As you’re well aware if you live anywhere in a ten-mile radius of a television or a computer, the Massachusetts Supreme Court has just issued a ruling that forces the Massachussetts legislature to recognize some form of gay marriage within 180 days.
While this is excellent news, it’s also precipitated one of the most dangerous points in the history of the gay rights movement. The President has legal advisors looking into passing a Constitutional amendment making same-sex marriages impossible in this country.
Even if you’re not sure about gay marriage, you might be able to muster up some horror at the idea that a whole class of people is going to be singled out for discrimination in the Constitution, which up until this point has been a shining example of democracy and egalitarianism. This dark stain on it will never be erased; even if another amendment is passed, decades from now, to counteract it, this record of the present day’s bigorty will remain on every copy that will ever be printed.
Is that the legacy that you want to leave to future generations?
Right now, thousands of letters, faxes, and phone calls are pouring in to the offices of Congress. They may not make much difference in determining the course of events, but they do make some. You can bet that the social conservatives who want to keep gay people from having the rights accorded to every other member of society are cranking up their printers as we speak, and flooding the offices of their representatives with support for this Constitutional abomination.
Shouldn’t we do the same?
You can find out your representatives’ addresses easily on the Web. (For instance, at http://www.congress.org/). It costs less than half a buck for a stamp, envelope and paper. And there’s a chance that you might help turn the course of history just enough to make sure that everyone shares in the United States’ tradition of, if you don’t mind me waxing poetic, liberty and justice for all.
Here’s the email I just sent to my Congressman and Senators (all Dems, btw):
Dear ____:
Maybe the GOP is right - that there’s some short-term hay to be made over gay marriages.
BUT we Dems can tell the world right now: we were on the right side of history with civil rights, we were on the right side of history with women’s rights, and we ARE on the right side of history, RIGHT NOW, with gay rights. Including the right of each state to decide whether or not it will sanction gay marriage.
I hope you will stand up for equal rights for all, and vote against the marriage amendment.
I already sent faxes thanks to the ACLU, but this weekend, I intend to put pen to paper. I got two democratic senators (Feinstein and Boxer), and both of them are pro-gay, so no problem there. However, I have Randy “Duke” “Never met a defense spending bill I didn’t love” Cunningham. I’m not likely to be able to change his mind, but it’s worth a try.
:smack: As it was posting, I realized I’d misread that as “What the hell exactly am I supposed to write?!?” Oh well. Write those folks and voice your continuing encouragement. (Tammy Baldwin is an excellent politician - when I was in college there she was running for the city legislature, I think? Late 80s/early 90s.)
I was expecting this to be another uptight thread. It’s not.
I’m not a US citizen, so “writing to my senator” isn’t exactly an option, but good luck to you all for this, a noble cause. May your constitution remain unblemished.
Yours,
A Heterosexual Republican
(but what is wrong is wrong… and this is it)
I respectfully request that you please write to mine. I live in Alabama, and they’re all a bunch of WASPy idiots. Oh and they’re all Republicans. (Sorry if that was redundant :D)
Use Zip Code 36130 to find out which bozo to write to - that’s the zip code for Alabama State Government.
Even if your representatives are Democrats, even if they’re pro-gay, even if they’re gay themselves, writing to them is going to help. They’re coming under tremendous pressure from the right to cave on this issue; letters from constituents supporting their position may come in handy. This is going to be a hard fight, and they’ll need all the ammo they can get.
Thanks to everyone who’s participating in this. I deeply appreciate the support you’re showing. Democracy, as they say, in action.
I promise I will write letters too. The idea of the President passing a Constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage sickens me.
I know you can also e-mail your legislators if you can’t bring yourself to print and mail. Does anyone know if e-mails are for some reason less effective? I regularly e-mail my Congressional rep, Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) and always get letters back. He rocks.
If you want your Congressperson’s e-mail address, go to
Word! As the only LGBTQ Ally in my workplace, and as an instructor for a highschool colorguard team, I’m doing my best to use my position to open/enlighten the minds around me. I made DANG sure everybody knew what was going on when the decision passed. As for the letter writing, I happen to live in a district of CA that has the most conservative, gay-hating mother-youknowwhat as a CA congressman, and every single letter I’ve ever written him got me a reply of: “Oh, well, we’ll see.” Bastard only cares about getting re-elected. And I live in a small town that is primarily republican, so getting my views out is a challenge at times. BUT THE LETTERS DO HELP. Especially on a national level, and especially with the election year coming up. If we pressure them now, we can make gay rights a key issue for the 2004 presidential platforms to address. The time is NOW. Props to MrVisible for the suggestion, and keep it up dopers!
(Tammy Baldwin is an excellent politician - when I was in college there she was running for the city legislature, I think? Late 80s/early 90s.)