« Read This | Main | Here Goes Nothin' »
March 29, 2004
Score One For the Forces of Darkness
All my earlier pride in Massachusetts is gone, at least temporarily.
The state legislature voted today to push ahead the Hate Amendment, which will cause gay couples to continue enjoying second-class-citizen status, and also cause me to swear loudly in my car as I did listening to Gov. Mitt Romney -- saying he will now go back to the SJC, asking them to take backsies on their "no compelling Constitutional right to deny" decision. Which is his only tactical move; since MA voters can't vote on the Hate Amendment until 2006, the last thing Mitt wants is to see an outpouring of love and commitment that will make the electorate realize he's in the wrong.
And that wacky Boston Archdiocese - last seen shuffling child abusers around rather than confronting them - stepped in again, saying in a video that says civilization will crumble if the Hate Amendment isn't passed:
Unlike race or gender, the video says sexual orientation is not an 'immutable trait' and, therefore does not deserve 'special preferences.' Gay marriages and civil unions would also change how children are taught at school and 'accelerate the death of marriage,' it says.
Two things. Accelerate the death of marriage? Marriages aren't like Honus Wagner baseball cards; increasing the number doesn't make them less valuable.
And we can debate all night whether homosexuality is an 'immutable trait' or not (although, frankly, we don't really think it's debatable), but it's pretty obvious that some things -- like, let's say, RELIGION -- are not immutable. Therefore, by the Archdiocese's own logic, there should be no special preferences based on religion. Like tax-exempt status and faith-based funding, to rattle a couple off the top of my head. Is this a can of worms (or a Diet of Worms?) the bishop really wants to open now?
The only silver lining is that civil unions - thought impossible just three years ago - are the bare minimum, and are even provided for in the Hate Amendment. But it's a small lining, and I don't plan to shut up about this until my gay friends and neighbors are able to belly up to the marriage-lunch-counter with the rest of us. The forces of darkness scored a win in today's battle, but the war is going against them.
(PS - Kudos to my State Rep., Timothy Toomey, for voting against discrimination. Would that my state Senator (Travaglini) and my governor were as committed to equality.)
Filed Under: Politics | Permanent Link, Comments (4) | Linking Blogs
Comments
In this day of MTV music videos and microwavable beef stew, I've got nothing to say about the issue itself, just wanted to send mad props out to Honus Wagner. Greatest shortstop of all time? You be the judge.
Posted by: Andy | March 30, 2004 09:59 AM
I share Senators with you (see our letter to him) but to be fair to Senator Travaglini, I think he managed to pull a rabbit out of a hat. As I wrote in my blog entry, this "compromise" amendment could be a brilliant tactical move. After all, who wants to vote for it? No one. And if it doesn't pass, well, gay marriage becomes rule of law. Action through inaction.
Posted by: Gene Koo | March 30, 2004 12:48 PM
Your incisiveness awes me! I will check out Gene's blog for a legally minded view. But, speaking strictly of entertainment value (since I am exhausted from the rest), I did think Travaglini proved surprisingly swah-vay. I like when he gets a little feisty, as in: "The rule that the Chair has highlighted--is appropriate. And your question is--inappropriate" (3:45 PM, 3/29/04). Also, just how much of a lunkhead is Mitt Romney? Reilly had already told him no go BEFORE he went on TV to make his courageous stand in the schoolhouse door.
Posted by: Secret Agent Cathy | March 31, 2004 08:45 PM
Duh (fixed my url).
Posted by: Secret Agent Cathy | March 31, 2004 08:47 PM
