November 2011
CIVIL RIGHTS, EQUAL RIGHTS, MARRIAGE EQUALITY
Activist Charlene Strong at KSC November 18
Charlene Strong and Kate Fleming were loving partners. Strong was thrust into
the spotlight upon the tragic death of her wife, Kate. After facing the
heartless humiliation of hospital and funeral home staff because the laws that
protected heterosexual couples did not protect their same-sex union, Strong took
a stand. Her dramatic testimony helped to pass Washington state’s historic
domestic partnership laws.
On Friday, November 18, Strong will travel to Keene State College, Mountainview
Room, 3rd floor Student Center, to share her story and discuss the status of
marriage equality in New Hampshire and the United States, as well as efforts to
repeal DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act) enacted by former President Bill Clinton.
Film clips from her documentary, for my wife, will be shown.
http://www.formywife.info/index.phpIt
Strong's journey has been followed by Newsweek, Associated Press, The Advocate,
Washington Post, CBS News and The Seattle Times. The event is underwritten by
C&S Wholesale Grocers, KSC Department of Women’s Studies and KSC Common Ground
Multicultural Club.
For more information, contact Susan MacNeil at 603-357-6855,
susan.macneil@asmronline.org.
Sponsored by the Monadnock Live Free and Equal Coalition; visit the Coalition on
Facebook.
CHARLENE STRONG'S STORY PUBLISHED IN THE SEATTLE LESBIAN
Rick Perry made an appearance in New Hampshire on Friday, Oct. 28 praising the
attempt to repeal the state’s 2009 law legalizing same-sex marriage. His
comments were spoken at an event sponsored by a conservative activist group
called Cornerstone in Action.
"I applaud those legislators in New Hampshire who are working to defend marriage
as an institution between one man and one woman," Perry said, adding that he
supported the "sanctity of traditional marriage."
I wanted to know a little bit more about Cornerstone in Action so I went to
their website and found their mission statement:
Cornerstone-Action is a non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to
preserving New Hampshire’s traditional values, limited government, and free
markets through education, information, and advocacy.
Our vision is to create an environment in which strong families—the foundation
of our society—can lead New Hampshire into a new era of prosperity and strength.
Then I wanted to know a little bit more about why they are supporting Rick Perry
and having him speak if they are, admittedly, “Non-Partisan”. Their comment
below clearly points to their concern and the “threat” of allowing same-sex
marriage because of what it might do to “traditional marriage”.
“Redefining marriage to include same-sex unions poses significant threats to the
religious liberties of people who continue to believe that marriage is a
relationship between a man and a woman. These threats have loomed large for
several years, but recent developments, including the recent Connecticut and
California judicial decisions redefining marriage to include same-sex unions,
have refocused attention on the issue in a new, particularly urgent way”.
So, here is what the citizens of New Hampshire feel about the repeal of marriage
rights in their state.
A poll from the University of New Hampshire this month showed that 62 percent of
residents oppose repealing the same-sex marriage law - including a plurality of
likely Republican primary voters - while only 27 percent supported repealing it.
Huh. I was dumbfounded. It looked to me upon reading the above statistics that
the Legislative body did not really care what the citizens of New Hampshire felt
was right, and that maybe they were considering the action of going against the
citizens directly regardless of carefully-planned studies - putting it to a vote
attempting to repeal a law they simply...didn’t like?
A bit of history:
Republicans swept to power in both state chambers of the state legislature in
New Hampshire in 2010; then they made the decision that that they would
introduce a bill to repeal rights afforded to same-sex couples. Why? I don’t
really think I need to answer that obligatory “Why” directive, but for the sake
of clarity, there is a movement in this country that those who oppose same-sex
rights feel their civil rights are being violated because they feel that
marriage is between one man and one woman. The movements to prevent civil rights
for millions of same-sex families is nothing to these people who feel they are
being persecuted and called bigots and bullies for wanting to ban same-sex
couples in this country full and inclusive equality.
I do believe that when so many are standing against your beliefs it’s time to
re-examine your motives. This concept that just because you believe that the
word of God in the Bible written by men thousands of years ago gives you
justification is not a strong enough argument to strip others of rights and,
more importantly, to vote away minority rights…because it just feels like the
“right thing” to do.
Being gay is not a choice, it is not a sin, and it should not be looked at as
“special rights” when we ask for the same rights that every other citizen in the
United States of America is entitled to simply for being born heterosexual. Time
and time again lawsuits have proven the discriminatory nature of the Defense of
Marriage Act (DOMA). It’s not the work of “liberal judges” like so many in the
Bush Administration chose to tout. It is the work of the Judicial system in this
country actually, wait for it...working.
It is time to call out what is really happening in the United States – the good,
the bad and the ugly.
If what you have just read is not enough to help you understand the intent of
this movement against equality, here is what the American Family Association has
put out as 10 reasons to deny same-sex marriage:
· That same-sex marriage would destroy the institution of marriage.
· That if same-sex marriage is legalized, polygamy will follow.
· That same-sex marriage would make heterosexual divorces too easy.
· That same-sex marriage would require schools to teach tolerance.
· That same-sex married couples would be able to adopt.
· That foster parents would be required to pass sensitivity training.
· That Social Security can't afford to pay for same-sex couples.
· That legal U.S. same-sex marriage would encourage its spread.
· That same-sex marriage would make evangelism more difficult.
· That same-sex marriage would bring about divine retribution.
Marriage in New Hampshire matters to all of us. Our lives are valuable and our
vote and voices are as well. I have said many, many times that the work I did in
my home state of Washington was because of indignities I suffered, but it is
more than simply that. It is about my heart and the love that I feel needs to be
honored and treated with respect.
We are Americans and, as Americans, we must stand together and be a part of the
national equality movement to protect our rights as lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender (LGBT) human beings. We are not animals. We should not be denied
basic rights by the United States of America. Separate but Equal is not ever
going to be equal. New Hampshire needs our support and our voice right now.
Speak up. Say your piece. I will be there with you.
--
Charlene Strong Co-Editor, The Seattle Lesbian
Websites: www.charlenestrong.com
www.formywife.info
