e
As someone who's been working as a volunteer or paid staff in the LGBT and progressive community for nearly 15 years, there are many reasons I choose to put my time, talent and treasure into working for the freedom to marry in California. I do it because it's an opportunity to build power for our community. I do it because--while we may not all agree about the actual institution of marriage--the issue is a bell weather topic for the American population. And as such, confronting the issue of the freedom to marry gives us a chance to combat basic homophobia and transphobia. Because, as I've discovered over the past months, supporting the freedom to marry is a simple proposition: do you believe that love is love is love?
I do, but I didn't always think our community should be spending so much time, energy and resources on it. And, while there are many issues that are as or more important to the LGBT community and our allies, I have had a personal transformation about how I come to the freedom to marry work. I used to come to it from a purely political place. And now, it's personal. And not just personal because I believe that my love for my partner is equal to my sister's love for her husband.
In a writing exercise that was facilitated by one of the Let CA Ring organizers, I realized that I cared about securing the freedom to marry for all because of my Mom.
As the daughter of a public school teacher, my Mom always taught me that as a people, even if we disagreed about issues, everyone deserved the opportunity to realize their hopes and dreams and be treated fairly. It wasn't until this little writing exercise that I realized that my Mom deserves that same opportunity.
When I came out to her at 19 (she had been asking me if I was a lesbian since I was 14 so this was no big shock!), her first response was that of sadness and worry while she exclaimed, "You won't be able to build the life you've always dreamed - getting married, having kids, etc." Now, this was the Mom who always reminded me that she had gay and lesbian friends long before I was even thought of. This was the woman who's mother actively fought for the ERA and continued her active involvement in progressive organizing until she died. My coming out was in no way the end of the world for my family or a day to be mourned in infamy. In fact, just the opposite. My folks and my sister, my grandparents and my godparents were supportive and joyful that I finally felt free to be me.
But back to the moment of sadness and worry. It wasn't until just the other day that I realized that precisely because I don't have the freedom to marry is what brought my Mom (and I'm sure countless others) to the point where her love and joy for me came in direct conflict with what she knew to be a barrier in her own hopes and dreams for her daughter and herself.
Not only do two people in a loving, trusted relationship deserve the honor and support that comes with marriage, so does my Mom. She deserves to be treated with the same honor and support from her friends and colleagues when she's recounting stories about my life with my partner as when she's telling tales about my sister and her husband.
Excluding someone from marriage is like excluding them from being part of a family. I have a great family and a great Mom. I believe in the freedom to marry because she taught me that people should be able to have different beliefs and still be treated fairly. And, because she deserves to have 2 girls, not just 1, who get to realize their hopes and dreams of a fairy tale wedding and a fairly tale life!
Btw, the photo is of my sister, Katie and her husband Lee (and the best 7 year old nephew EVER) at their wedding this Summer. I of course, got to be bridesmaid. :-)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
67 comments:
Nice post Sarah
I'm a straight man, legally married in the state of California to a straight woman. Our role model couple, the people who showed us what a fair, loving couple of equals could be, are a male couple in San José. We are allowed to get married at the drop of a hat. But our role model couple cannot marry, even after 20 years together. That is so terribly unfair.
We support the freedom to marry because we want our role model couple to be able to marry. We even promised to cover their marriage license fee.
