National - Wednesday, November 4, 2009 12:03 - 17 Comments
Evaluating the Causes and Effects of Maine’s Prop 1 Passage
Well, here we are: 0 for 31. That’s gay marriage’s track record when put up for statewide referendum in this country, which is to say, in 31 states that have put the issue of same-sex marriage up for vote, it’s been voted into illegality every single time. Maine was supposed to be different. So was California.
Some people are claiming this as a sign, as a resounding referendum on this nation’s views of same-sex marriage. You know what? It’s hard to argue with that. Gay marriage isn’t gay rights; it’s the thorniest splinter of the thorniest national social issue this side of abortion.
That’s an important distinction. Those who worry about the “silent majority” of gay rights opponents, the people you rarely meet in the city but see in the news holding signs and public prayers, have little to fear. America does not oppose gay rights. Or, to be more specific, a majority of this country does not oppose ensuring that queer citizens receive the same rights as anyone else. That’s a fact, yes.
I was really sad about Maine; in a way, sadder than California, because Cali was such a national moment, where God’s children screamed at San Francisco loud enough to bring fear back to the state. Coming on the heels of Barack Obama’s election, nobody really had time to feel sad about California. Sure, some of us were disgusted and appalled by the results, so disappointed to see California vote to deny its gay citizens the right to marry. But it was the dawn of a new day! Obama would walk into the White House, so many of us believed, and with a wave of that magic wand he used to rocket himself to victory in the election, he’d make this country understand that gays and lesbians were alright.
City - Tuesday, September 22, 2009 10:30 - 3 Comments
Mayor Predicts Zero Chance for Gay Marriage, Hopes There’s Still Chance for Gay Marriage
LGBT ally and NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg said that the chances of a gay marriage bill passing the State Senate this year are “zero, zero,” according to the Gay City News. Yep gay readers, you heard that correctly, a zero-zero chance. As in, 00%. Sheesh.
Fortunately, Hizzoner hasn’t completely lost hope. Bloomberg added that, despite limited possibility of gay marriage in New York anytime soon, he may actually be awesome enough to convince a few Republican senators to subdue their opposition. Of course, any of these persuadable senators – specifically, Brooklyn’s Martin Golden and Queens’s Frank Padavan – would represent districts including New York City, which isn’t exactly God’s country.
