# Dear Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, N.Dakota, Ohio & UT **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 3, 2004, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-arkansas-georgia-kentucky-michigan-mississippi-montana-n-dakota-ohio-ut/272678 "2004-11-03T04:45:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2004, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-arkansas-georgia-kentucky-michigan-mississippi-montana-n-dakota-ohio-ut/272678/41 "2004-11-03T13:52:25Z")
should be “when my foreign friends…” as i don’t have a foreign of my own. ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2004, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-arkansas-georgia-kentucky-michigan-mississippi-montana-n-dakota-ohio-ut/272678/42 "2004-11-03T13:53:14Z")
> [@gobear](#): > > From the looks of things, we’ll probably be fighting against the death penalty for being gay. Please tell me you’re being a little too emotional here. ---
**Author:** ![Genghis\_Bob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/45deac/32.png) [@Genghis\_Bob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Genghis_Bob)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2004, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-arkansas-georgia-kentucky-michigan-mississippi-montana-n-dakota-ohio-ut/272678/43 "2004-11-03T13:55:05Z")
> [@continuity eror](#): > > Though my apology to **avabeth** still stands, I don’t get why residents of these states are taking this so personally. I don’t get offended when someone disses Pennsylvania. If my state would have passed an SSM ban, it would have been listed here as well. If you don’t get it, then you are indeed an idiot. We worked our asses off, we spent our money, we argued, cajoled and prayed, and we got body-slammed by our friends and neighbors, forced to face the world with a smile and say “howdy! We’re a bunch of hatin’ homophobic right-wing fundamentalist bigots!” And _then_, to add insult to injury, to get lumped in with those assholes here, where we come to expect a little bit of discrimination and judgement? It’s too much. So, fuck you **continuity eror** ; you don’t get to judge **me** , you asshole. ---
**Author:** ![Elza\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Elza\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elza_B)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2004, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-arkansas-georgia-kentucky-michigan-mississippi-montana-n-dakota-ohio-ut/272678/44 "2004-11-03T13:59:01Z")
> [@continuity eror](#): > > Though my apology to **avabeth** still stands, I don’t get why residents of these states are taking this so personally. I don’t get offended when someone disses Pennsylvania. If my state would have passed an SSM ban, it would have been listed here as well. Because it IS a personal issue. Because those of us who support SSM have to share a state with these people, and I’ll be damned if I’m thought to be like them. I have supported and fought for SSM. Because I have gay friends both here, in my home state of VA, and in my adopted state of NY who deserve the same rights as me and my husband, and because I don’t want them thinking that I condone this hateful act. One thing I realized last night about this state. I live here, but it will never be home to me. Ava ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2004, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-arkansas-georgia-kentucky-michigan-mississippi-montana-n-dakota-ohio-ut/272678/45 "2004-11-03T14:04:15Z")
> [@duffer](#): > > Please tell me you’re being a little too emotional here. Yes, I’m emotional, but I also think that if “death penalty for gays” were on the ballot in the anti-SSM states, that it would win easily. 92% in Missisisippi. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2004, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-arkansas-georgia-kentucky-michigan-mississippi-montana-n-dakota-ohio-ut/272678/46 "2004-11-03T14:13:03Z")
> [@gobear](#): > > Yes, I’m emotional, but I also think that if “death penalty for gays” were on the ballot in the anti-SSM states, that it would win easily. > > 92% in Missisisippi. **gobear** , please. Get a grip. Although I’m in favor of gay rights, I personally am friends with a great many people who oppose the idea of SSM but who have no particular animus against gays themselves. And among those I know who do bear such animus, not a single one would be in favor of causing harm to a gay person in any way, much less wanting to see them executed. Credibility is important to your cause. What if Martin Luther King went around saying things like “If they could, the people of Mississippi would pass the death penalty for all of us who are black”? It’s one thing to disapprove of someone’s actions or sexual orientation; it’s another entirely to want to kill them. I fear you have seriously lost perspective. ---
**Author:** ![Elysian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c77e96/32.png) [@Elysian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elysian)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2004, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-arkansas-georgia-kentucky-michigan-mississippi-montana-n-dakota-ohio-ut/272678/47 "2004-11-03T14:18:56Z")
I voted against it, and I’m in Ohio. I hate Ohio now. I’m going to go look at Canada. Does anyone want me? ☹ ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2004, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-arkansas-georgia-kentucky-michigan-mississippi-montana-n-dakota-ohio-ut/272678/48 "2004-11-03T14:21:25Z")
