# I'm not of the people. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 13, 2001, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-of-the-people/72333 "2001-07-13T05:19:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![andygirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@andygirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andygirl)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2001, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-of-the-people/72333/1 "2001-07-13T05:19:33Z")
You know what I don’t get? I’m an American citizen. I voted in the last election, I pay taxes, I sing the national anthem, I love my country. I just wish that my country loved me. > [@](#): > > [http://www.planetout.com/news/article.html?2001/07/12/1](http://www.planetout.com/news/article.html?2001/07/12/1) > > Presenting a face of ethnic and religious diversity, an organization “dedicated to promoting marriage and addressing the epidemic of fatherless families in the United States” today announced the launch of a campaign to add an amendment to the U.S. Constitution defining marriage as “the union of a man and a woman.” I understand that there’s not a chance in hell that this amendment will pass. I can explain in great detail how amendments work, the relevant article, and exactly why it’s not going to happen. All the same, it’s just another slap in the face. You’d think that I’d be used to it. I mean, I can’t work for the Salvation Army, I can’t get married, I can’t visit my partner of over two years in the hospital. I can’t do a lot of things because we’re both women, and I don’t know how to stop being angry about it. I don’t say the pledge of Allegiance anymore. “Liberty and justice for all” just doesn’t apply. I really wish that these ridiculous people would leave us the hell alone. ---
**Author:** ![techchick68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@techchick68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/techchick68)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2001, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-of-the-people/72333/2 "2001-07-13T05:24:15Z")
Well andygirl, vote Libertarian…then your rights as a gay woman will be cemented. Your liberty is more important to me than my family’s views or my nieghbor’s thoughts on your sexuality and the love in your life. What more can I say. If more people voted Libertarian (sorry to make this political) more people would be able to live the lives they choose, despite what the current politicians on Capital Hill think how you should live your life. Democrats and Repbulicans alike are too likely to take away your freedoms as a gay woman…so, look into it if nothing else. ---
**Author:** ![quixotic78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/3ab097/32.png) [@quixotic78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quixotic78)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2001, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-of-the-people/72333/3 "2001-07-13T05:26:57Z")
**andygirl** , you left out the scariest part from that link… > [@](#): > > White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer said the Defense of Marriage Act is already in place defining marriage in much the same language as the Alliance’s proposed amendment. So basically, in addition to some fucking right-wing nutjobs proposing their precious little amendment, you’ve got George “Only two things come out of Texas, steers and queers, and soon it’ll only be steers” Bush’s camp pulling the same shit. Color me surprised. And non-sarcastically, color me pissed off, too. Quix ---
**Author:** ![Rasa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rasa/32/3578_2.png) [@Rasa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rasa)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2001, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-of-the-people/72333/4 "2001-07-13T05:43:12Z")
To me, the worst part about this is the total lack of surprise I feel. It’s like I’m so inured to hearing about this type of legislated discrimination (be it based on color, gender, sexual orientation, religion, what have you)that I almost… accept it. Don’t get me wrong; I vehemently oppose it, but part of me has started to think “That’s the way things go.” So fuck you, Congress, for repeatedly legislating away some citizen’s rights to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” DOMA wasn’t enough? And fuck you for stealing my rage. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2001, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-of-the-people/72333/5 "2001-07-13T05:47:10Z")
Yeah, every time I start thinking how progressive society’s getting, some hateful bullshit like this pops up to slap me back into reality. Seriously, sometimes I honestly feel like 90% of the people on the planet are just Neanderthals in disguise. I guess we’ll always find some difference in others to focus on, otherwise we can’t feel unique. Fuck it all. ---
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2001, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-of-the-people/72333/6 "2001-07-13T06:00:47Z")
On the plus side, if you’re nice n’ patient, DoMA and all its little siblings and cousins will be struck down as unconstitutional once it hits the USSC (based on everything I’ve read). A case just hasn’t gotten that far yet. Vermont has cleared the way - patience, young padawan, patience. Rome wasn’t built in a day… Esprix ---
