Written by Georgia Friday, 06 November 2009 10:34

Dear Mr. & Mrs. Conservative:

Why won’t you let me get married? Can you explain it to me because I just don’t understand? I’m a good person, just like you. I pay my taxes, just like you. I give to charity, just like you. I’m an American citizen, just like you. I have thoughts and opinions and faith and a soul, just like you. So why do you think I don’t deserve the same rights you do?

Is it because of your religious beliefs? This country was founded on not only a freedom of religion, but on a separation of church and state. That means our government is not allowed to make or repeal laws based on religious beliefs because we have a freedom of religion here. You can believe in your God and I can believe in mine and we don’t get to govern one another based on those beliefs. We govern according to the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, not the Bible.

But since you insist on using the Bible as your soapbox and the basis of all your reasoning, I have questions for you. Why do you pick and choose what passages you swear by? Why don’t you swear by all of them? The Ten Commandments, for example. Now, if I’m not mistaken, Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery is one of them, isn’t it? Why aren’t you protesting to keep rights from adulterers? Why aren’t you banning them from being married, since they obviously can’t obey the laws of your God and stay faithful? Along those same lines, why are murderers allowed to be married? Isn’t Thou Shalt Not Kill also a Commandment? I mean, those Commandments are pretty important, right? I’m kind of surprised you’re not more focused on them and less on one stand-alone line in Leviticus…one line in a sea of dozens of other lines you can’t seem to be bothered with (that have to do with selling your daughter into slavery and killing your neighbor for working on Sunday…or something to that effect). I’m sure you can see how you might come across as a little hypocritical.

Another question for you: why do you insist on arguing that my relationship with my partner is “detrimental” to your heterosexual marriage? How exactly does this work? I have to be honest, from where I sit, it looks to me like the only thing threatening the “sanctity” of your marriage is the ease of your divorces. Seriously, how important is marriage to you if fifty percent of you split up in the first ten years? I think I have to lay down the Hypocrite Card once again because your arguments make no sense to me.

And speaking of making no sense, a law regarding a minority should never be put to a majority vote. Never. That’s just ludicrous. It’s why we have state Supreme Courts…so they can look at the Constitution in a legal, unbiased way and make a decision for the good of the people—all of the people. Imagine if the abolishment of slavery or the right of women to vote had been put to a majority opinion. What about interracial marriage? None of those things would have passed. People are slow to change. That’s why we have government – to help us move forward, to help us change with the times, and to ensure that we are not deprived of the unalienable rights the Declaration of Independence says we all get: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

With all due respect, Mr. & Mrs. Conservative, what qualifies you to decide that I’m not worthy enough of an American to have the same rights as you? I’d really like to know.

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Comments (7)

• |07-16-2010 08:56:12 Janna
  WELL SAID!!!!!!
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• |11-15-2009 16:34:12 sue
  Don't understand why people don't live and let live. Who has the right to say what's right and what's wrong. Haven't they got more important things to worry about in their lives!! Just finished Fresh Tracks and loved it.
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• |11-14-2009 09:28:06 Doreen
  I agree with everything you said Nancy and Phyllis. Here, gay marriage was passed through legislation, first here in Ontario and then Canada wide. Now it is really a non issue. It's no big deal to most people anymore and that's the way it should be. I had to wait until I was sixty three before I could get legally married but I must add that the years before that were great too. I keep my fingers crossed that before I die all gays and lesbians will have the same privilege as we have in Canada
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• |11-14-2009 01:52:20 Nancy & Phyllis
  You Go!
  Great reply to what happen with the vote in Maine.
  
  I know how I felt last year on, Nov 4 2008 here in Calif. I thought my fellow citizens here would be voting the right thing. What a disappointment in human kind on that day. My faith in people to do the right thing has been shaken.
  
  The truth is, people’s lives should never be put up for a popular vote. Civil rights should be decided by the sound reason of the legislature and the courts not by the will and whims of one group. It is unconstitutional to allow one group to take away the rights of others.
  
  All of us have a right to respect and happiness.
  Please do not hate because of who we choose to love.
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• |11-11-2009 17:59:40 Judy Gale  - Ditto!
  I'm a Christian and I believe that God does not condemn, but affirms same-sex committed relationships and that full rights should be given to same-sex couples in society as well as full acceptance of same-sex coulples in the Church! And there are lots of us out there! Check it out!!
  
  www.GayChristian.net
  www.GayChristian.net/gcnradio
  www.lesbepure.com
  www.ImAGayChristian.com
  www.koriashton.com
  
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• |11-06-2009 18:14:25 Denise Madigan Young
  You go Georgia! Of course everyone should have equal rights. We all have to keep fighting the fight for equal rights for all...straight, gay, lesbian, conservative, liberal, young and old. Thanks for being a voice
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• |11-06-2009 12:37:35 Tami  - Amen to that!
  I couldn't agree more!! I think it's great that you seem to make a distinction between Christians and Conservatives, too. I know plenty of Christians who do not feel threatened by my relationship and who would support me being able to marry my partner 100% (or whatever language is used). I simply don't understand why there is so much fear.
  
  I also wonder if we need to change our approach. Perhaps we should stop using the 'Equal Rights Now!' approach from the 60's, and try to appeal more to the rational, moderate minds which prevailed in the last election.
  
  Loved the blog today!
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