In Arizona, the slogan for taking away marriage rights for gays was, "Yes to Marriage!" This offends me. First, by voting "yes" you are actually saying that, No, gay people cannot get married. Secondly, what are you saying then? Are you saying that the only people that can get "married" are straight people? Why should straight people be allowed to get married and gay people not? Is there a difference? I personally do not understand an amendment to take away people's civil rights could just be voted on like that and taken away at the drop of the hat.
Now to be honest, I hate it when opponents of gay marriage say that "they should just get a civil union, it is the same thing." My response, if it was the same thing then straight and gay people would get civil unions and no one would be getting married. They are not the same thing. Some straight couples do elect to have a civil union, not a marriage. But they choose that, they are not being forced into it.
Grant and I were talking about this a few days ago, when a girl that I knew posted a note on facebook about this subject. Actually it started off as why do people think they are entitled to rights, like Women's rights. (Seriously.) Then it turned into gay rights and gay marriage. I expressed to Grant that I was really upset about this. He listened, as he normal does, Rafiki licked my face to comfort me. Then Grant spoke. He said that whenever people say that gays should just get a civil union, that he responds by saying, 'so you want a separate but equal marriage institution.' A light went on in my head. EXACTLY!!! That is it. Thank you Brown v. Board of Education. Separate is not equal.
A civil union is a separate marriage-type of institution. Offering a separatel type of marriage institution is not equal it can never be equal.
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