Soapbox

My posts are usually lighthearted observations about the world around me. Usually they are tongue-in-cheek or sarcastic. But here are some rare, deeper thoughts. Tonight was the night of the "Visible Vote '08," otherwise known as the great gay debate, where the presidential candidates came to a forum to discuss LGBT issues. Naturally, most of the Democratic candidates were present. An offer was made to the Republican candidates to attend but none accepted the offer. Does that really surprise anyone? Anyway, the forum was co-sponsored by the Human Rights Campaign and the Logo network, and it was aired on Logo. The forum was often described as groundbreaking and monumental. Without a doubt it was groundbreaking and monumental to have a forum dedicated specifically to LGBT issues. It could have been more groundbreaking if it was aired on CBS, ABC, NBC, or CNN, so that it could have reached a wider audience. Honestly, how many of you have even heard of Logo before reading this post? In any event and needless to say, the fact that it was hosted and aired at all is a big deal.

The debate was pretty interesting. Some candidates were surprising, others were less than exciting, and one probably should have stayed at home. There was a lot of talk about equality and equal rights and how we're all entitled to these things. However, with the exception of two candidates, everyone else avoided or would not endorse the dreaded M-Word (marriage). Sure, they all agreed that gays and lesbians should be entitled to the same rights and privileges as heterosexual couples, but we must call it "civil unions" and not "marriage." Some might say that it is all a matter of semantics and what difference does it make. If that is the case, that what difference would it make to call the commitment between a same-sex couple marriage? Why is that M-Word so scary and intimidating when applied to a same-sex couple? If we're supposedly entitled to the same rights, why not be entitled to the same defining term? To me this is almost equality.

I personally (obviously) don't understand the fear to begin with. Does the marriage of a same-sex couple harm anyone physically? Does it harm anyone economically or financially? No. It doesn't hurt anyone any more than the marriage of a straight couple. I highly doubt that granting equal rights and privileges and giving the commitment the term "marriage" will cause society to spiral out of control in mass hysteria. The world didn't end when African Americans were given the right to vote. I don't think it will end if a gay couple got married.

Naturally, people will bring up the religious argument of why a same-sex couple shouldn't get married. Well, if God is good and great, then I highly doubt that he would make any mistakes in his creations. And, yes, I said "creations." This is not a choice! And, remember, love thy neighbor, judge not, and cast no stones.

And, to wrap this up, if you really want a tongue-in-cheek moment, here it is. They say that the divorce rate among straight couples is usually around 50%. Then, shucks, why not give gay and lesbian couples the equal opportunity to completely fail at marriage, too?!