Gay Marriage
Gay Marriage and the National Football League
Published September 29, 2009 @ 05:05PM PT
Somebody must have slipped something into the Gatorade of the National Football League. Or, better yet, maybe we're finally seeing hearts and minds starting to change in the wide world of professional male sports. But within the past two weeks, two high profile NFL players have reiterated their support for marriage equality. And in doing so, at least according to some, they're potentially changing the hyper-masculinity of a sporting culture that all too frequently shames sexual orientation instead of celebrates it.
First it was Baltimore Ravens Pro-Bowl player Brendon Ayanbadejo, who penned an article on HuffPost supporting same-sex marriage and was subsequently honored by Equality Maryland. In his article, Ayanbadejo said "I think we will look back in 10, 20, 30 years and be amazed that gays and lesbians did not have the same rights as every one else. How did this ever happen in the land of the free and the home of the brave?"
A profound question. And a question that fellow NFLer, and defensive captain of the New Orleans Saints, Scott Fujita thinks needs an answer. Fujita responded to Ayanbadejo's position on marriage equality by coming out as a supporter of same-sex marriage himself. Fujita said people need to stop looking at same-sex marriage through a prism of homophobia, most often taught by churches, parents, or in some cases, locker room culture.
"People could look at this issue without blinders on...the blinders imposed by their church, their parents, their friends or, in our case, their coaches and locker rooms," Fujita said. "I wish they would realize that it's not a religion issue. It's not a government issue. It's not even a gay/straight issue or a question of your manhood. It's a human issue. And until more people see that, we're stuck arguing with people who don't have an argument."
Perhaps there's no more simple an argument -- and no more profound an argument -- to make for marriage equality other than "it's a human issue."
And though it's a bit weird on the surface to be placing so much stock in the words of two professional athletes, these folks are certainly going out on a limb to champion equal rights in a sporting culture that likes to boast masculinity and shun the perception of gayness. Dave Zirin at The Nation writes as much this week, saying that professional athletes -- especially in the NFL -- are operating in an environment steeped in male insecurity and evangelical Christianity. Both of those elements tend to look at the issue of same-sex marriage with discriminatory-colored glasses on.
Sporting culture may change slowly on this issue. But one thing is clear: Ayanbadejo and Fujita are breaking down doors with their statements. That's something we should all celebrate.
And how's this for good karma: both the New Orleans Saints and the Baltimore Ravens -- the two teams on which Scott Fujita and Brendon Ayanbadejo play for -- are undefeated. Anyone want to make the argument that supporting marriage equality makes your team better at football :)
A Year of Action for Gay Marriage in Australia
Published September 29, 2009 @ 04:56AM PT
How do you follow up a successful day of action in support of gay marriage? If you're activists in Australia, you turn that whole day of action into a whole year of action.
Marriage equality advocates in Australia are preparing to launch a new campaign, "A Year of Action for Same-Sex Marriage," on November 28, following up on a day of action in support of marriage earlier this summer that saw the largest marriage equality rallies in Australia's history.
That November 28 date is two days after a marriage equality bill is to be tabled in the Australian Senate. The bill, which would legalize same-sex marriage in Australia, has reportedly received more submissions of any Senate inquiry than any other bill in the history of Australia. The number of submissions favoring marriage equality alone stands at over 10,000.
That's huge, and it mirrors public opinion. Recent polls suggest that more than 60 percent of Australians support same-sex marriage. With numbers like those, Australia is more gay marriage-friendly than even Massachusetts. Ben Cooper, a co-convenor of Community Action Against Homophobia in Sydney, told Green Left that 2010 will mark a year in which LGBT people in Australia take to the streets to demand full, equal rights.
"The days of growing up invisible, and being treated as second-class citizens, has to end. For too long we have been treated as if our deepest feelings are second-rate and abnormal," Cooper said. "For too long we have been bullied, bashed, censored, raped and rejected. For too long we have been marginalized, vilified and silenced."
That silence is ending on November 28. Prepare for a loud 2010 when it comes to campaigning for equal rights in Australia.
(Photo courtesy of David Jackmanson's photostream on Flickr.)
