect this.
What can the law do? It can not prevent relationships, but it can refuse to recognize people’s relationships with one another. It can discriminate between people. It can, and throughout our country’s history often does, deny to some groups privileges that it bestows on others. It can give financial breaks and physical protection to some but not to others.
It can turn its back on people it doesn’t like in hopes that they will disappear.
But we never disappear. We grow stronger, demand recognition as humans equal to all other humans.
“I’m not anti-gay, I’m pro-marriage,” one voter claimed.
No, this has nothing to do with marriage. Rather, this has everything to do with anti-people-not-like-you.
In the end, civil equality will win, and I will proudly tell my grandchildren that I was on the winning team, the team of fairness and humanity.
This post is inspired by and dedicated to Vicki and Janice who, after 30 years of committed love and raising two beautiful children together, will travel to New York in July to be legally married. To all who know them, their relationship demonstrates deep and abiding love, faithfulness, mutual support and unending friendship. I am grateful to have them in my life.
Across the country, people are making commitments to life partners, some to partners of the opposite gender, some to same gender partners. They do so in ceremonies and celebrations attended by friends and family as well as more private ceremonies. Together, then, they create homes.
Laws and constitutional amendments do not prevent or even deter this. No matter what North Carolina (or any other state) residents vote, people will continue exchanging vows to love one another through this life. No law can affect this.
What can the law do? It can not prevent relationships, but it can refuse to recognize people’s relationships with one another. It can discriminate between people. It can, and throughout our country’s history often does, deny to some groups privileges that it bestows on others. It can give financial breaks and physical protection to some but not to others.
It can turn its back on people it doesn’t like in hopes that they will disappear.
But we never disappear. We grow stronger, demand recognition as humans equal to all other humans.
“I’m not anti-gay, I’m pro-marriage,” one voter claimed.
No, this has nothing to do with marriage. Rather, this has everything to do with anti-people-not-like-you.
In the end, civil equality will win, and I will proudly tell my grandchildren that I was on the winning team, the team of fairness and humanity.
This post is inspired by and dedicated to Vicki and Janice who, after 30 years of committed love and raising two beautiful children together, will travel to New York in July to be legally married. To all who know them, their relationship demonstrates deep and abiding love, faithfulness, mutual support and unending friendship. I am grateful to have them in my life.
