The past couple of weeks have been a boon for gays in the United States. Maine just legalized same sex marriage, New Hampshire is on the verge and as of writing this today New York State passed a bill to legalize gay marriage. It doesn’t look like the bill will get any resistance as the State’s governor David Paterson has said he will sign it in to law.
Yet with all of these great strides in entrenched gay and human rights comes a frantic, loud and extreme chorus of naysayers from the far right. The National Organization on Marriage (NOM) continues to spread lies and misinformation about the apocalyptic effects of gay marriage. There are also Proposition 8-type initiatives circulating around some states.
What’s even more disturbing and offensive is the far right’s reaction to the Matthew Shepard Act. The howling fundamentalists are saying that the passage of the MSA would legally protect pedophiles. This is pure fantasy. Sexual Orientation is defined in the United States and does not include criminal acts.
When I first heard of these tactics and ridiculous assertions I got very upset and angry. I remember following Matthew Shepard’s story as it unfolded and his subsequent death (he was beaten and lashed to a fence, left to die). I remember the vigil for him at the 519 Community Centre. I remember crying when he died. So a lot of those emotions came back as I read the verbal violence against gays unleashed by the far right fundamentalist Christians.
The far right is scared. THEY KNOW THEY ARE LOSING.
Then I thought to myself, “They are scared.” They know the writing is on the wall and they are losing their fight against gay people. They are fast becoming a waning voice from the periphery and know that they will not prevail. This is the first of their last gasps.
I have friends and family in the States and know they are among the MAJORITY who support equal rights for all – not for some. It’s time that all people stand up and make their voices heard in support of these new laws and protections for gay people. It’ll drown out the noise coming from the bigots and homophobes.
Do it for your gay family and friends. Do it for yourself.
Do it for Matthew and all those we’ve lost on the way.