diazepam generic 10 mg diazepam generic valium - diazepam 7 years old
diazepam 10 mg diazepam 10 mg ampullen - diazepam usual dosage
valium generic lexapro and valium drug interactions - valium vs klonopin anxiety
discount xanax xanax replacement drug - xanax zolarem 1mg
buy zolpidem zolpidem medication side effects - zolpidem vs ambien
buy valium no prescription diazepam valium side effects - valium for dental anxiety dosage
xanax for anxiety 1mg of xanax and alcohol - buy xanax bars bulk
diazepam 5mg buy valium from thailand - alternative to valium for anxiety
ambien pharmacy ambien cr bluelight - sleep maintenance insomnia ambien
buy xanax online cheap no prescription alprazolam 0.5mg effects - xanax dosage sedation
buy zolpidem what is zolpidem tartrate 10 mg tablet used for - zolpidem indications
buy diazepam drug classification of diazepam - how long will 10mg of diazepam last
diazepam online diazepam kwikmed - where to buy valium online no prescription
buy zolpidem online zolpidem tartrate snorting - zolpidem online review
order ativan ativan withdrawal side effects how long - dosage of ativan iv
ativan 2mg can buy ativan online - ativan and high blood pressure
ativan pills ativan effects and side effects - ativan withdrawal numbness
diazepam for dogs diazepam side effects contraindications - diazepam 10 mg kaufen
alprazolam drug best place order xanax online - drug interactions with xanax and adderall
buy xanax online cheap xanax side effects rage - generic rx source xanax
buy xanax bars online no prescription xanax bars types - xanax strengths
ativan for anxiety ativan side effects last - ativan or xanax
buy generic ativan ativan vs xanax bluelight - long until ativan addiction
diazepam 10 mg diazepam metabolites - use of diazepam for dogs
diazepam 10mg diazepam dosage maximum - diazepam valium expired
xanax online xanax side effects in women - buy xanax india
cheap ambien online ambien 10 mg scored - ambien side effects 5 mg
soma carisoprodol 350 mg withdrawal - how to order soma online
ambien buy ambien cr memory loss - ambien side effects high blood sugar
valium purchase types of valium pill - what is valium used 4
buy valium overseas buy valium legally uk - valium side effects fever
buy ambien online buy ambien online mastercard - side effects of zolpidem 10mg
valium 5mg diazepam valium muscle relaxer - valium side effects erectile dysfunction
online soma carisoprodol prescription - soma online coupon code
soma pharmacy somanabolic muscle maximizer official website - generic soma pill identification
buy valium ativan vs valium effects - recommended dosage valium anxiety
order valium online no prescription cheap online valium no prescription - online pharmacy valium no prescription
cheap carisoprodol carisoprodol 350mg tablets info - somanabolic muscle maximizer 7 days out
soma without prescription buy soma visa - buy cheap soma online no prescription
c4ks84bd http://www.cheapisotretinoinforless.net/#buy-isotretinoin-accutane - buy isotretinoin accutane buy isotretinoin online
xn7bl2d5 http://www.cheapisotretinoinforless.net/#cheapest-accutane-online - purchase accutane purchase accutane online
discount valium flying anxiety medication valium - valium side effects half life
buy valium roche valium 3601 - valium effects cats
r0n6ks8f http://www.fatfreemind.com/#cheapest-phentermine - cheapest phentermine cheapest phentermine online
not9js6f http://www.thepromise1073.com/#finasteride-price - finasteride price finasteride without prescription
not9js6f http://www.thepromise1073.com/#buy-generic-finasteride - buy generic finasteride buy generic propecia
Topamax cheap Topamax [url=http://www.topamaxdiscount.com/]buy cheap topamax[/url] This can be a big benefit for patients who suffer from these types of conditions, and will help in many other cases as well. You can buy cheap Topamax/Topiramate medication online without prescription.
l8b64gd7 http://www.dplinux.org/#gabapentin-medication - gabapentin medication buy neurontin
Zocor (simvastatin) is a drug used along with diet and exercise to reduce the level of fat and bad cholesterol in the blood; it also raises good cholesterol. Doctors prescribe Zocor to their patients only when the benefits outweigh the risks. [url=http://www.bestpricezocor.com/]zocor cost[/url] Ensure that you tell your doctor about all medicines and supplements you're taking, including herbal formulations. Zocor price.
When a patient takes prednisone it is converted by the liver into a substance called prednisolone, which is a steroid. [url=http://www.1cheapprednisone.com/]prednisone without prescription[/url] It can also be used in the treatment of migraines, cluster headaches, leukemia, HodgkinпїЅs lymphoma, and hormone sensitive tumors and more. This medication is generally ingested in tablet form, and is available in a wide variety of dosages to fit each patient, their diagnosis, and their sensitivity accordingly. Long term patients may experience weight gain, CushingпїЅs syndrome, osteoporosis, glaucoma, cataracts, diabetes, and depression.
