on his recuperation bed, Bill Clinton recommended to Kerry that he endorse efforts to prevent gay marriage. Amazing.
I’m deeply discouraged when I hear stories like this one, one where a major politic player doesn’t think twice about sacrificing other people’s wellbeing for the sake of winning. And I’m deeply dismayed by America’s willingness to deny rights to GLBT Americans. Fortunately, Kerry resoundingly declined Clinton’s advice as a matter of principle. I’ll take that as a glimmer of hope, despite the grey clouds coming in from the west, where Red reigns.
I care greatly about queer equality rights. I’m bisexual and although I can exercise heterosexual priviledge anytime I want, should I fall in love with a woman and want to build a life with her, much of my privilege vanishes. I’m not entitled simply because of who I love.
As a bisexual, I’m not always included in the queer community. I’ve kept my het marriage intact and to many queers, that’s enough to make me the poster child for het privilege. (This, despite the fact that I could very well become a PFLAG parent in coming years.) So often I tread a fine line between the two worlds and it’s not an easy place to be at times.
Fortunately, two of my colleagues see me as queer and welcome my voice, namely Ian Philips and Greg Wharton, and I’m pleased to be part of their ambitious anthology, I Do/I Don’t: Queers on Marriage. In its 382 pages, from its 140 contributors, the opinions sprawl all over the place. As the webcopy says:
“Some consider this a fight for equality. Some see it as the wrong fight. Many are anxiously waiting a chance to wed. Many others find the idea absurd. I Do/I Don’t collects a diverse array of queer voices on the subject of marriage. Stars and ordinary Janes. Saints and sinners. Anarchists and poets. Journalists and dreamers. Personal essays, fiction, poetry, nonfiction, vows, rants, love letters, and sermons. Silly to serious. In favor and against. Yay and nay, in between, neither, and D) all of the above. All valid. All from inside the community.”
I’ll continue my efforts to keep GLBT news and concerns in the mix here at Pursed Lips. After all, history tells us that when society tries to oppress sexual freedom, it oppresses it for all, not some. It has oppressed it for the unmarried, the queer, those of us who enjoy countless variations, and even for married couples. Remember sex for procreation only? Remember, today’s ban against same-sex marriage could escalate into a ban against your favorite practice tomorrow. We’re all at risk here — and don’t let your own prejudices tell you otherwise.