**Author:** ![Rasa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rasa/32/3578_2.png) [@Rasa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rasa)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2001, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-of-the-people/72333/7 "2001-07-13T06:03:13Z")
**woodstock** , as an archaeologist, I cannot let you so malign the innocent Neanderthal by comparing them to the closeminded folk who pen our social policy. The people that pen social policy such as this don’t even rank _homo habilus_ on the evolutionary scale. ---
**Author:** ![Darwins\_Finch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darwins_finch/32/20304_2.png) [@Darwins\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darwins_Finch)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2001, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-of-the-people/72333/8 "2001-07-13T06:08:33Z")
You know, every time I see this sort of thing, or the latest “we don’ want’n our chillens to lern 'bout no _evolution_, no how!” legislation attempts, I’m tempted to pack up and leave - let the damn fundies (by which I mean the really _extreme_ ones - you know, the ones in politics) and bigots and other non-tolerant, ignorant assholes _have_ the damn country. I’d like to see how well they do without everyone they seem to be going out of their way to alienate… ---
**Author:** ![Sterra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@Sterra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sterra)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2001, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-of-the-people/72333/9 "2001-07-13T06:49:37Z")
Thats why I don’t even like my country:) Though funnily enough I remember reading some article about fundies accusing Bush of being too “pro gay”. Now theres your serious fundies. ---
**Author:** ![Lux\_Fiat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bc79bd/32.png) [@Lux\_Fiat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lux_Fiat)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2001, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-of-the-people/72333/10 "2001-07-13T08:46:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by quixotic78 \* > So basically, in addition to some fucking right-wing nutjobs proposing their precious little amendment, you’ve got George “Only two things come out of Texas, steers and queers, and soon it’ll only be steers” Bush’s camp pulling the same shit. Let us not forget that is was Bill “Ah feel yore pain” Clinton who signed the DOMA into law. As for me, I sincerely hope that evil, secular, blasphemous evolution will select out the “neophobic pro-family pigfucker” trait from the collective genome and leave my enlightened progeny and me to enjoy our flying cars in peace. Sadly, human history indicates that the pigfuckers will always have us outnumbered. ---
**Author:** ![Blackclaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e68b1a/32.png) [@Blackclaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackclaw)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2001, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-of-the-people/72333/11 "2001-07-13T13:49:44Z")
But I think you are all missing the point. This amendment DOESN’T have a chance in hell. I mean sure, it’s a shame that it comes up at all, but every society has a small percentage of clueless numbnuts. In a democracy these numbbuts are allowed to try and make their point of view the law of the land. The rest of us make sure that doesn’t happen. Maybe the majority of folks aren’t up to where we would like them to be on the issue of gay rights. But they aren’t going to support this silliness either. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2001, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-of-the-people/72333/12 "2001-07-14T00:11:43Z")
This thing pisses me off, too. But one thought always helps lower my blood pressure: we’re going to win this fight. Probably in our lifetimes. These people know that support for their positions is eroding, and these sorts of laws are a direct result of their flailing death throes. If that doesn’t help, try this pipe dream: you and your SO are on one side of the steps of the Supreme Court. Fred Phelps (or Jesse Helms, or whoever is the Homophobe de Jour) is on the other. Your both waiting for the SC to decide if gays have a right to marriage. The verdict comes down, gays have a consitutional right to marry, and Fred Phelps is so morally devasted that he has a massive fatal stroke and drops dead right in front of you. I don’t know if this little drama helps you any, but it certainly makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. Especially that part where his eyes roll up, like, a gallon of blood shoots out his nose. ---
**Author:** ![Jeeves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@Jeeves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeeves)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2001, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-of-the-people/72333/13 "2001-07-14T00:17:59Z")
Yes, the amendment most likely will never be passed. Mostly because it is too difficult to amend the constitution. But, I guarantee you that if it was as easy to amend the constitution as it was to pass DOMA, they would have done so. And Bill Clinton, the great betrayer, would have signed it. It is shit like this that hurts, but damnit, as tempting as it is to move to Denmark, I am going to stay here and fight. And hopefully, one of these days, shit like this would get about as much serious press coverage and serious support as Fred Phelps does. One day we will have the right to get married to the ones we love, I just hope that I have more years to enjoy it then I have of putting up with shit like this. Jeeves ---
