Okay I admit it. Last night I attended another secret meeting of Faeries for Advancing the Gay Agenda Today (F.A.G.A.T.) With the great advances our efforts have realized recently, I feel it's no longer necessary to operate under a shroud of secrecy. Most Americans already know our true agenda anyway. Why not just be forthright, and operate in an atmosphere of complete transparency?
We are very near our goal of serving openly in the military. Once that objective is complete, we can begin our recruitment and transformation of the armed forces to support and uphold “The Gay Agenda”. Soon, gay marriage will be legalized nationwide, and we can begin teaching “The Gay Agenda” in public schools. Eventually, every teacher in our public schools will be required to pledge their support of “The Gay Agenda”.
Once we have educated a generation of America’s youth on “The Gay Agenda”, we can ban heterosexual marriage altogether. Procreation will be allowed only in strictly controlled laboratories. There, we will create the most beautiful, highly advanced homosexual human race ever. Pack up your survivalist gear and head for the hills. Yes its true America, we are coming after your children. Boolah! Boolah! Boolah!
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Notes On Equality and Judicial Purview
On a more serious note... While I watched the celebrations last night in the streets of California and beyond, I was reminded of a conversation I had nearly twenty years ago. At the time, I had a roommate who'd recently moved here from Canada. We were discussing equal rights for gays & lesbians, and he made a point I've never forgotten: "Gay rights will never be decided at the ballot box, or by legislation. It will be decided in the courts, where it belongs. It is a constitutional question...and as such, it is the purview of the courts." It took me by surprise that someone from another country could so eloquently explain to me, where we would be today.
Personally, I could care less if I ever get the right to be legally married. That is not the issue. The heart of the issue lies in two simple questions: One, Do we believe in the separation of church and state? And Two, are separate laws that purport to convey the same rights, truly equal?
On the first question, the only basis for opposition to legal gay marriage is religion. However, religion defines marriage within the confines of the religious institution...not government. Conversely, civil law defines marriage within the confines of the institution of government...not religion. The two must remain separate if we are going to maintain true religious freedom.
On the second question, opponents of marriage equality purport that "civil unions" grant the same rights as marriage. That is false, but that is not the issue. Separate can never be equal. That question was asked and answered, long ago. As long as the law sees gays and lesbians as "separate" they will never be equal. And those who seek to define homosexuals as "less than" or "deviant", will continue to legitimize their ostracization, Such an atmosphere will continue to foster hate crimes against our community. "Anything less than equal is just that...less than equal."
Two issues. Separation of church and state. And, separate but equal equality. Everything else is just noise.
Personally, I could care less if I ever get the right to be legally married. That is not the issue. The heart of the issue lies in two simple questions: One, Do we believe in the separation of church and state? And Two, are separate laws that purport to convey the same rights, truly equal?
On the first question, the only basis for opposition to legal gay marriage is religion. However, religion defines marriage within the confines of the religious institution...not government. Conversely, civil law defines marriage within the confines of the institution of government...not religion. The two must remain separate if we are going to maintain true religious freedom.
On the second question, opponents of marriage equality purport that "civil unions" grant the same rights as marriage. That is false, but that is not the issue. Separate can never be equal. That question was asked and answered, long ago. As long as the law sees gays and lesbians as "separate" they will never be equal. And those who seek to define homosexuals as "less than" or "deviant", will continue to legitimize their ostracization, Such an atmosphere will continue to foster hate crimes against our community. "Anything less than equal is just that...less than equal."
Two issues. Separation of church and state. And, separate but equal equality. Everything else is just noise.
Quotes of The Day: On Equality
"The best principles of our republic secure to all its citizens a perfect equality of rights." ~Thomas Jefferson (3rd US President and Author, Declaration of Independence)
"The assertion that 'all men are created equal' was of no practical use in effecting our separation from Great Britain, and it was placed in the Declaration not for that, but for future use." ~Abraham Lincoln (16th US President and Emancipator of the Slaves)
"It is bad to be oppressed by a minority, but it is worse to be oppressed by a majority." ~Lord Acton of Aldenham (Author, The History of Freedom in Antiquity)
"The assertion that 'all men are created equal' was of no practical use in effecting our separation from Great Britain, and it was placed in the Declaration not for that, but for future use." ~Abraham Lincoln (16th US President and Emancipator of the Slaves)
"It is bad to be oppressed by a minority, but it is worse to be oppressed by a majority." ~Lord Acton of Aldenham (Author, The History of Freedom in Antiquity)
Clip of The Day: Prop 8 The Musical - Reprise
In a less-than convoluted effort to bring today's blog full circle, I offer some additional satire. This clip was produced during the Proposition 8 campaign by the folks at "Funny Or Die". Full of familiar famous faces, it is both entertaining and enlightening, as any good comedy should be. Enjoy...
Prop 8 - The Musical (3:16)
Prop 8 - The Musical (3:16)
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