Posted by
Playful Walrus on Thursday, August 14, 2008 4:27:29 PM
Now the Los Angeles Times is running a piece trying to convince us that the “black community” supports neutering marriage licenses, and so if you want to be in step, you will, too.
They’ve run a commentary by Timothy Stewart-Winter, James C. Hormel Fellow in Lesbian and Gay Studies at the University of Chicago. And as part of such a worthwhile program, you know he’s going to have some clear-headed things to say, right?
At a Democratic presidential forum on gay issues last year, the Washington Post's Jonathan Capehart prefaced a question to Sen. Barack Obama this way: "Now, you and I both know that there's a homophobia problem in the black community."
Really? Homophobia? You mean to tell me that there are a lot of people in the “black community”, who, when they see a homosexual person, freak out and run away? I mean, that’s what people with arachnophobia do when they come across the relatively harmless spider. Or is homophobia "fear of engaging in homosexual behavior"? If so, why do you care? Or are you just using it to broadbrush anyone who does not enthusiastically encourage homosexual behavior?
That notion will be put to the test Nov. 4, when black voters in California -- expected to turn out in record numbers to support Obama -- also will face a proposition to put a ban on same-sex marriage in the state Constitution.
Again, it isn’t really a ban of anything. It is an affirmation that that people of California should have a say in how they issue licenses. He also used the imprecise phrase “gay marriage” throughout his commentary.
Across the country, black voters repeatedly reelect African American politicians who support gay rights.
Yes, sometimes it is because they are racist. Other times, it is because they agree with them on other issues. Regardless, neutering marriage licensing has an impact on all of us, not just gay people.
Obama, for his part, hasn't backed marriage for gays, but he did call Proposition 8 "divisive and discriminatory," whereas John McCain supports it.
So, the implication, by the standards of the homosexuality advocates, is that Obama is a bigot because he hasn’t backed neutering marriage. Of course, they won’t call him that. They just think he is a liar, and they like him for it. And please tell me what proposition, or law for that matter, isn’t divisive or discriminatory? By nature, all of them divide and discriminate. More weasel words from Obama.
Nonetheless, we can expect leaders of the religious right such as James Dobson and Tony Perkins to feature African American ministers prominently in their campaign to end gay and lesbian weddings in California.
It's a cynical strategy.
How dare they include African Americans! They should exclude them, because that wouldn’t be discriminatory or divisive, right?
Too often the media have played along.
Yeah, that dastardly mainstream media that is always doing the bidding of Dobson and Perkins!
Opposition to gay rights takes culturally specific forms, and Capehart was right, of course, that there is "a homophobia problem in the black community." But it's no worse than the homophobia problem in America that belongs to all of us.
What a load. I don’t accept this equating of support for the power of the people over judicial overreach, or affirmation of bride-groom marriage licensing as opposition to gay rights or homophobia. Unfortunately, it is an effective tactic by homosexuality activists – “If you don’t vote the way I want, even though it goes against your basic understand of life and your best interest, then you have a mental disorder or hatred towards me and anyone in your family who is gay.” It’s a lie, but they tell it so often.
Some of the responses on the website are quite interesting.
“Gay lover” wrote:
When a closeted gay man, marry's your daughter and after 10 years breaks her heart when he finally "comes out" and leaves her (or worse) -- do not complain. If they dont marry each other, they will marry our daughters.
Oh yes. The reason closeted gay men marry women is because they can’t get a marriage license with another man. Especially in a state where same-sex domestic partners have all of the trappings of being a spouse. Um, yeah. Neutering marriage licensing means a closeted gay man will never ever marry a woman. Sure.
“Kell Brigan” wrote:
You're confusing "Gay Rights" with "Marriage". Proponents of Prop 8 endorse the existing civil unions for same-sex couples. We are opposed to removing the right of children to be raised, whenever possible, by both of their natural parents. GLBT civil rights are already protected. We are opposed to the deliberate, casual creation of children whose destiny does not include knowing their real parents. Google "genetic orphans" to learn of victims orphaned from birth not through tragedy, but deliberately by the people who claim to "love" them. Proposition 8 is about CHILDREN'S RIGHTS.
Pretty good.
“Nelson” writes:
Prop 8 is NOT about Children's Rights. Stop using children to promote a heterosexist worldview.
Heterosexist? Oh brother. Hetero-normative is more like it. Heterosexual behavior is how all of us got here. 90-98% of the population is heterosexual. Both men and women make up society, and it takes both to perpetuate society. Deal with it.
Children riased in loving and caring homes is what is most important.
It is not very loving or caring to intentionally deprive a child of a mother or father.
Raising children in a heterosexual household doesn't guarentee anything.
Sure it does. It guarantees that they will be raised with both a mother and a father.
“Are you SERIOUS?!!” writes:
If this is about the kids, why not try to pass a law banning giving kids up for adoption? Why not ban adoption period?
Uh, this does not follow. Adoption can give kids both a mother and a father - often in cases where they wouldn't otherwise.
Most gay couples who want kids can have them without adopting children!
Not without other people involved, they can’t.
Go after their retched STRAIGHT parents who gave them up and leave us GAY people alone!!
That is a fallacy. Forcing us to change marriage licensing is not leaving us alone. It certainly isn’t asking to be left alone. It is asking for public affirmation.