Wisconsin started registering domestic partnerships yesterday. Wisconsin passed a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman, so domestic partnerships are the closest to marriage same-sex couples can expect to get until the ban is overturned by the voters, or more likely the Federal Supreme Court. Domestic partnerships were the consolation prize for gays and lesbians in states that have over zealous right wing activists who will jump at the opportunity to prevent gays and lesbians from having full marriage equality. It was the “sanctity of marriage” argument that won them 30 state constitutional amendments banning same sex marriage. Some in the gay community thought domestic partnerships were a safe alternative with the philosophy, “if it is the word that bothers them, let’s call it something else.”
It is not the word “marriage” that bothers them, it is gay people that bother them. They would prefer our families to be completely isolated from society — completely separate. They do not want to share ANYTHING with us. In Wisconsin the fundamentalists immediately filed suit against the state, claiming domestic partnerships are “close enough to marriage” to violate the constitutional amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman. Ultimately the court will decide whether domestic partnerships are marriage or not. The court will determine if the thousands of families that register prior to the decision will get to keep their domestic partnerships or whether they will be invalidated. If they lose at court, the fundamentalists will likely go back to the voters to change the amendment to prevent domestic partnerships. They won’t rest until all references to us in the law are gone, until we can’t visit our partners in the hospital, until we can’t leave our property to the people we choose, until we are illegal just for being who we are so they can lock us up.
They won’t rest and they will find every opportunity to attack us. This morning I received an e-mail that AAA (American Automobile Association) finally recognizes same sex relationships for their family plans. I thought it was AAA that sent the message because I’m a member, so I was feeling pretty good about it. I was planning to call them at lunch to add my partner. But no, it was from the American “Family” Association:
The American Automobile Association (AAA) has begun offering “Family Memberships” to homosexual couples, recognizing the homosexual couple as being “married,” according to a homosexual activist organization in Florida.
Thirty states have overwhelmingly voted to define marriage as being between one man and one woman. Yet AAA is treating homosexual couples as if they are married.
The homosexual couples need only state that they are married to receive the family benefit. In the eyes of AAA two homosexuals living together constitute “marriage” and make a “family.” All they have to do to get the “family membership” benefits is to say “we are gay and married.”
They called on their followers to whine about this as much as possible. They hope to reverse AAA South’s decision to include all families in their policy, even though AAA is a private club with private memberships. But I’m not surprised, the AFA would prefer to jail us.
If we allow extremists like the AFA and others to take away rights from one group of people, they will ultimately go after everyone’s rights. They would like to rule this country with a theocratic hand similar to the Taliban. They will lie, cheat, and do anything possible to get their way. Fair minded Americans, hear my warning now. Stop these people. You must help us protect ourselves so we can protect each other from their heavy handed extremist point of view.
Yes, business by business, state by state, our civil rights movement moves on as we defend ourselves. In Washington approve referndum 71 to preserve domestic partnerships. In Maine vote no on No. 1 to protect marriage equality. In Iowa elect fair minded representatives and do not change your constitution. In California, overturn proposition 8 and return to marriage equality. In Washington DC join us for the National Equality March October 10 – 11, because we will only achieve fully equality by winning at the Federal level.
I am hopeful when I think about our neighbors to the north in Canada. They enjoy marriage equality at the federal level and have for several years. The debate is largely over for them. Their religious foes have moved on, because as we can all see the sky has not fallen. The end of the world is not here. Heterosexual marriages are not suffering. Children are still children and they are happy to be happy. Our foes realize this, but they will continue to lie and scapegoat, and cheat and attack because this is their way. This is their last stand. Once they lose Federally they will lose for good, because our country will know that their lies are evil and hate filled. We will learn our lesson. We will learn like we have so many times before when civil rights are denied from one group of people. We will learn like when we ended slavery. We will learn like when women became voters. We will learn like when we ended segregation. We will learn like when we elected our first black president. We will learn that no one group is more superior to another, and the government — the people have no right to create artifical separations. Yes we will learn. We will grow, and we shall overcome.