Oklahoma, Where Divorce Comes Sweeping Down the Plains
Published September 28, 2009 @ 06:58PM PT
When it comes to looking at the issue of marriage equality, it's pretty interesting to look at Oklahoma and Massachusetts. Massachusetts legalized same-sex marriage five years ago, and has been out in the forefront of LGBT rights more than almost any other state. It has the lowest divorce rate in the country.
Oklahoma, meanwhile, has passed a statewide constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. In 2008, every single county in Oklahoma voted against President Barack Obama. Both of Oklahoma's U.S. Senators are as anti-LGBT as politicians come. And the state is home to one of the most offensive politicians in the country, Rep. Sally Kern, who has said that gay marriage was as threatening as terrorism. Funny, then, that Oklahoma has one of the highest divorce rates in the entire country.
New statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau show that Oklahoma has the highest rate of residents who have been married three times or more. Oddly enough, Newt Gingrich and Rush Limbaugh -- both members of the family values crowd who are thrice married -- aren't from Oklahoma. But still...it's a bit illustrative, to say the least, that the more a state goes ballistic over the idea of same-sex marriage, the more likely they are to have behemoth divorce rates.
And this isn't a new phenomenon, either. Ten years ago studies were out that suggested states in the "Bible Belt" couldn't keep a handle on their divorce rates. Looks like the more things have changed over the past decade, the more things have stayed the same in some regions of the country.
Or perhaps better put, states that legalize marriage equality are just better at fostering loving relationships that last.
Will Portugal Legalize Same-Sex Marriage?
Published September 27, 2009 @ 07:25PM PT
Portugal held some elections over the weekend, and Socialist leader Jose Socrates is set for another four years as Prime Minister. Why is that significant? Because Socrates vowed to legalize same-sex marriage if he was re-elected. If he's prepared to follow through on his campaign promises, then marriage equality advocates should start counting down the days until another country is added to the same-sex marriage train.
As the AP notes, Socrates' push for same-sex marriage will be a direct challenge to the Catholic Church. Portugal is predominantly Catholic, and the Church (read Vatican) has spoken very loudly against reproductive rights and LGBT rights. Two years ago, Portugal legalized abortion under his watch. And now they might legalize same-sex marriage.
But there's no reason to waffle on equal rights, no matter what the Catholic Church might say. Here's just hoping that if the country does legalize same-sex marriage, they do it before Pope Benedict XVI is scheduled to visit the country in May 2010. It could do Benedict some good to see some happily married gay couples.
(Photo courtesy of Ricardo-Pereira's photostream on Flickr.)
The Five Things Bill Clinton Should Do to Take a Firm Stand on Gay Marriage
Published September 26, 2009 @ 09:56AM PT
Bill Clinton made a bit of history last night, when on Anderson Cooper 360, he finally admitted he was wrong to not support marriage equality while President of the United States. While not a full on retraction of his support for policies like the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), the former President now admits that he was wrong to be hung up on the word marriage.
"Me, Bill Clinton personally, I changed my position. I am no longer opposed to that. I think if people want to make commitments that last a lifetime, they ought to be able to do it," Clinton told Cooper. He then cited his support for gay adoption and the fact that he grew up in a different time period and realized he needed to evolve as reasons for his change in position.
This is great news, albeit thirteen years too late to save DOMA from becoming law. Still, history is history, and this frankly is a bit of history. And the best part is that now there's time left for Clinton to take a stand for marriage equality and really help change this country. Here are five ways how he can do this:
1. Go to Maine and campaign for marriage equality. Maine, as well all know, is in the midst of a ballot initiative that could repeal the rights of gays and lesbians to marry. The No on 1 campaign needs all the support it can get to beat down this ballot initiative (vote no on 1!), and Clinton's voice could certainly help lend a hand. Poll numbers show that the race is neck-and-neck. Clinton's voice could make a huge difference.
2. Go to Washington and campaign for Referendum 71. Washington state is also in the thick of a battle to keep very good domestic partnership benefits in place. Anti-gay activists have put a ballot measure forward that could repeal these benefits for same-sex couples. Clinton's voice in Washington -- a state he carried twice with relative ease, and a blue state in almost every part of the word -- could be a huge boon for folks working for the Approve Referendum 71 campaign.
