An Amazing Must Read Article

[nudewoody]

Bob Ostertag Historian, Journalist, and Professor of Technocultural Studies and Music at UC Davis
Posted December 21, 2008 | 06:04 PM (EST)

Why Gay Marriage is the Wrong IssueIt's just plain sad what the gay and lesbian movement has come to. November 4 was so extraordinary, so magical. The whole world seemed to come together. Except for gays and

Comments

[nudewoody]

yes, I feel as though I've been saying this for awhile now, although Mr. Ostertag says it better than I am able too.

[nyrimmer]

I agree 100% and have always believed this. What we need in the USA is equal rights for all period end of story. It's bullshit to think gay marriage is going to make equal rights for all happen. There are countless straight ,bi,and gay couples,living out there who don't want anything to do with marriage.I don't recognize the states claim to sanction my relationships and I have no use for religion what so ever. Where does gay marriage leave me? It doesn't do a fucking thing for me and countless others like me and frankly I could care less, it's a non issue in terms of my life. What is an issue is not having equal rights under the constitution and until there is equal rights for all American citizens what this country is preaching to the rest of the world is absolute crap.

[audrabaudra]

"Gay marriage" has always been the Far Right taking an issue and dressing it up semantically to galvanise the flock so the politicos can get their hands on the MONEY. The main issue used to be abortion, but if Roe v. Wade were overturned, the majority of evangelical Republican proletariat voters would feel the battle were over. No more issue = lapsing voter turn-out = no more access to power for the Right leaders. The Far Right leaders parsed the debate further and further, to things like "partial birth abortions...WTF??? is the only response I could ever muster to that one...but it was time for something new to pick on

[abearius]

I beyond-agree with this.

[bunnykitteh]

What are you people talking about? This is ridiculous.

I support full equal rights for everybody in America. I don't believe we should have unequal rights depending on particular lifestyles so I fully support equal rights.

So he supports gay marriage? What?

Marriage--the M word and all--is a FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT in this country and in this state. If you have a problem with that, address it. But in the meantime, it needs to not be denied on the basis of some arbitrary gender discrimination.

I'm tired enough of having to explain that to fundies. Plz to be telling me why I should have to explain it to queers.

[nudewoody]

Honey, marriage sets up a distinct group recognized and defined by the state which are given "special benefits and rights" by the state which unmarried people are denied. Why not work for equal rights for everyone, whether they are married or not, whether their relationships fit with in the boundaries of those which the state would wish to define? I am partnered with two men at the moment. One of us has health care from work which offers spousal care, so how do we decide who gets left out?
Marriage IS NOT about equal rights.

[bunnykitteh]

You're talking about two different issues and your inability to separate them is harmful.

Marriage my not be about equal rights, as you said, but marriage rights are not actually about marriage!

Marriage rights ARE about equal rights, and so much more.

[nudewoody]

Now I'm confused!!?? Marriage rights are not about marriage? Then what are they about? Marriage is about an institution which at its very core is structurally discriminatory; marriage rights are about gaining access to the list of state defined groups which are permitted legally to participate in that institution. What part am I missing, what part are you missing?