Lost in much of the hullaballoo over Barack Obama's election in November was the reality that two states- California and Florida- passed laws enshrining bigotry and discrimination as law. Yes, that's right; here in America, there are still places (and California and Florida are NOT alone) still willing to tolerate open hatred as the law of the land. YOU are different; therefore YOU are bad, a threat to decent, God-fearing Americans who live by God's laws and respect the natural order of things. YOU do not deserve the same rights and benefits that accrue as a matter of law and custom to "normal" heterosexual Americans. YOU are an abomination, a stain on the fabric of humanity. YOU would be well-advised to shut up, take your medicine, and go someplace where YOUR kind is tolerated- like San Francisco, f'rinstance.
I have no particular love for homosexuals or homosexuality; in fact, I'm profoundly ambivalent...primarily because one's sexuality simply isn't an issue for me. If you're a contributing, law-abiding member of society, if you're a good person, what difference should it make if you bugger goats (or anything else) behind closed doors? Why does it even have to matter? I may not agree with or condone your lifestyle...but, really, who cares what I think? Who am I to determine whom- and how- one can or cannot love? Why shouldn't ALL Americans be allowed the opportunity to love whom and how they see fit? After all, I'm free to love my 5'3' of rich, creamy goodness as we see fit; why do so many see fit to deny that to so many who happen to be guilty only of being wired differently?
Sadly, there are far too many Americans who see legislating morality as their birthright...as if being heterosexual Christians somehow confers some sort of superiority upon themselves, their beliefs/prejudices, and their lifestyle. Unless my Sunday School teachers were complete idiots (certainly a possibility), I don't recall learning that Jesus hated gays and lesbians. I seem to vaguely recall something about loving our fellow man, about Christian charity and tolerance...or was that really only meant to apply to those who think, live, act, and love, as the majority do?
Look, there's a very simple solution to this "problem": if you are opposed to gay marriage...THEN DON'T HAVE ONE, 'kay? Shouldn't that be sufficient? We're all human beings; shouldn't we all be accepted for the uniqueness and humanity all of us possess? Eh, apparently not....
So many mixed messages. So little time. Now if I could just figure out who I'm supposed to hate...and why....
