#equality fail

when you realize you've been using the words

ethnicity

gender

sex

and race

Here's my letter to the editor on the anti-gay bills before the Wyoming Legislature:

Editor:

Considering the success of HB 74, the "Validity of Marriage" bill, I’d like to propose an amendment to the bill. I believe HB 74 didn’t go far enough with its dictation of valid marriage.

We must ban marriage between social conservatives and not recognize such unnatural unions immediately for the good of Wyoming. These people run around all over the place, trying to tell "We the People" what’s moral, and shouting about "their right" to "define the kind of relationship they’re in." They’re shoving their definition of morality down our throats and peeking into the keyholes of your bedroom. They parade shamelessly in front of children, preach to them, and flaunt their chosen lifestyle. Science has no proof that "you’re just born a social conservative." It’s a lifestyle choice. If we allow them to marry, your children may be indoctrinated into thinking this perversion is normal!

I have a young nephew and I don’t want him sermonized by a teacher practicing a deviant lifestyle. I want the chance to teach him that marriage is between two compassionate, loving people. I don’t want him believing marriage consists of a man and woman who acrimoniously force others to conform to their discriminatory beliefs and practices. I can’t imagine the suffering of these poor souls waking up in the morning and asking: "How can I split up perfectly happy families today?" To protect the sanctity of marriage as a loving, beneficial family institution, we mustn’t allow these people to compulsorily divorce happy couples for the sake of their own comfort.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I don’t hate social conservatives and I find that charge offensive. I even have friends I dearly love who chose this path. When they’re guests at my home, I treat them like everyone else, and even let them use my bathroom. It’s not a matter of bigotry. It’s just a matter of the social harm to society perpetuated by their marriages.

Or, instead of embracing the slippery slope of HB 74, we could consider Sen. Alan Simpson’s thoughts on HB 74 and SJR 5: "I can't imagine anything more inhuman, insensitive and unfair. Wyoming people believe in getting the government out of their lives. We cherish the precious right of privacy, and the precious right to be left alone. Why can’t we extend that to all our other fellow human beings?"

Wyoming State House Bill 74, the "Validity of Marriages" bill, WILL BE HEARD TOMORROW (on MLK/Equality Day, natch) at the State Capitol building in Cheyenne, Rm. 302, upon adjournment (3-4 p.m.). This bill will INVALIDATE the marriages of same-sex couples in Wyoming. Currently, Wyoming does not allow same-sex marriage, so this bill will affect couples married outside Wyoming, who chose to make the Equality State their home. Read the text of the bill here.

If you live in Wyoming and can get to Cheyenne, go give testimony before the Education committee and remind them that we are "The Equality State". 

If you can't make it, or live outside Wyoming, email the Wyoming State House representatives on this list:

Matt Teeters (R) [[email protected]] Bob Brechtel (R) [[email protected]]  Donald Burkhart, Jr (R) [[email protected]] Cathy Connolly (D) [[email protected]] John Freeman (D) [[email protected]] Kendell Kroeker (R) [[email protected]] Samuel Krone (R) [[email protected]] Bunky Loucks (R) [[email protected]] Michael Madden (R) [[email protected]]

Update - I know it doesn't seem like we can do this, but here's the explanation:

Both Anderson and House Speaker Ed Buchanan, R-Torrington, have said they believe the Legislature needs to address the issue of whether Wyoming will recognize same-sex marriages performed elsewhere.

One provision of Wyoming law already specifies that marriage can only exist between a man and a woman, but state law also says Wyoming will recognize marriages that are valid in other states. A handful of other states allow same-sex marriages.

Anderson and Buchanan say that a same-sex divorce case pending in the Wyoming Supreme Court shows the need for more clarity in state law.

Here's the info on the case:

Both legislative supporters and opponents of gay marriage are taking inspiration from a district court judge's ruling that same-sex couples can't get divorced in Wyoming.

Last November, Judicial District Court Judge Keith Kautz refused to grant a divorce to a Lusk couple, Paula and Victoria Lee Christiansen, who married in Canada in 2006.

New York State Senate Votes Down Gay Marriage Bill

I'm going to preface this with an apology. I'm sorry if I offend any of you, my American friends. Having said that... Seriously, I'm so grateful I'm Canadian. I have all of my rights afforded to me, and moronic religious zealots do NOT control the politics where I'm from.

Here, on the other hand, religious/conservative boneheads seem to make up about half of the population. It pisses me off that such a weak argument against gay marriage manages to convince so many people. It's retarded. All arguments in favor of defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman are purely religious arguments - which have NO place in government. None.