CELEBRATE EQUALITY? HARD TO DO IN INDIANA!

Yes, I am extremely happy to be standing on the right side of history today, but forgive me if my celebration is short lived.  While I am happy for my LGBT community and brothers and sisters in states that have passed marriage equality laws, I happen to reside in Indiana.  Indiana, where on the very day of SCOTUS rulings striking down DOMA and throwing out California's Prop 8, Governor Mike Pence released a statement praising SCOTUS.  He did not praise them for their votes "for" equality, but for their decision to uphold individial states' rights to determine their own course on the "issue" of marriage equality.

Governor Pence issued the following statement with regard to the United States

Supreme Court decisions in U.S. v. Windsor and Hollingsworth v. Perry.

 

“I believe marriage is the union between a man and a woman and is a unique institution worth defending in our state and nation. For thousands of years, marriage has served as the glue that holds families and societies together and so it should ever be.

 

While I am disappointed that the Supreme Court has overturned the federal Defense of Marriage Act, I am grateful that today's decisions respect the sovereignty of states on this important issue. These decisions preserve the duty and obligation of the states to define and administer marriage as they see fit.

 

Now that the Supreme Court has had its say on the federal government’s role in defining marriage, the people of Indiana should have their say about how marriage is understood and defined in our state.

 

Given that opportunity, I am confident that Hoosiers will reaffirm our commitment to traditional marriage and will consider this important question with civility and respect for the values and dignity of all of the people of our state.

 

I look forward to supporting efforts by members of the Indiana General Assembly to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot for voter consideration next year.”

 

He is "confident" that Hoosiers will "reaffirm our commitment to traditional marriage and will consider this important question with civility and respect for the values of all of the poeple of our state"?  Really,  how can you consider such an issue with "civility" and "respect" "of all the poeple of our our state" when this type of action will have a direct negative effect on a portion of "all the people of our state"?  OUR STATE Mr.  Governor.  Remember it is not just your state, sir.  I am a HOOSIER, born and raised, and I am GAY! This dies not make me any less a citizen of this state. I, and my LGBT brothers and sisters, deserve equal rights as provided by the United States Constitution! It is time!  I plan to continue to stand with my partner and work to see that the equality supported by the Supreme Court of the United States exists for every citizen in every state. 

 

I stand on the side of history that supports equal rights for ALL, not just the few and priviledged.  I stand on the side of history that supports LOVE and the right for all Americans to love a person, not a gender.  When you stand up for your rights because you are proud of who you are and you find love that you want to share "til death do you part", then you should be able to exercise the right to enter into marraige as you wish.  No government entity should be able to stifle the rights of any group based on the "religious" beliefs of the individual members who make up that entity.  Elected officials have a right to their constituency, but they also have a responsibity to uphold legal constitutional rights and the equal treatment of all under any laws they should enact.  I am proud to stand on the "right side" of history today, I just hope that I continue to stand on this side while residing in my home state in the future.

 

PLEASE, if you have any leaning toward making a statement on this issue, do it.  Contact legislators, write letters, sign petitions, make your voice heard, and show where you stand.  History is continuing to be made daily, what side will you be on when your time is through.  For my family, my friends, and my fellow Hoosiers I will continue to stand for equality and love for ALL!

 

 

SCOTUS EVE

On this eve of the final day of the SCOTUS (Supreme Court Of The United States) session, I am filled with cautious optimism and anxiety.  Not because I expect any wide sweeping rulings on behalf of equality, but because any step toward equality through rulings on these two cases is a positive step for equality for all.  California's Prop 8 and U.S. DOMA are both landmark cases for even being heard by the justices.  Now we await the 9 opinions that (at this time) matter most.  

The justices of the court will rule based on their "interpretations" of the US Constitution and the constitutionality of the cases before them.  The LGBT community knows what we hope to see from the justices, and we might even have a pretty accurate prediction of what the outcome will be.  However; to say our fate lies in the hands of these 9 justices, is not accurate.  It fate lies in the determination we have as a community to stand up for one another and continue to push the envelope until equality is something text books define as the "equal treatment of ALL citizens despite any difference in creed, race, religion, or orientation.  



 12 year old son shared on his Instagram 

 

As we await the "rulings" from SCOTUS, let us join together all LGBT allies, and pledged to continue to stand for equality for all.  Many in the LGBT community have asked continually for supporters to "turn it red" by changing social media profile pictures and posting photos of support.  That is a great way to show support and "unity", but where are our "straight allies"?  Where do they stand in this historical time in history?  Unity means that we stand together with our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and straight brothers and sisters.  We can be the change we want to see in the world, if we stand TOGETHER to make the change happen.



No, tomorrow may not be the outcome we hope for, but this battle has changed public opinion and increased support for equality for all.  We must not celebrate too much or cry to loudly once the rulings are handed down tomorrow morning. We must instead continue to rise up and rise above.  We must continue to be who we are, love who we choose, and be faithful to the cause of equality for everyone, not just our LGBT community, our particular race, or our chosen religion.  We must stand on the right side of history when the final tide turns and we are all determined to be equal, not only in vision, but also through law! 


"And a certificate on paper

Isn't gonna solve it all

But it's a damn good place to start

No law's gonna change us

We have to change us

Whatever god you believe in

We come from the same one

Strip away the fear

Underneath it's all the same love

About time that we raised up"

from MACKLEMORE & RYAN LEWIS - SAME LOVE 

SAME LOVE VIDEO