Wednesday, February 08, 2012

A good day to be gay

I don’t mean to gloat – oh, who am I kidding, I’m totally gloating – but yesterday was a pretty fucking good day to be gay. Prop. 8 was ruled unconstitutional, again, this time by the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. This is a Joe Biden-worthy Big Fucking Deal. This is a federal court. This is probably headed to the Supreme Court next (with a possible pit stop first to the full Ninth Circuit). Granted, the marriage ban stay remains in effect. And the ruling was relatively narrow, meaning is upheld it would only apply to California. But still, a win is a fucking win. High five, gays and friends of gays. High fucking five.

Also yesterday, avowedly anti-choice and rigidly conservative Komen for the Cure Vice President for Public Policy Karen Handel, who was behind the Planed Parenthood funding debacle, resigned from the group in a defensive huff. How dare we think someone who during her failed, Sarah Palin-endorsed run for Georgia governor who vowed to defund Planned Parenthood and said in her own campaign blog that, “I do not support the mission of Planned Parenthood” have a political agenda when defunding Planned Parenthood? How dare we! Though, lest you think this resignation is only a win for the pro-choice/progressive forces of light, it’s also a nice don’t let the door hit you in the ass for us gays. Because during that same failed gubernatorial run, Handel said she was “wholeheartedly” against gay marriage, civil unions, domestic partner benefits and gay adoption. And when asked why she was against civil unions and gay marriage her response was this: “Why is marriage between one man and one woman? (Laughs). Are you serious?” Like I was saying – door, ass. Buh-fucking-bye.

Look, we don’t always win. In fact, we’ve been on the losing team for pretty much ever. But the good news has always been that we’re on the right side of history. So yesterday was a bit like Big Gay Christmas. Because as important and essential as it is to continue to fight injustice, we should also celebrate and revel in our victories. That doesn’t mean we rest on our laurels. But as Martin Luther King said, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.” So on that long road toward equality, we have to appreciate each little bend in our direction.

And in the end, it is the very words of the court decision itself that speak the loudest for justice. You can read the full opinion here. As Judge Stephen Reinhardt wrote in the majority opinion:
“All that Proposition 8 accomplished was to take away from same-sex couples the right to be granted marriage licenses and thus legally to use the designation of ‘marriage,’ which symbolizes state legitimization and societal recognition of their committed relationships. Proposition 8 serves no purpose, and has no effect, other than to lessen the status and human dignity of gays and lesbians in California, and to officially reclassify their relationships and families as inferior to those of opposite-sex couples.”

Yeah, it was a good day to be gay yesterday. And, really, everyday. Because we know where that long arc is going. And we won’t stop until it gets there.

15 comments:

kumiko mae said...

great day to be gay. be a great gay every day :D

sarcofugus said...

Damn right!

The world just got a little bit brighter :)

Have a good day Ms Snarker (and maybe host a massive freaking party)!

AprilLove85 said...

damn snarker that almost made me cry. It was a damn good day.

Anonymous said...

As always, Dot, nicely said!

Anonymous said...

"We know where that long arc is going. And we won’t stop until it gets there."

And you *will* get there darling. If for no other reason than that it suits the New World Order agenda that you get there.

“But the good news has always been that we’re on the right side of history.”

I suppose that very much depends on how you choose to define “we”, because if “we” includes the many scumbag closet cases (past and present) who help ‘preside’ over this planet then no, I am afraid I cannot echo that sentiment Snarks darling.

The world is run on shame folks. You do not get to penetrate the upper echelons unless you are bribe-able! If that shame only stretched so far as an occasional (or even not so occasional) same sex affair that would be fine (in a pathetic sort of a way). The problem is that many of those bribe-able people in the public eye indulge in some of the *very worst* perversions going along with their same sex affairs. (We’re talking kiddies here folks.)

PD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mULDf1Zp4GI

Anonymous said...

"If that shame only stretched so far as an occasional (or even not so occasional) same sex affair that would be fine (in a pathetic sort of a way)."

What the hell am I saying??? A system run on shame and bribery is, by definition, corrupt and rotten to the core regardless of what form that bribery takes!!!

Sheesh PD, get a grip!

J9 said...

So yesterday was a bit like Big Gay Christmas.
Merry Christmas darling!

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Anonymous said...

I enjoy your blog and appreciate your posts about both pop culture and politics. This could be a very good week to be gay as the Washington House of Representatives is slated to vote on our gay marriage bill today and Governor Gregoire has promised to sign. It passed the State Senate last week. Opponents want to put it to a vote this fall so this week's CA ruling could have a big impact.

Anonymous said...

High f*cking five, indeed!

Anonymous said...

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE Stop acting as if this ruling is a milestone.

Marriage equality is INEVITABLE now that some states and the District of Columbia allow it. The Problem lay in how long will it be before ALL states allow it? States cannot violate the full Faith and Credit portion of the Constitution meaning that all states must recognize the laws of other states in Interstate Commerce. This is like D-U-H

This is why TeaPubliKKKans want Americans to remain stupid.

There will not be a United States where 2 people of the same sex who are married will not be recognized, but that may not happen in our life times. It's called:

"Deliberate Speed" and means that it will virtuslly take FOREVER to happen but it WILL happen.

Anonymous said...

It *was* a great day.

Except that this happened, too.
http://allout.org/en/actions/russia_silenced

Jane said...

Thank you!
I know that I can always come to your blog to find out what's happening in the world of politics, ideas AND popculture - and that your words will be thoughtful and insightful.

I might be thousands of kilometres away, but these things make ripples that eventually touch every corner of the globe.

shell said...

Whoo Hoo! Now which line do I stand in to get those straight people tax breaks?

Anonymous said...

The highest of fives!! Suck it, Karen Handel. Cgrrl