If you haven't already heard, December 10th is "Day without a Gay Day" a day when everyone is encouraged to "Call in Gay" to take the day off.

The holiday came about when California passed a controversial law called, "Proposition 8". Proposition 8 made it illegal for same sex couples to be legally wed in the state of California, and existing married couples no longer have their marriage recognized under state law.

While this is a blatant disregard for human rights that stems from Church ruling State, it is a historic decision that has reignited the debate on, "Is same sex marriages, okay?"

The basic matter of fact is that it is unfair to use personal bias to restrict the rights of another human being based upon sexuality, race, creed or colour. Whichever way you slice it, it's still discrimination. What's particularly offensive about Proposition 8, lies in the realm that the religious right was able to get a vote on a matter that seeks to change the American Constitution in favour of their beliefs. By specifying that marriage is a union that solely exists between a man and a woman now means that same sex couples are discriminated against.

Why is this such a hottopic?

First of all, in the USA, the Treaty of Tripoli (1791) ensures that The Bible has no standing in American law. Because it doesn't, no one has the right to impose rules on anyone else simply because they perceive an act to be a moral injuction mandated by the Bible.

What it means for you: So whether you are for or against, you have got to respect that people's human rights are different from your own. Because one day, you might be the victim of a similar ruling, and the precident that you helped to set will negatively impact your own life. Do unto others... blah blah blah.

Why do Gays want to marry?

To have the same rights and protections as everyone else. In the case of death, the right of attourney isn't enough to protect a life partner from a case when a family member wishes to contest a will. This has often resulted in homelessness and other extremely horribly outcomes - even in the best of circumstances.

In case of illness, a hospital has the legal right to connect with estranged family to make decisions on treatment, regardless of the will of the individual's life partner. In some states, hospitals are legally bound to connect with the ill party's estranged family, regardless of the hostility they may express towards their partner or their lifestyle.

If a partner is arrested, the prosecution may call upon their life partner to testify against them in a court of law. This is not allowed for married couples.

Conjugal visits - not allowed for gay partners.

This is no longer a matter of right vs. wrong - it is most clearly wrong! However, this is a matter of allowing loving couples to be recognized under the law without the infringement of church over state.

So on December 10th, did I call in gay for the day? Darn straight I did - I'm mother flipping lesbionic for the next 24 hours! Because no one should be discriminated against because they just want to live their lives with the same rights and privileges as anyone else.

And, there is NOTHING wrong with that!




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