I've made no bones that laws and amendments preventing gay Americans the right to marry is simply outdated discrimination. So it was a major disappointment that our neighboring state, North Carolina, voted to amend their state constitution to outlaw gay marriage on May 8.
On the bright side, the next day, the President of the US affirmed his "evolved" personal support for marriage rights for same-sex couples:
"I have to tell you that over the course of several years as I have talked to friends and family and neighbors, when I think about members of my own staff who are in incredibly committed monogamous relationships, same-sex relationships, who are raising kids together; when I think about those soldiers or airmen or marines or sailors who are out there fighting on my behalf and yet feel constrained, even now that 'don't ask, don't tell' is gone, because they are not able to commit themselves in a marriage, at a certain point I've just concluded that for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same sex couples should be able to get married."
On May 14, rapper Jay-Z seconded President Obama's affirmation, that supporting gay marriage was "the right thing to do and as this WP Columnist noted, this endorsement from an international rap star may carry more weight than the President's. If a prominent and globally respected leader of the rap world takes a stand for civil rights for gay citizens in the hip-hop environment (which has a less-than-smooth history with homophobia--ironically including some of Jay-Z's lyrics), then I hope it's a promising sign for the rest of the free world.
On May 18, Joyce Banda, president of Malawi pledged to lift the country's ban on homosexuality, breaking ranks from much of Africa where gay marriage is not simply outlawed but a punishable crime. If she accomplishes this, it would be HUGE.
On May 19, the NAACP passed a resolution to support gay marriage. Simply stated by the President and CEO, Benjamin Todd Jealous:
“Civil marriage is a civil right and a matter of civil law. The NAACP’s
support for marriage equality is deeply rooted in the Fourteenth
Amendment of the United States Constitution and equal protection of all
people."
And so back full circle, right? Civil rights for all. Maybe I'm not dreaming too big after all.
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3 comments:
...and the worllllld will be as one.
i think given the amount of hoopla that surrounded ivy blue, jay z might be bigger than obama. :P
I was thrilled when Obama made this statement - affirming gay rights in no uncertain terms!
Thanks for the post, since I hadn't heard about Jay-Z... When the masses look back on this era of intolerance and dissatisfaction - and feel embarrassed - we will not be among them :)
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