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Photo courtesy www.archives.gov.
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Steve London is publisher of Southern Voice and David magazine. He can be reached at slondon@sovo.com.
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HOME > VIEWPOINT > EDITORIAL
By: STEVE LONDON
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Atlanta Pride is a celebration to be sure, but also a time to reflect on our historic struggles and challenges of the future. We are living through history. The gay history timeline featured throughout this issue is a testament to our direction, the roadblocks placed before us and the rich past from which we all come or overcome.
Where are we now? A new location for Atlanta Pride and bi-coastal recognition of same-sex marriage are small indications of how much has changed. Twenty years ago, in Southern Voice’s first year, the question was whether most of us would be alive tomorrow. In 1988, many of us wondered if in fact there was a future to even consider personally, much less as a group.
Now, we speak of marriage rights and equal benefits — amazing ideas to some, fearful and hateful ideas to others. What exactly is it that so many people just don’t understand? Corporate America understands, with extensive domestic partner benefits to motivate and maintain a competitive workforce. Leading countries on this continent and Europe understand that, in the words of the California Supreme Court, “no state has the power to determine what constitutes a family unit.”
THAT IN ESSENCE is the central issue. Taken to the ultimate conclusion, how can our federal government deny (or discriminate through) marriage benefits? We pay taxes to support schools, infrastructure, Medicare, Social Security and a litany of other benefits for everyone.
Should our families not share in the same benefits and protections granted to all families? The debate falls apart on a singular point: the separation of church and state.
The state grants rights; religion doesn’t. “Same-sex marriage threatens the sanctity of marriage” is the main argument of our opponents. But the state doesn’t grant sanctity of marriage, only marriage benefits. A religion can and should marry anyone its believers wish, but not dictate discriminatory practices because one does not believe in another family’s structure. Others argue these decisions should be left to the individual states instead, not focusing on the issue of federal benefits at all.
TURNING OUR ATTENTION back to Atlanta Pride, we now celebrate in conjunction with the 232nd anniversary of our country’s Declaration of Independence. I can’t think of a more fitting time to celebrate Pride and to remind us all that we live in the United States of America.
Founded upon the principles of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, no other country — at the time of our nation’s inception or since — has so eloquently and deliberately communicated the triumph over what we call today conventional wisdom. This weekend we celebrate our independence and the Constitution.
The strength and longevity of our democracy is founded upon each generation’s willingness to fight oppression. This ongoing battle provides for civil rights and personal freedoms.
One might say our marriage rights are not of consequence. But these freedoms are guaranteed under the Constitution, a perfect document designed to correct itself to serve the times in which we live.
In 1808, was there a need for same-sex marriage? In 1908? Perhaps, but then there were no federal marriage benefits. So the lack of marriage rights did not create a second class of citizenry. In 2008, it does. What we are now living through is a natural evolution of our society.
I AM REMINDED of a personal event that has even greater meaning now. Several years ago, I drove through Dalton, Ga., and stopped at a national chain fast food restaurant. A young family had walked in behind me.
The youngest boy, about 14 years of age, wore a t-shirt that said, “I am proud of my Confederate ancestors.” My sensibilities were shaken. “How could…?” I thought.
But now, I see that t-shirt in a different light and I too am proud of that boy’s Confederate ancestors. Our country today is stronger because of this group of people who were so terribly, ethically and morally wrong. That historic fight became the beacon of light for the rest of the world.
It is our right and obligation to correct grave injustice inflicted upon us. As Americans, we have no choice. Our fight now insures that future groups with future oppressions can and will still be a part of this great experiment, the United States of America.
Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.
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