A dose of human rights...

There's so much debate about right and wrong on both sides of the same-sex marriage debate.  While I certainly advocate for same-sex marriage - I'm doing so because I just don't really see any rational argument against it.  Oh yeah, and because I'm gay and want to marry a man at some point in my life and thus begin my big gay take over of the world... Oh wait - scratch that last thought... (Note to self: don't let them in on your plans for world domination and gay-ification.)

My argument is founded on a basic civil rights rationale. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the United Nations in 1948 (with a yea vote from the US), outlined basic human rights and guaranteed those rights to every person. While not a treaty or other binding resolution, the document was used to define several items included in the UN Charter, which IS binding on all member states. The Declaration states that such rights are "without distinction of any kind." OK. Sounds pretty clear to me. Everything in there applies to everyone, regardless of, well, anything.

Article 7 continues with "All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination." Again - seems pretty clear to me. Everyone is protected from discrimination. Period. Got it.

Article 16 - 1) Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution. 2) Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses. 3) The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.

This latter article provides a little room for both conservative and liberal interpretations. I recognize that. Many conservatives would probably argue that it is the man and the woman who are given the right to marry one another. However, nothing in the document explicitly states that marriage is between a man and a woman, but just that men and women each have the right to marry. It doesn't say who they can and cannot marry. That would discriminate, wouldn't it? By using such language, the declaration is far ahead of its time (remember, 1948) by truly holding to its principles and NOT discriminating.

The Declaration was also established on the idea of family. Family, as defined by Merriam-Webster (granted, they put E.V.O.O in there...) is "a group of individuals living under one roof and usually under one head." It is also "the basic unit in society traditionally consisting of two parents rearing their children, also any of the various social units different from but regarded as equivalent to the traditional family, i.e single parent family." To all those out there that say same-sex marriage will destroy the family unit - I say - we ARE the family unit. Just different from yours. And, relax, that's ok. I'll leave your family alone to believe what you want to believe and enjoy the human rights you've been given - just give me the same respect and consideration.

Another declaration speaks to these rights as well. Arguably one of the single greatest sentences in the English language, and one of the strongest rebuttals of tyranny, the Declaration of Independence begins with, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, LIberty and the pursuit of Happiness." Should same-sex marriage be denied, that strong oppressive, tyrannical power, would be a direct affront to my rights under both the UN Declaration and the Declaration that formed the nation.

The rights guaranteed by and to humanity include religious freedoms as well. And I think that's an immensely important right to have. I don't think that any religious organization should be compelled to recognize same-sex marriage if that offends their beliefs any more than I should be compelled to believe what's written in the Book of Mormon, or believe that Jesus has come or hasn't come, or that Buddah is the way to enlightenment. But civil recognition is in order - and long overdue. That recognition begins with the realization that it is a Right (capital R, thank you) for two people who are of legal age, and consent to enter into the contractual obligation that is marriage, to indeed marry. Keep religion where it belongs - in church, temple, mosque - in its place of worship. Why is it necessary to force it upon someone else? Wasn't our country created upon rejection of such one-sided, oppressive behavior and invasion into the private lives of citizens? Do unto others, my friends...

An Open Letter to Newt Gingrich

You said on Fox News that there is a "gay and secular fascism in this country that wants to impose its will on the rest of us, is prepared to use violence...no matter what the law of the land."

First thing first. Will some people be violent? Sure. It happens. Most of us don't condone it and see it as antithetical to any cause. I'm sure I could go on about violent sects of the religious right, but a pissing match isn't my point.

As for gay and secular 'fascists'...well...come on! I'll only speak for myself here, but I don't believe in political and social Darwinism, a rejection of capitalist principles, or creation of a single party state. Individualism and the divergent ideas we have in this country can contribute to a great and balanced society. What we all need to realize is that it is through this individualism that we can come to pretty amazing, cooperative outcomes for our economic and social woes. I realize what you're doing is largely political posturing to drum up the conservative base; but if radical conservatives would just try, truly try, to work with the government we have for at least (and hopefully more than) the next four years, they could actually take some of the credit when things go well. The country has spoken and the leadership they currently desire differs greatly from what you embody. While your viewpoint is welcomed, your pejorative commentary is not.

