Washington Post op-ed: experience may be trumping hysteria over gay marriage
David on Jul 6th 2007
I came across an interesting Washington Post op-ed published on July 5th regarding marriage equality and the hysteria that it seems to cause. It’s true; opponents warn of slippery slopes, crumbling intuitions and the inevitable erosion of society’s very fabric. The more ridiculous of marriage equality opponents caution that women will be marrying monkeys and men will be eloping with emus. But of course, none of that actually happens. As the Washington Post article points out, let’s look to Massachusetts to dispel these myths.
Marriage equality was legalized in Massachusetts back in 2004. And no, “the sky isn’t falling.” In fact, life goes on as normal for most folks. The difference is this: the inalienable rights of thousands of LGBTQ couples are now recognized legally.
Despite dire predictions, the institution of marriage didn’t crumble under the weight of homosexuals seeking the rights and responsibility that come with it. The sky didn’t fall in Massachusetts. Nor has it buckled in the District of Columbia and the five states that offer civil unions or domestic partnerships to gay couples. Washington state’s domestic partnership law goes into effect next month. Oregon’s domestic partnership law and New Hampshire’s civil unions take effect in January 2008. Acceptance of gay marriage is by no means widespread. Marriage is restricted to one man and one woman by constitutional amendment in 26 states and by state law in 19 others. But the tide is slowly changing. Opinion polls show growing acceptance of gay rights.
Indeed, slowly but surely, the opinion polls are changing. Heart by heart and mind by mind, we are ensuring that this movement will be victorious.
Progressive movements always win. We can look back at women’s suffrage, civil rights, disability rights, etc., and a common thread emerges. Progress always wins. Because these movements are rooted in power and truth, there is no force strong enough to hold them back.
We may be out numbered and grossly out funded, but because equality is in inalienable truth rooted in our existence as a human being, we are unstoppable.
