The Method of Madness

Thank you, Judge Vaughn Walker, for an uncommon demonstration of common sense from our federal government. Of course, gay marriage opponents haven’t wasted any time and have filed an appeal, and it’s anticipated that this case will be heard by the Supreme Court. I hope that the Supreme Court has the same mental fortitude to recognize injustice.

What I enjoy most about this ruling is that Judge Walker’s decision rested on the premise that the measure didn’t pass the “Rational Basis” test (in addition to violating the equal protection and due process). This essentially means that, yes, there’s no good reason to keep homosexual couples from marrying. Yes, it took a court case for the truth of the matter to come out.

I think the vast majority of Americans, McDonald’s-eating dullards that they are, don’t understand the inherent wisdom in the Founding Fathers and the writing of the Constitution. I’m not saying that Thomas Jefferson or Benjamin Franklin would have accepted or advocated for or against gay marriage, or any of the civil liberties that have come into existence since they’ve died. What I am saying is that these men had the foresight to know that society changes, and as society changes, they wanted a document that could adapt to those changes, while preserving what they considered to be basic, inalienable rights due to everyone in that society.

This isn’t about a right to marry in a church, to have the same Catholic marriage rites afforded to us as they are to heterosexual couples. This is about equal treatment in hospitals, equal treatment under the law, and equal access to the same services and benefits awarded to heterosexual couples. Get it right folks, and stop using the cloak of religion to mask what is nothing more than virulent bigotry. No amount of prayer can absolve you of ignorance and stupidity.

In the very definition of “epic fail,” the New Jersey Senate this past Thursday voted down a bill that would’ve guaranteed marriage equality in the state. As an openly gay male with a boyfriend, this was heart-breaking. New Jersey, a historically democratic state, one of the most progressive states in the Union, voted down marriage equality. I can get married in Iowa, but not New Jersey. Now that’s a little depressing.

In any case, as a resident of Long Branch, I have the unfortunate onus of being represented by this dim-wit in the state’s Senate:

His name is Sean Kean. Though admitting that he “probably represents the gayest district in the State,” he still voted ‘no’ on marriage equality. Try not to think about that too hard. It might cause an aneurysm.

Granted, his was not the only ‘no’ vote. There were several other cowards in the Senate who abstained from voting. Abstained! Are you telling me you couldn’t make up your mind as to which side of the debate you’re on?

Apparently, some of these Senators are getting miffed at the fact that gay bloggers and outlets everywhere are denouncing them for their hypocrisy and inaction. Boo hoo hoo; we elect you to your position, and now we want to hold you accountable for fucking us over. I know ‘accountability’ is a rarely uttered word in political circles, but just like those Wall Street bankers who took bailout money are now accountable to Uncle Sam, you, as our elected officials, are accountable to us, John Q. Public. When you make bad decisions based not on your constituents, but your own self-serving desires, we will make you pay for it.

To borrow a quotation from the timeless Network: we’re mad as hell, and we’re not going to take it anymore!

So, Sean Kean, and other Senators of the NJ Senate that lacked the courage to stand up for what’s ethical, right, and just, my partner Chad and I would like to share one final message:

Here’s to legislative victories throughout the next year that will ensure marriage equality in NJ!

For more information:
http://www.unseatkeanandbeck.com/
http://www.gardenstateequality.org/