> [@Starving Artist](#): > > **gobear** , please. Get a grip. Although I’m in favor of gay rights, I personally am friends with a great many people who oppose the idea of SSM but who have no particular animus against gays themselves. And among those I know who do bear such animus, not a single one would be in favor of causing harm to a gay person in any way, much less wanting to see them executed. I assure you, such people exist. > [@](#): > > Credibility is important to your cause. What if Martin Luther King went around saying things like “If they could, the people of Mississippi would pass the death penalty for all of us who are black”? He didn’t have to. Lynchings were common and black people were routinely murdered or mutilated if they stepped out of line. > [@](#): > > It’s one thing to disapprove of someone’s actions or sexual orientation; it’s another entirely to want to kill them. I fear you have seriously lost perspective. I’m venting. I’ll regain my perspective later, but right now it seems to me that I have a bullseye on my back. ---
**Author:** ![Scribble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scribble/32/3317_2.png) [@Scribble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scribble)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2004, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-arkansas-georgia-kentucky-michigan-mississippi-montana-n-dakota-ohio-ut/272678/49 "2004-11-03T14:30:38Z")
> [@Elysian](#): > > I voted against it, and I’m in Ohio. > > I hate Ohio now. I’m going to go look at Canada. Does anyone want me? > > ☹ I know exactly how you feel. I was thinking of moving to California in June, anyway. But now I think that Canada is looking better and better all the time. I just don’t want Canadians hating me because I’m from the country that banned gay marriage in 11 states and kept a warmongering bastard in the White House. ---
**Author:** ![Velma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/85e7bf/32.png) [@Velma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velma)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2004, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-arkansas-georgia-kentucky-michigan-mississippi-montana-n-dakota-ohio-ut/272678/50 "2004-11-03T14:32:10Z")
We’re disappointed too. I had hopes it would get defeated when even the Grand Rapids Press ( obviously right-leaning for those unfamiliar with the area) spoke out against it. The creators of the proposal say it is not their intention to use it to repeal same-sex benefits like health insurance and such for those that have them, but we shall see. I’m hoping it will end up being a hollow victory that at least doesn’t do any more harm. I do know of 2 people that accidentally voted the opposite way they intended to because of the way the proposal is worded. Their own fault for not being more careful, yes, but I wonder how many people did that. ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2004, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-arkansas-georgia-kentucky-michigan-mississippi-montana-n-dakota-ohio-ut/272678/51 "2004-11-03T14:33:56Z")
> [@Scribble](#): > > I know exactly how you feel. > > I was thinking of moving to California in June, anyway. But now I think that Canada is looking better and better all the time. I just don’t want Canadians hating me because I’m from the country that banned gay marriage in 11 states and kept a warmongering bastard in the White House. Stop that. We need you HERE to fight. Don’t go pussying off to Canada when your country needs you. ---
**Author:** ![ShelliBean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f9ae1b/32.png) [@ShelliBean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShelliBean)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2004, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-arkansas-georgia-kentucky-michigan-mississippi-montana-n-dakota-ohio-ut/272678/52 "2004-11-03T14:35:06Z")
> [@continuity eror](#): > > Okay, I did sort of jump the gun by indicting the whole state. So to clarify, I’ll just say “fuck you” to two-thirds of Ohio, a little over half of Oregon (god damn I still can’t believe this passed in Oregon), **three-fourths (or some obscenely high percentage like that) of Alabama**, and all the other applicable percentages. So, since we didn’t have this issue on our ballots do we just get to pick the 3/4s randomly or is there some specific group you’d like to fuck? Rez, only half serious ---
**Author:** ![Cinnamon\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@Cinnamon\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Girl)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2004, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-arkansas-georgia-kentucky-michigan-mississippi-montana-n-dakota-ohio-ut/272678/53 "2004-11-03T14:35:47Z")
> [@avabeth](#): > > One thing I realized last night about this state. I live here, but it will never be home to me. Make that two of us, **Ava**. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2004, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-arkansas-georgia-kentucky-michigan-mississippi-montana-n-dakota-ohio-ut/272678/54 "2004-11-03T14:36:13Z")