3. Lend his voice in support of the recently introduced Respect for Marriage Act. The bill, introduced in the U.S. House earlier this month by Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act. It would be the ultimate apology from Clinton to the LGBT world, and signify that he's not only changed his position on marriage equality, but he's also able to admit that sometimes politicians can screw up and put into law really bad pieces of legislation.
4. Endorse candidates who support full marriage equality. Clinton's endorsement powers are huge. Note the huge stink raised when he decided to throw his hat into the California 2010 Governor's race by endorsing pro-marriage equality candidate Gavin Newsom. That move is huge for Newsom, and certainly a welcome sign. It's dicey to place a litmus test on candidates, but on this issue, it's a real test of where a politician stands on equal rights. Endorsing candidates that don't support marriage equality -- if ever justified -- should be the exception, not the rule.
5. Lobby Obama. While it's great that the former President now supports marriage equality, there's still the problem of the current President believing that marriage equality isn't ready for prime time yet. Clinton might not have capacity to change the Obama administration's perogative on this issue. But it doesn't mean that Obama should be left off of the hook, either. There are ways for former Presidents to inform the politics of current Presidents. Clinton should take every opportunity to do so.
Marriage Equality and the Baltimore Ravens
Published September 23, 2009 @ 09:33AM PT
As a Steelers fan it pains me to say this, but the Baltimore Ravens' stock just jumped up about 20 points in my book. Why? Because one of their pro-bowl players, Brendon Ayanbadejo, has become a forceful advocate for marriage equality.
Ayanbadejo attended an Equality Maryland event last week, and earlier this year penned a piece on HuffPost that took anti-LGBT folks to task for supporting bans on same-sex marriage. As Ayanbadejo wrote, "How could our society grant more rights to a heterosexual one night stand wedding in Vegas than a gay couple that has been together for 3, 5, 10 years of true love?"
Wow, score one for common sense points! David Toth from Equality Maryland told the Washington Blade that having a high profile athlete openly discuss marriage equality is a welcome sign.
"While not all of us are pro-footballers, one can never underestimate the power of just one voice to change hearts and minds," Toth said, "whether it’s your own family or millions of adoring fans."
Ah, the power of sports celebrity.
(Photo courtesy of Emmett Tullo 711's photostream on Flickr.)
Moving Republicans to Support Gay Marriage
Published September 22, 2009 @ 04:44PM PT
Can you be Republican and support gay marriage? The short answer to that is, of course. Look at Meghan McCain, Steve Schmidt, Dede Scozzafava, or heck, even Dick Cheney. But while a few voices in the wilderness have come out for marriage equality, most of the Republican Party toes a line that says no to same-sex marriage. But despite what Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney, Sarah Palin, Tim Pawlenty, or Newt Gingrich might say about same-sex marriage, there's room in the GOP to change hearts and minds on this issue. And one commercial is doing just that.
The commercial comes from Truth and Hope, a media advocacy group that launched in 2004 to help support the Presidential candidacy of Howard Dean. It's an attempt to tell the story of one set of grandparents that are as American as apple pie, baseball, or Little House on the Prairie. What do these grandparents have to say?
Well, that they love their gay son. And his husband. And their adopted children.
And then there are lots of shots of cute babies.
It's possible that people just really like cute babies (much like people like soft puppies and fluffy clouds), which is why they watch this commercial and think "happiness." But as The Advocate reports, the commercial could also be swaying conservatives originally opposed to same-sex marriage to see LGBT families in a different light.
Upwards of 58 percent of Republicans described the ad (youtube clip below, and here) as extremely or somewhat effective. But that's not all. According to The Advocate, conservatives viewing this ad were actually inspired. As a group, opponents of marriage equality listed "inspiration" ahead of emotions like anger or embarrassment.
As Eugene Hedlund, the founder and chair of truthandhope.org, tells the magazine, that's huge news.
"The fact that one in five Republicans expressed happiness, and that the effectiveness rating over 50% with all three parties shows that we are on target with our message," Hedlund said. "Now it becomes our task to take this message to the airwaves, beginning in Maine...."
So does this finally mean that when it comes to advertising, LGBT groups are starting to gain the upper hand in how they sell the issue of equal rights? It's hard to say. But with numbers that look that good, Truth and Hope is definitely onto something.
(Photo at top of post courtesy of Drab Makyo's photostream on Flickr.)
