The Sanctity Of Marriage

The sanctity of marriage? THE SANCTITY OF MARRIAGE? Who the hell do all these sanctimonious conservatives think they're fooling? All this talk about outlawing gay unions and amending the constitution has nothing to do with protecting the institution of marriage. It's about discrimination, plain and simple. It's about denying equal rights to an entire group of Americans because they're different than everyone else.

None of the arguments against gay civil marriage holds any weight. No right-winger can successful argue how a gay civil marriage would hurt them personally, or hurt their family, or their community. And the religious right's rallying cry -- morality! -- is as hollow as George W. Bush's head. Discrimination disguised as moral superiority did not stop the suffrage movement, the Civil Rights Movement, or preserve laws against interracial marriage -- and it will not stop gay civil marriage from taking root in our country.

The religious right is steamed because gay civil marriage is coming and THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. The Massachusetts ruling opens the door to gay marriage this year, and the Constitution's full faith and credit clause will force the Supreme Court to wipe all those "Defense of Marriage Act" laws off the books. The genie is almost out of the bottle, and there's no way to stuff him back in. Hallelujah! It's about time!

If the religious right were really concerned about the institution of marriage, Dave Navarro and Carmen Electra wouldn't have been allowed to wed. These religious hypocrites should spend more time worrying about their own marriages than trying to block other peoples'.

I believe gay civil marriage will be the best thing that ever happened to marriage. Gay men and lesbians often represent the first wave of neighborhood gentrification; perhaps we can fix up an institution that straight men and women have seemed to ignore for much too long.

In the meantime, gay men and lesbians need to show our enemies that we're serious. I propose a boycott: no participation in straight marriages until we're given equal rights. Imagine a straight wedding without gay men to plan the event, arrange the flowers, design the wedding dress, tailor the tuxedos, lay out the invitations, plan the menu and cater the reception -- and, in some cases, to perform the service. No gay men means no cater-waiters. Straight America would come crawling back to us on its hands and knees, begging for forgiveness.

Whatever it takes.