> [@Scribble](#): > > kept a warmongering bastard in the White House. Ya know, I hate to be the guy that says it, but maybe we don’t want you either. If it’s that disconcerting, go ahead and leave. Or quit “threatening” it. Pick one you spineless wimp. ---
**Author:** ![Scribble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scribble/32/3317_2.png) [@Scribble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scribble)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2004, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-arkansas-georgia-kentucky-michigan-mississippi-montana-n-dakota-ohio-ut/272678/55 "2004-11-03T14:45:29Z")
> [@Cinnamon Girl](#): > > Make that two of us, **Ava**. ☹ No, no. Make that three. ---
**Author:** ![Stonebow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Stonebow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stonebow)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2004, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-arkansas-georgia-kentucky-michigan-mississippi-montana-n-dakota-ohio-ut/272678/56 "2004-11-03T14:52:28Z")
I can’t say i was surprised by the results in Arkansas, but I was saddened to see that there were a sizeable number of people that turned out strictly to vote for the amendment- they didn’t even vote for president! And it was on the same piece of paper! I still don’t know what to make of that. But the wife and I were both very upset and disappointed in our fellow arkies. ---
**Author:** ![Elysian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c77e96/32.png) [@Elysian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elysian)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2004, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-arkansas-georgia-kentucky-michigan-mississippi-montana-n-dakota-ohio-ut/272678/57 "2004-11-03T14:56:52Z")
> [@duffer](#): > > Ya know, I hate to be the guy that says it, but maybe we don’t want you either. If it’s that disconcerting, go ahead and leave. Or quit “threatening” it. Pick one you spineless wimp. NO **duffer** , we DON’T have to pick one. I am shocked and ashamed by my country and state, and that is the way I verbalize my feelings. I want to have a country that believes in equal rights and doesn’t just pay lip service to it whenever it feels like it. I want to have a country that doesn’t kill innocent people for oil and money! I want to have a country that has a brain and a conscience! When I say I want Canada, I don’t mean that I _really_ want to leave – I mean that that’s the way I think my country should be. So, **duffer** , I hope you enjoy your terrible president. I will be dreaming of greener pastures where people are really treated honorably and equally. ---
**Author:** ![Scribble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scribble/32/3317_2.png) [@Scribble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scribble)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2004, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-arkansas-georgia-kentucky-michigan-mississippi-montana-n-dakota-ohio-ut/272678/58 "2004-11-03T14:57:06Z")
> [@duffer](#): > > Ya know, I hate to be the guy that says it, but maybe we don’t want you either. If it’s that disconcerting, go ahead and leave. Or quit “threatening” it. Pick one you spineless wimp. Look–I didn’t say I was threatening I to emigrate. It’s not exactly like I’ve made any concrete plans to do so. And tomorrow, or the day after that, I’ll probably start thinking of ways to keep fighting against what I think are some absolutely horrible policies in my country. But at the moment, I’m deeply disappointed and angry. ---
**Author:** ![scott\_evil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@scott\_evil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scott_evil)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2004, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-arkansas-georgia-kentucky-michigan-mississippi-montana-n-dakota-ohio-ut/272678/59 "2004-11-03T15:00:41Z")
> [@matt\_mcl](#): > > **jeremy** ’s actually from the States. Don’t worry, **scott** ’s doing his bit for the community. Jeremy moved to Canada in April of 2002, and got Canadian citizenship in February of 2003. I had nothing to do with it. 🙂 Oh, and the reason he left the U.S.? Vile, hateful bullshit like what happened in those 11 states. This morning, I asked the minister who’s marrying us to gracefully yet firmly underline the true and just equality - and sanctity - of our union in the ceremony. ---
**Author:** ![Scribble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scribble/32/3317_2.png) [@Scribble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scribble)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2004, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-arkansas-georgia-kentucky-michigan-mississippi-montana-n-dakota-ohio-ut/272678/60 "2004-11-03T15:06:52Z")
Arrgh. I hate it when I hit “post reply” before I’m really done writing my post. I’m disappointed and angry and exhausted, and I’m expressing that. I don’t truly want to move to Canada. I want to have citizenship in a country that’s at least a bit like Canada, in that treats all its citizens at least more or less equally and doesn’t start wars for oil. But I want that country to be the United States. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-arkansas-georgia-kentucky-michigan-mississippi-montana-n-dakota-ohio-ut/272678.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-arkansas-georgia-kentucky-michigan-mississippi-montana-n-dakota-ohio-ut/272678.md?page=4)