It interrupts the electrical signals from the nerves in the skeletal muscles to the brain preventing the brain from registering pain. By relaxing the muscle and bringing it out of its spasming Soma can not only aid in relieving the pain but allow other treatments to be used that cannot be performed while the muscle is in a contracted state. http://copybase.org/ - generic soma Muscular strains and sprains can be an extremely painful experience for any one that suffers from such an injury. This is where Soma can help with the situation. Rest and sleep come easier thanks to the relaxing effect that Soma has on the injured muscle and both are vital parts of the healing process.
Many of its users actually recommend it over other calorie eliminating products they have tried because of the benefits that they are able to gain while using the product. cheap acomplia online 2. The Acomplia doesn't only burn calories in the body but it also helps improve the cardiovascular health of a person through regulating cholesterol levels of the body and the amount of lipids in the blood. However, along with the increase of that population, there are also more and more products that can help those people in elevating their condition, which is obesity and one great product is the Acomplia.
Household spoons are often rough estimates of dosages and may cause an incorrect dosing of Atarax. Purchase generic Atarax medication. http://www.autumnridgecabins.com/ - generic atarax online If you typically suffer from allergic reactions from ivies or foods that you come into contact with on a regular basis, Atarax may be for you. To prevent the reaction from happening, Atarax works to prevent this histamine from flowing through the body.
The most serious side effects include confusion, abdominal pain, blurred vision, hallucinations, yellowing of the skin or eyes and uncontrollable face or body movements. http://www.edensedgeband.com/ - duloxetine drug The most serious side effects include confusion, abdominal pain, blurred vision, hallucinations, yellowing of the skin or eyes and uncontrollable face or body movements. Cymbalta is a prescription-only medication manufactured and marketed by Eli Lilly that is designed to treat major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and fibromylagia in the US. Stop taking this drug immediately and consult your doctor f you experience extreme diarrhea, are unable to urinate or have vomiting you are unable to control.
l3m7n8s63h http://www.cheapcelebrexdeal.net/#cheap-celebrex - cheap celebrex cheap celebrex 200mg
l8d92h4b http://www.lexaproasasolution.com/#cheap-lexapro-online - cheap lexapro online discount lexapro
Friends, http://www.yourcarinsurancelocal.com/florida.html cheap auto insurance florida http://www.cheaplexaprosale.com/#escitalopram-cost buy lexapro online no prescription
Walton In Drug Store celexa online no prescription - celexa pills http://www.bestpricecelexaon.net/#celexa-pills
Bigger Penis Enlargement Pills prednisone 5mg - prednisone acne http://www.prednisone4sale.com/#prednisone-acne
Medicine To Make Enlarge Breasts order fluconazole online - buy fluconazole no prescription http://www.diflucansaleonline.net/#buy-fluconazole-no-prescription , [url=http://www.diflucansaleonline.net/#cheap-diflucan-no-prescription ]cheap diflucan no prescription [/url]
Patrick H Ruane Medicine generic lexapro - generic lexapro cost http://www.costoflexaproonline.net/#generic-lexapro-cost , [url=http://www.costoflexaproonline.net/#generic-lexapro-no-prescription ]generic lexapro no prescription [/url]
tfv cytotec sale - cost of cytotec http://www.cytoteconlinecheap.net/#order-cytotec, [url=http://www.cytoteconlinecheap.net/#order-cytotec]order cytotec [/url]
tmd [url=http://www.cytoteconlinecheap.net/#cytotec-cost ]order cytotec online [/url] - generic cytotec online - cheap cytotec online no prescription http://www.cytoteconlinecheap.net/#generic-cytotec ,
xrh generic strattera no prescription - discount strattera http://www.stratteraforsale.net/#discount-strattera , [url=http://www.stratteraforsale.net/#buy-generic-strattera-online ]buy generic strattera online [/url]
2 cymbalta no prescription needed - cymbalta without rx http://www.cymbaltagenericonline.net/, [url=http://www.cymbaltagenericonline.net/]buy cheap cymbalta [/url]
Post a Comment