In this day and age, equal civil rights should no longer be an issue, but unfortunately, this issue remains a part of our everyday society. I am asking on behalf of me and all others part of the GLBT community to speak out AGAINST Proposition 8, which would cause a continuation of denying the equal rights on any relationship that is anything other than a heterosexual couple. It is unfair that because my gender/sexual orientation is different than a purely straight person, that if I one day decided to make my relationship with a woman official, my rights would be different than if I decided to marry a man.
At one time, the same would have been true if I wanted to marry someone other than a Caucasian male. We would have been denied based on the difference in our skin color. It was unfair then, and it is unfair now.
I also would have continued to be denied the right to vote or own a credit card, as well as a list of other rights, just due to the fact that I happened to be born a woman, were it not for the efforts of a select few that cared enough to have themselves jailed and scorned until we were awarded equal rights as men.
The next movement towards an equal society is in our hands, and civil unions and domestic partnerships are not enough. We want to be considered equal in the eyes of the government.
I am not here to debate the spiritual/religious issues, I am purely speaking from a legal perspective. It is only fair that we have equal rights. In case you are unaware of a few of the rights we are being denied, here are a few:
- Joint parental rights of children
- Joint adoption
- Status as "next-of-kin" for hospital visits and medical decisions
- Right to make a decision about the disposal of loved ones remains
- Immigration and residency for partners from other countries
- Crime victims recovery benefits
- Domestic violence protection orders
- Judicial protections and immunity
- Automatic inheritance in the absence of a will
- Public safety officers death benefits
- Spousal veterans benefits
- Social Security
- Medicare
- Joint filing of tax returns
- Wrongful death benefits for surviving partner and children
- Bereavement or sick leave to care for partner or children
- Child support
- Joint Insurance Plans
- Tax credits including: Child tax credit, Hope and lifetime learning credits
- Deferred Compensation for pension and IRAs
- Estate and gift tax benefits
- Welfare and public assistance
- Joint housing for elderly
- Credit protection
- Medical care for survivors and dependents of certain veterans
These are just a few of the 1400 state and federal benefits that gays and lesbians are denied by not being able to marry. Most of these benefits cannot be privately arranged or contracted for within the legal system.
One relationship's decision to wed does not take away from the sanctity of another straight couple's marriage. The same is true that if one couple gets married under one church/religion, it does not make another couple's marriage invalid if it is done under another set of beliefs or church. Obviously, it is rare that any two people's religious or spiritual beliefs are going to be EXACTLY the same, and this is precisely the reason we have a separation between church and state. No one wants someone else's set of beliefs imposed on them when they are strictly stated from a religious point of view and really have nothing to do with what is instinctively moral or ethical, such as something as blatently wrong as rape. Because we are supposed to be a society that is run by a government set apart from the church, religious beliefs such as who should and should not be married should not be a decision made by a government.
We need straight people out there supporting us in our fight for equality. Please get informed and speak out against this mistreatment. We need allies. If you are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender, do not stand by idly. Speak out! Make yourself heard and get others involved. I know some of you are afraid to say anything. You are afraid of discrimination. You are afraid your family will call you names and talk about you behind your back. You're afraid that people may see you differently. I UNDERSTAND. But if you don't speak out, who will?? We will continue to be denied! We will continue to be put down!!! No more! Let's put our foot down!! Make a statement and stand up for equal rights!!! Write a blog, go to a rally, make signs, do whatever you can to fight!
To those fighting that good fight, you are in my thoughts. My hopes and my dreams are with you. I love you all!!!
Thank you,
Krista Lyn
P.S. I will update this blog as I can. If any of you have anything to add to this, please send me what you can!! Thank you!!!!