Today, June 14, the Massachusetts legislature is set to take the first full step in eradicating the right of "same sex" marriage. Just one more vote needs to happen and a mere 50 (you read that right, not even a majority) State Reps and Senators can put the issue on the ballot and it will then be decided not by the voters but by whichever side has the most money for TV advertising. That side is the Christian right-wing bigot side who have free access to tax-free money donated by the folks who go to their churches and give, give, give trying to save their almighty souls.
If straight people were a beleaguered minority, they would never win a majority vote to attain a right to marry. Because we would see a long line of ads about how straight people beat and sometimes kill their spouses! They sexually abuse their kids! Half of their marriages break up anyway! Then they don't support their children! The happy, lasting marriages of straight people voters knew wouldn't matter. Sensationalistic ads trump common sense all the time. Anyone who is within commuting distance of Boston's Statehouse needs to show up there today. No excuses.
You may say that standing either inside or outside the Statehouse, " Is not my style. I'm not an activist!" First of all, no shit you're not an activist. If you were an activist you would be organizing the protest, not wondering whether you should show up. Civil rights are not a fashion statement like a faux-hawk or cowboy boots, one year on the "In" column and another on the "Out". Civil rights and equality are timeless and never go out of style.
You may say that you're too busy, preparing to move, showing your parents around town, sleeping off your hangover, hanging out with your friends, washing your hair or doing your nails. You should know that the right-wing will, as usual, will bus people in from places like New Jersey to hold signs and make noise for the other side. The right-wing has won a lot of battles and will continue to win them unless people like you get motivated. "Gay" marriage is just the beginning of rights they don't want others to have. If they succeed in eradicating a right, like "gay" marriage that the majority of this state supports, there will be no stopping them on their crusade to roll back the clock for everyone. Say goodbye to easy, legal access to abortion (they've already been largely successful there), to birth control, to porn and to equal rights for women.
You may say, "I have no plans to get married. Why should I bother?" If you are a queer person you surprised some previous version of yourself the first time you licked pussy or sucked dick. Most people do get married, even just to please their parents or for the insurance, immigration and inheritance rights (all of which are not guaranteed even now for queer marriage), even just for the gifts. Your poly, hippie, anti-establishment self just might someday want one or more of those things too. You have the right (now anyway) to get married for all the stupid reasons straight people do. That's what equality is.
You may say, "The Governor, the head of the Senate and the Speaker all support gay marriage, why should I worry?" The governor and Speaker were in place the last time the vote went against us. They mean well, but it's not their issue. If the vote goes against their wishes, their marriages are still valid and other straight couples will also be free to get married. And some so-called supporters like the idiots at Blue Mass Group seem to think our rights are a parlor game, that we need to play the game right (by calling a vote) instead of, you know, ensuring the equal rights of all people in the Commonwealth. We cannot trust these folks to fight for our rights. We need to do so ourselves. See you there.
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