Gay Marriage a little story of mine

[el_gato]

My sister, who is married to a wingnut (classic asswipe brother in law), happens to have quite a few gay friends. The BIL has actually come to know some of her friends and this has helped concerning his views on homosexuality. I guess when it gets personal people will be a little more open minded. Kinda like the racist who by forces of circumstance has a friend or grandchild who is of another race. It often changes them a little.

Anyway, yesterday my sister's friend suffered a terrible tragedy. He came home to find his partner on the floor dead of a heart attack. He was only 39. To make things worse when my sis's friend tried to take care of all the formalities he was blocked at every turn.
The coroner and whoever else it is you have to deal with in these circumstances would not even talk to him. Keep in mind that these two
people had been together for almost 20 years in a dedicated relationship. Nevertheless, he was turned away when he tried to take
care of everything.

My sister was complaining to my mom about this and my mom pointed out
that the republicans want to enshrine this problem in the constitution. She said that my sis understood. In the past my sister
has not wanted to hear about anything political because it causes problems with the ol BIL. Now however, I think that even the BIL will
feel that this discrimination is wrong. He has become friends with
my sisters friend as well and understands that the relationship was
a long and healthy one.

So I guess my point is that I honestly think that this culture war will produce a backlash.

[Bertha Venation]

1. Let it lash back.

We're going to beat the backlash. When more people become aware of what the denial of our right to marry is doing to us, more people will back off.

If they don't, they're inhuman. I honestly believe the inhumans are in the minority.

[el_gato]

2. I meant backlash against bush

Yeah I agree with you, hatred for others is not as strong
as Rove thinks.

Most people in the U.S. really are live and let live types IMHO.

[Bertha Venation]

3. Duh.

I suck.

You're absolutely right. Had a conversation w/ my own fundy BIL last night. He stuck his foot in his mouth a couple of times, but he revealed that even though he thinks certain gays sin sexually (the "thought" processes of a fundy :eyes:) he's against the amendment, thinks it's silly, divisive, and non-Christian.

[davsand]

4. I wonder if the GLBT folks will get active now.

I dearly love our brothers and sisters on here who have fought the battles for so long--and continue to fight. My biggest fear, however is that many of the younger GLBT folks will NOT become active and fight now when it is so very important.

Maybe I am showing my age here, but it took burying so many men I knew and loved (when AIDS was still a new thing and important drugs and research was not funded or even available) before I got off my ass and got active.

I learned a lot about the inhumanity and misplaced hate that really IS out there when it comes to the subject of same gender couples, and it took THAT to make me angry enough to march and lobby. It took sitting with a man who'd lost his partner and was prevented from attending the funeral by a family full of hate before I got angry enough to speak out even if it wasn't me they were hurting.

I was deeply saddened a month or so ago when we went out to a club and I tried to talk to people about the Presidential race and they told me they don't vote... I asked some of them if they understood that they are in danger from this group of pigs in our White house--and I was told not to worry about it. I started to feel like Cassandra--ya know?

I've not been back to the clubs since then, but I have to wonder if this latest attack and attempt to outlaw love has gone unremarked as well.

I pray it hasn't.

Laura