If you have something to say...
Say it on the Huffington Post
If you have something to say...
Say it on the Huffington Post
"If the Supreme Court strikes down Prop 8 and rules DOMA unconstitutional, I'll be overjoyed," said gay rights activist John Smith. "I mean at that point, the gay rights movement will be pretty much over." Prominent activists throughout the gay and lesbian community seem to be in agreement.
The lesson we all can take from the vision of those who foresaw this week is that often in quests for social justice, what seems impossible at first becomes inevitable later. And it's those who are willing to bear the brunt of being told that their ideas are impossible that move us forward.
This week's Supreme Court arguments over the constitutionality of denying marriage to same-sex couples revive Lincoln's contempt for popular sovereignty, implicate his fervor for the Declaration of Independence and test his determination to forge a United States infused with its spirit of equality.
Our opponents' hatred for my marriage will never be stronger than my love for my husband Michael. Their disgust and disdain for our families can never surpass the depth of our commitment to our spouses and children.
How would the rights, happiness, love, unions and families of others diminish the blessings and rights enjoyed by those who currently have such rights? Does the suffering and agony of those who are deemed unequal enhance the lives of others?
Better for everyone -- Muslim, Christian, Jew, even Communist -- to live in a society which guarantees freedom of belief and practice.
I hope my findings will make more Americans aware of how religion shapes a judge's worldview, in a way similar to a judge's race, ethnicity, gender, and past life experiences. However, I hope the next Supreme Court nominee is not subject to a senatorial inquisition over his or her faith.
Regardless of what is said in the oral arguments, a reading of the merits briefs makes it clear that the Court will have to rule in favor of gay marriage, and will improve the lives of 130,000 legally-married couples in same-sex marriages.
There is a school of thought that a broad victory for marriage equality at the Supreme Court would galvanize the opposition and end up being a setback for the gay rights movement. I disagree. The side that can't afford to win or to lose at the Supreme Court this week is the anti-gay right.
People didn't ask us if we, as two men, were prepared to raise a child, and they didn't warn us about the importance of making sure our son has female influences (he does). They simply congratulated us and warned us to "kiss sleep goodbye." It's time for our laws to catch up with our culture.
What took the LGBT rights movement to this moment, and indeed what has taken us to moments of truth and potential victory more often than not, are those who went against the established leaders and groups and ultimately pushed an agenda from the grassroots.
As a woman of color, I am always frightened when I see a group being singled out for restricted rights. In this pivotal moment in our country's history, we must stand on the side of compassion and equality.
That swing of public opinion is a contrast to the much slower timing of past civil rights struggles, and explanations are open for debate. But more than a few have attributed the acceptance to entertainment.
The work for equality is holy work. It is work deeply rooted in the ancient call of the prophets to do justice and in the example of Jesus to stand with and advocate for those on the margins: to make manifest the power of God's inclusive love.
The sequester was set in stone for the next six months, so America is now going to learn what "budget cutting" really means.
What Adelaide's role was in the scam, if anything, is unclear. She did indicate that she knows enough and has a wealth of information that she could -- if she wanted to -- make public and attract a lot of interest.
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