**Author:** ![Jeeves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@Jeeves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeeves)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2001, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-of-the-people/72333/14 "2001-07-14T00:22:40Z")
Miller, good thing I didn’t see your post before I wrote mine. That image put me in too good of a mood to muster any vitriol at all. Jeeves _Walks off whistling thinking about Phelps having a stroke._ ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2001, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-of-the-people/72333/15 "2001-07-14T00:28:23Z")
Just because I’m picking a nit doesn’t mean I don’t share your opinion on the issue **Jeeves** , but what part of the Constitutional amendment process requires (or even incorporates) the signature of the President? ---
**Author:** ![Weird\_AL\_Einstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c67d28/32.png) [@Weird\_AL\_Einstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weird_AL_Einstein)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2001, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-of-the-people/72333/16 "2001-07-14T00:32:25Z")
Hello **andygirl**. I don’t usually post in The Pit, but there was a link to this thread in a GD thread and I was curious. A few months ago **Fenris** made a proposal in [a GD thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=61397) about this very subject. You never posted a reply to it, so I am curious to know what you think of it. ---
**Author:** ![bashere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@bashere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bashere)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2001, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-of-the-people/72333/17 "2001-07-14T01:00:54Z")
> [@](#): > > I understand that there’s not a chance in hell that this amendment will pass I’m sorry, maybe I’m being dense, but would you mind sharing your source of optimism? Aren’t there something like 38 states that currently have a defense of marriage act? Am I missing something in the process that will prevent this from passing? Just the odds, based on the 10,000 proposals that have not become amendments? On a side note, when did orwellian doublespeak become in norm in naming bills? This isn’t the defense of marriage act, this is the “keeping people we disapprove from getting married because we’re hatefilled ignorant fear-mongers” act. There ought to be a law requiring truth in naming of bills. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2001, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-of-the-people/72333/18 "2001-07-14T01:23:42Z")
Actually, in a weird way, I’m kind of glad that there are people working to get this ammendment passed. I _don’t_ support the ammendment, but as several other posters have commented, it doesn’t have a hope in hell of passing and it’s something useless for this sort of cretin to fritter their time away on. Imagine if they were spending time trying to, say…get people from the [Constitution Party](http://www.constitutionparty.com/ustp-99p1.html#Family) elected to city and state governments or something. Seriously…I don’t support the ammendment at all, but it’s a nice black hole into which they can dump their time, money and effort, and look like Kooks in the process. Fenris ---
**Author:** ![andygirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@andygirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andygirl)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2001, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-of-the-people/72333/19 "2001-07-14T02:19:51Z")
I understand that it’s not got much of a chance. However, it’s just that queer folks have to put up with this same bullshit again and again and again and again… You can only listen to all of it for so long before it gets to your head. And they wonder why there’s such a high gay teen suicide rate. I’m saying that it doesn’t have a chance in hell because it needs at least 2/3rds passage in each Congressional Chamber, and I don’t find that realistic given the current makeup of Congress. Nor do I find the idea of 38 states signing onto this logical. Also, there is no evidence that anyone on Capitol Hill has signed onto this. Of course, DOMA pretty much says the same thing as the amendment. I can’t wait for that one to get struck down. So who wants to come to my fully legal and recognized lesbian wedding in ten years? ---
**Author:** ![bashere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@bashere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bashere)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2001, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-of-the-people/72333/20 "2001-07-14T03:07:14Z")
> [@](#): > > Nor do I find the idea of 38 states signing onto this logical Sorry, I was wrong. 38 states have voted on this; only 18 have passed similiar acts. Maybe there is hope that this will die a quiet death after all. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-of-the-people/72333.md?page=2)