Consequences

It seems I’m on a roll with the religious conservatives vs. the rest of us, so why not keep going.  I wrote this kind of in conjunction with the previous post, and when I realized they were in the same realm, just made a few changes to help the through line.

So, we want a dose of religious freedom, do we? And we want the government to recognize that freedom, right?  Yay…that’s awesome. We should totally do that! (Oh wait, we already do.) And what if there was a religion that defined marriage as a union of love and commitment between any two people, no matter their sex? Would the government then be compelled to allow such marriages to be civilly recognized? The self-proclaimed “righteous” would say no…

Dear, dear NY State Senator Ruben Diaz. Harbinger of all that is right. Moral compass of the people of New York. When your supporters and fellow counter-demonstrators proclaim “Homo is a no no” and “No Gay in the USA,” do you really believe that you’re on the right track? Does that make you feel as if your position is one of strength and good measure because you’re taking such a hard-line, "values-based" approach? Aside from the obvious wrongs of your position and how it is totally antithetical to your belief structure, I do applaud one thing, however, the conviction with which you believe. Unfortunately, those strong, hateful beliefs are so damaging to others, and you make them more so by working to force these beliefs on others. Believe with all your heart, but don’t rip mine out of my chest trying to make me believe the same. It’s time to stop hiding behind religion, Mr. Diaz, and start facing the citizens whose rights you wish kept from them. God did not elect you to the NY State Senate; the people did. Remember that – you are charged to represent ALL of us equally – Christian, Gay, Muslim, Lesbian, Buddhist, Transsexual, Agnostic, Jewish, Atheist…

Many of your colleagues thankfully, it seems, believe in equality. However, they’re terrified of the political ramifications of affirming that equality. How about the ramifications of denying those who support same-sex marriage?  How about the ramifications of denying civil and human rights to citizens, not just in your districts, but across the state? I call upon all those with the strength of conviction to confront those Senators, nay – any lawmaker – on the fence and tell them it’s time to “man up.” It’s time to do what’s right rather than what’s politically safe because it won’t be politically safe for long. And if and when you take the path of discrimination and prejudice, you will be held accountable; there will be no back-pedaling, no redemption. You will be reviled for your cowardice, rather than rewarded for the integrity and virtue you could display. Now, look again, and rethink those aforementioned political ramifications.

New Yorkers have been patient, but this is the time. David Patterson may have gotten so many things wrong during his tenure as governor, but right now, he’s so right. “The time for justice, the time for equality, the time for equal rights can never be any more urgent than right now.”