Political Morsels and Other Droppings

I’ve been staying pretty quiet on an issue that was brought to my attention months ago. However, I have realized that I do need to say something about the vote on Question 1 in Maine. Gay marriage was legalized by Gov. Baldacci in May. So, enough intolerant jackasses got together with enough signatures to put it on the ballot in November. As an interesting side note, medical marijuana is also on the ballot.

Now, for those of you who aren’t familiar with the make up on Maine beyond Steven King and Sen. Snowe, the state is comprised of vacation homes for the likes of Martha Stewart (and the people of Bar Harbor can’t stand her) along the coast. However, the year-round residents include the more progressive, liberal types who make the more southerly parts of Maine their home. Well, except for the elder Bushes who live in Kennebunkport. When you get away from the coast and southerly parts of Maine, you enter the Land of the Conservative… with a few liberal-minded folks peppered in. This is the area of concern when it comes to things like extending full rights and benefits to all walks of life. Thankfully, the Portland area contains the largest metropolitan makeup of the whole state, which can be a good thing when it comes to deciding whether or not a segment of the population will lose the right to marry. Granted, Pat Roberston has an interesting take on the whole gay marriage deal.

I said interesting, not correct. You know, that’s the whole point of being gay in the first place. We were born to go rogue and create havoc on the institution of marriage. According to DivorceReform.org, the common causes of divorce are:

Poor communication
Financial problems
A lack of commitment to the marriage
A dramatic change in priorities
Infidelity

I don’t see “evil gays marrying” being listed anywhere in there.

However, the stance against gay marriage has turned from spoiling the concept of marriage to that of ruining the lives of children because gay marriage would be taught in the schools.

Okay, I don’t know about you, but I really didn’t learn much about straight marriage in school. Oh, and just because a child is exposed to all lifestyles doesn’t mean that Johnny is going to magically pick up a tiara and prance around in make up because he was exposed to the fact that same-sex couples that actually do exist!!! Now if Johnny is gay to begin with this might help him feel a bit better to know that there are other people out there that are like him who do find happiness in their lives with a partner. However, if Johnny is straight, I’m pretty fucking sure that Johnny will remain straight. If anything, he’ll accept those who are homosexual instead of acting like an ignorant jackass. Gee, there’s a concept. Don’t believe me?

I learned had Sex-Ed in school at least a half a dozen times and it didn’t turn me straight. Granted, I’ve never been able to look at balloons and bananas in the same light since, but I’m pretty sure my classmates haven’t either after watching a 60-something year-old woman conduct the demonstration.

No one should be able to deny others the equal opportunity of happiness. Your neighbor doesn’t tell you what shoes you can or cannot wear. Why should your neighbor be able to deny your loved one equal benefits and protections that he or she enjoys because you are different in a very slight way? You’re still human. You shop at the same grocery store, pay the same taxes, and are a functioning member of society.

My state does not allow gay marriage as of yet. However, I would like to believe that one day, when I met that non-psychotic, independent, liberal, educated, functioning member of society, (I have some standards) I would like to have the opportunity to share my life, my love, and my benefits (unless hers are better) through the union of marriage. I don’t have designs on killing your marriage. If you married your spouse for the right reasons, share open lines of communications, live at least 500 miles from your in-laws, you’re marriage will be fine. However, if your marriage does not last, it will end because it was not meant to be. It has nothing to do with Dan and Bob being married.

I don’t want to force a church to recognize me as being okay. I don’t believe a priest should be forced to perform a marriage that he does not believe in. That’s not what millions of gays and lesbians across this land are asking for. What we want is something joins two parties into a union that is full of love and beauty…. with an occasional argument about which mother-in-law gets to move in.

Why can’t we have the opportunity to finally be free in what is considered a “free society?” What is so damaging about gay marriage? Why would you want to be so ignorant as to deny someone right to happiness? (Or misery, if that’s how you want to look at it.)

My mom wasn’t happy when she found out that she had a lesbian daughter. She’s not an intolerant woman. Life is hard to begin with and we all face many challenges. Knowing this, and how harsh and ignorant people can be, she didn’t want either of her children to have any other barriers to deal with on top of the usual problems in life. She has no problem with the fact that I’m never going to bring a man with me to visit her. In fact, she’s always been able to listen to relationship problems that I have had in the past and has been there to lend a shoulder for more than one horrible break-up. She loves me for who I am and accepts me for something that I had no choice in. Had I the choice, I wouldn’t change anything about me to make my life easier. I like who I am, and the path I am taking in life.
If anything, I hope that more people will lose their insecurities and shed their ignorance so that being gay won’t have to be that much of an issue, so that we can accept who we are as well as others who make up the patchwork quilt of America. I don’t judge you because of your religion, the color of your skin, your taste in music, what pets you have, whether you recycle or not, (although, recycling is preferred) or even your political affiliation. I welcome all walks of life to intertwine with mine as long as there’s positive energy. I believe that by opening our arms, we are able to listen and appreciate each other. When we close ourselves off, we miss out on so much, and create our own handicaps that can prohibit us from true growth and compassion.
So please, if you know someone who lives in Maine, he/she is probably tired of watching the Question 1 commercials, but please have a discussion with him/her and share just how important it is to get to the polls on election day to vote NO on Question 1.