And Newt - if you don't want our will imposed on you, stop trying to impose yours on us. Your idea of marriage comes from...religion? Historical "norms?" Your belief is that marriage is a sacred (read religious) institution between a man and a woman. Then how about we take away any rights the government has given to you because you are, in fact, married (twice divorced, might I add). If marriage is this purely religious establishment, it should have no government recognition - No additional rights bestowed upon married persons in a non-religious state. So while the government arguably has no place in the marriage business, there they are. As a fair and progressive nation, let's give that social equality to EVERYBODY, not just those with YOUR fascist viewpoint. If you and yours want to keep marriage a sacred institution between a man and a woman - Rock on! Fantastic! I won't go to your church to get married to my gay lover. But don't tell me I can't go to my welcoming community and express the love I share with the one person with whom I want to share my life.

Ultimately, nobody's trying to push anything on you. We all fully expect that you will continue to lead your narrow-minded life, cavorting with your narrow-minded friends and colleagues, spreading your narrow-minded hate, in your narrow-minded community. Fine. Live there. Do that. I don't have to like it. But don't you DARE tell me how to lead MY life, express feelings to MY friends and lovers, and interact in a respectful way with those in MY community.

Take a look at your own words and actions, Mr. Former Speaker. The law of the land is equality, liberty and justice. Perhaps, sir, you should learn to embrace and practice those ideals of which you speak BEFORE you speak of them.

Peace out

(Note: this post was originally published 4/19/09 on my Facebook page)

The blog begins...

It was time. I was getting pissed off. Or sometimes I was so elated I could hardly stand it. I needed an outlet for some of these - dare I say - feelings I was having. Why not give my friends and family a better understanding of who I am and what I stand for? Thus, time to blog. No?

Further inspiration came from - no joke - Bette Midler. Well, through Bette Midler, more precisely. The Divine Miss M covered a song by Howard Crabtree and Mark Waldrop called "Laughing Matters" from a musical review entitled When Pigs Fly which played Off-Broadway in 1996. The lyrics of the song speak to my mindset these days, and, surprisingly, after a bit of research, I learned that the show opened on my birthday (August 1) at the Douglas Fairbanks Theater. How fitting...

Anyway - the lyrics to the song are below. Please note that all lyrics are property and copyright of their respective owners and are strictly for educational purposes only.  

"Laughing Matters" from Howard Crabtree's When Pigs Fly

Conceived by Howard Crabtree & Mark Waldrop. Lyrics by Mr. Waldrop.

Live at 5, and CNN keep us all abreast

Of breaking stories that can tend to make us anxious and depressed. 

Problems with no answers hang on like some chronic cough. 

And every day some brand new issue rears its head to piss you off.   

Bad guys win, optimism’s wearing thin, 

Things are spinning out of control. 

Cynicism’s all the fad, world events could make us mad as hatters. 

Almost every day, some underpinning slips away. 

These aren’t laughing matters.   

Time bombs tick. People keep on getting sick. 

And a nickel’s not worth a cent. 

Wickedness and greed abound. 

Just as peace is gaining ground it shatters. 

Hate is here to stay, and justice goes to those who pay. 

Friend, these aren’t laughing matters.  

The truth is scarier, by far, than anything that Stephen King could write.

The stories in the paper are the daily small decline and fall spelled out in black and white.

Oh, what to do...what to do...

How to take a brighter view, when your noodle's totally fried?

Human spirits need to be leavened by a little levity,

So take those blues and bounce them off the wall.

Keep your humor, please.

'Cause, don't you know, it's times like these that

Laughing matters most of all.

I'll import some of my previous Facebook posts here for the sake of having it all in one place. And I welcome comments. But please keep in mind that there's enough anger and deep-seeded negativity out in the world. Keep the hateful comments to a minimum. As it is, it'll be hard to control my own frustration, but let's work on some constructive dialogue, shall we? I'm taking the lead from the song lyrics (corny - I know). There will be some heavy, heart-felt, stuff up here - the things that aren't laughing matters.

But I hope to have some mindless, good fun as well.  Because, laughing matters most of all.