Posts Tagged ‘Gay rights’
Two Small Steps Forward, One Big One Back
Tuesday, May 8th, 2012
A follow-up to Love, Hate, Fear, and God and I Do, inspired by the approval today of Amendment One in North Carolina.
“Marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this State.” – North Carolina Constitution, as (now) amended
“This is just a skirmish, a battle in the war that we will win.” – Coalition to Protect All NC Families campaign manager Jeremy Kennedy
“How long? Not long, because the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous “how long” speech
We’ve had three days in a row of really gay news,
With high-level officials expressing their pro-equality views.
That’s great, but what’s historically really counted
Is when the votes are finally counted.
Votes in Congress, state legislatures, the Supreme Court, and State referenda:
That’s what really determines the success of the gay rights “agenda.”
Today in North Carolina, that agenda was set back
By a concerted anti-gay extremist group attack.
So now that North Carolina has taken a giant step in reverse,
What can non-homophobes do, this setback to reverse?
First and foremost, continue the fight in the courts,
Insulated from the multi-million dollar advertising which public opinion often distorts.
The second approach (unfortunately) involves waiting,
Combined with continued public educating.
That’s a battle gays are winning,
As the ranks of bigots are inexorably thinning.
Like Dr. King said, the trend is our friend.
In spite of North Carolina, discrimination will ultimately end.
***
Here’s Dr. King’s “how long” speech.
Sphere: Related ContentTags: Gay rights, King, Marriage equality, NC
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