Marriage Equality is NOT the End All
December 21, 2009 by James Hipps
I think that marriage is a very important issue, and I firmly believe in, support and vehemently argue for marriage equality, however this is by no means the beginning nor the end of the “Gay Rights” movement.
LGBT’s can still be fired in 33 states without the option of legal recourse simply for being LGBT, and yes, it does happen. Housing can still be denied, and even with hate crimes legislation, you can still be murdered for being gay, only to crack the ice on this issue.
And much like the Civil Rights Movement did not eliminate racism and discrimination against people of color, marriage equality will not stop discrimination and hate against LGBT people.
Case in point, Canada.
According to a post at Sindh Today:
Canada’s first openly-gay cabinet minister has stirred a controversy by printing his picture with his married partner on the couple’s Christmas greeting card.
Scott Brison, 42, who in 2004 became Canada’s first openly gay cabinet minister and is currently an MP for the opposition Liberal Party, was targeted by nasty emails after the Christmas card showing with his partner featured in newspaper websites.
While the Globe and Mail website had to ban readers’ comments after hateful postings about the story, the Toronto Star didn’t open the news to readers’ comments, fearing hateful messages.
In the Christmas greeting card, Brison is seen with his spouse Maxime St. Pierre and their dog.
So even in lands where marriage equality is in place, there are still that homophobic population that can’t seem to let go of their hate, fear and ignorance.
Oh give me a damn break already!
Over a Christmas card? What is wrong with people?
Just to correct a detail that might leave a false impression here: Svend Robinson was in fact Canada’s first openly gay elected member of parliament. He came out in 1988, and had been acting as MP for Burnaby B.C. since 1979.
Mr. Robinson, however, had been elected repeatedly even after his coming out. Seven times in a row, in fact.
Mr. Brison is only the first “openly gay cabinet minister” because his party (the Liberal Party) was in power at one point, meaning he received a cabinet posting. There have been a number of other out members of parliament.
It’s a subtle distinction that American readers might not totally understand. A party is elected, and some of those elected are given “cabinet postings” (ie: “minister of [fill in the blank]). However, all elected representatives – regardless of whether their party is in the majority or not – carry the same voting weight in parliament. Whichever party happens to have the majority creates a “cabinet”, including Prime minister, and ministers for each department of government (Immigration, culture, finance, foreign affairs, etc…). It’s a difference with the American system. In Canada, anyone who is elected has a vote. Regardless of whether their party is “in power”. The prime minister does not have a veto power over the rest of parliament, like the U.S. President does. The P.M. is simply the head of whatever party happens to be the majority.
As for the “controversy”, I dare say it pales in comparison to the mildest of controversies in the U.S.
In this particular case, you are talking about a tiny, insignificant (albeit vocal) minority who are “up in arms” over this Christmas card.
I can assure you that rural Canada is a far better place to be gay than most large American urban centers.
I live in a small rural farming community, and my husband and I have had nothing but positive welcoming reactions from our fellow townsfolk. This article is making a tempest in a teapot; a mountain of a molehill. This story hasn’t even made the TV news here.
Yes, it is so unfortunate that hate and discrimination is still rampant, even after laws are passed. Having lived in Canada for 2 years though, generally speaking, their attitude is much more accepting than in the US, where attitudes toward gay marriage and live and let live, seems to be more in their core culture. But having said that, they do have their right wing bigots there and hate crimes, just like everywhere else.
Ken
http://rvbirdsofafeather.blogspot.com
Shocking to me that people find that passing a law should change prejudicial attitudes immediately. Attitudes about interracial marriage are still shifting in some states, so here’s the thing… Marriage Equality is the big win that will lead to winning other rights too, but attitudes will only change as we get out of our gay ghettos and win over our friends and family members. Marriage Equality is the beginning of the End All.