Maine Lets Equality Reign
Maine signed another same-sex marriage. And that’s awesome. What was even more awesome, however, were these two passages in the New York Times article:
“It’s not the way I was raised and it’s not the way that I am,” the governor said in a telephone interview. “But at the same time I have a responsibility to uphold the Constitution. That’s my job, and you can’t allow discrimination to stand when it’s raised to your level.”
…
The House chamber in Augusta was thick with emotion on Tuesday as many legislators openly wept and revealed personal details. One told her colleagues for the first time that she has a lesbian daughter; another wept as he explained that he, as a white man, would not have been able to marry his wife of 25 years, who is black, if a law had not been changed. Other legislators spoke of sleepless nights debating how to vote.
via Maine Governor Signs Same-Sex Marriage Bill – NYTimes.com.
The first quote sums up my feelings EXACTLY as to why the gov needs to drop the BS and get rid of separate but equal — or even separate and nothing at all.
When I read the second passage, I envision this cathartic, almost religious confessional of all these secrets that people had been scared to reveal because they were afraid of being labeled or judged by their colleagues. Instead of reinforcing the stereotypes and perpetuating fear, these brave men and women decided to open up, follow their hearts and allow love and equality to prevail.
For my generation–and those younger than me–the labels of gay, straight, black, white, man, woman don’t mean anything. It’s time we let go of all of these labels and hang ups and start solving this country’s problems (poverty, education, etc.). Will we be able to do it? Or are we headed for another 1960′s-like culture war?
