| What an amazing night at the Legends Dinner! I was fortunate to attend last night at the Maplewood Country Club. It was incredible for so many reasons. So many of the people I respect so much in NJ progressive politics were there and were recognized for their incredible work. I saw a lot of friends from Blue Jersey as well. But it was a moment in history where we still stand to make a huge difference in so many lives.
It was a night of fun, but it was a major call to action. We CANNOT act as if the civil rights movement was over decades ago. Not when there are friends and family treated as second class citizens TODAY. Friends in same sex marriages that we are not allowed to call marriage because some wish to perpetuate discrimination. That is not equal protection under the law.
This week one of my best friends told me that he and his partner of 10 years are to be civil-unioned this month. I wish I could be happier, but I know the problems they are likely to still encounter because as one speaker last night remarked "Separate is NOT equal".
I am not a religious person but I do believe in karma. How can marriage be a bad thing - ever - for anyone? It is a promise of care, of strength, of support. How can we deny that to anyone? Why would we want to?
The ridiculousness of the situation was underscored by Cynthia Nixon last night who spoke of how when she was with a man for years her friends and family hounded her about not IF she could get married, but WHEN she WOULD get married. I get the same flak when friends and family ask WHEN Eric and I, who have been together for 13 years are finally going to get married. I used to always give a similar answer as Cynthia. I'd say I already have a toaster and a microwave and coffeemaker. Although I don't choose marriage for myself right now, I am damned if I am going to sit by and let my friends who are entitled to liberty and happiness like our Founding Fathers expressed so eloquently, be deprived of it. Especially in an age of war and hatred and destruction - when the entropy of our current world assails our spirits daily. We have Americans here who want to create something beautiful and good and harmonious. How in the world is that wrong?
That Laurel Hester had to fight to the end to get rights that should have been hers all along is a travesty. In a country where in some places, Eric and I would be considered married by now simply by being together this long. I am ashamed. Ashamed to live in a place where we are still not equal. Words do matter, and so do laws, and so does fairness, equality and basic decency.
I remember so clearly only twenty years ago when I was at work and heard another worker bragging about how he would wait outside the local gay bars with his friends just to beat up whoever came out of the bar. I was appalled and infuriated. Americans are still discriminated against, and even murdered in cold blood simply for being who they are. It STILL happens. TO THIS VERY DAY. We are not free until all of us are. And we are not EQUAL until we are no longer separated by ridiculous fears and words that ARE different. A Civil Union, it was pointed out last night, can actually get military folks fired for outing them or CAUSE descrimination because only SAME SEX couples get Civil Unioned.
I hope for my friends about to be Civil Unioned this month that I will soon be able to call them MARRIED and the state of NJ and the world will be as happy for them as I am. I want too that they have all the rights and privileges they deserve for making the world a more harmonious, loving and a better place.
Please help Garden State Equality any way you can and show support for Marriage equality here in NJ. The Legends Dinner was only last night, but Steven and Garden State Equality will be working hard every minute until we are all truly equal. Lets help them. |
