| Have you seen the videos of the gay and lesbian couples getting married? They are just amazing and I have found myself verklept countless times. This one is my favorite from the SacBee. In it is a middle aged lesbian couple who are just absolutely beaming as they walk out of their wedding ceremony and into the crush of media. Ellen Pontac says while raising Shelly's arm in the air: "I would like to introduce you to my wife Shelly Bailes". A reporter asks: "Shelly how does that sound?" Shelly: "It sounds absolutely wonderful, because this is my wife Ellen Pontac."
Those words arer so new and foreign to gay couples. For so long we have tried to build "partner" into something with the same meaning as "wife" or "husband". Despite our best efforts, it just doesn't have the same emotional impact.
That brings me to the word marriage, vs. civil unions. Just watch an anti-equality spokesperson tie himself in knots in the NYT today.
Mathew D. Staver, the founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel, said the ceremonies, which began on Monday, "make a mockery of marriage."
"Marriage has traditionally been known, across continents and all geographical regions, as between a man and a woman," said Mr. Staver, who is 51 and married. "Marriage between the same sex may be some sort of union, but it's certainly not marriage."
He tries to talk about marriage, but not call it marriage. It just doesn't work. That is the whole problem, in a nutshell, with trying to pass on fundamental rights under another name. Our society does not know how to deal with it and it creates different classes of citizenship. We don't treat people differently here in California and that should never change.
There is more love in this world today, because hundreds of couples get the right to call another person their wife or husband. There will be a time to fight to protect that love and those words, but for today, let's celebrate. Mazel Tov to all those who get to be just like everyone else today and may that always be true here in California. |
