To the extreme disappointment of many gay couples in both the state of Maine and to an extent nationally, a law in Maine that would have allowed gays to be married has been repealed.
For a nation that wants to pride itself in its steps towards equality, this for us is a step back (in my opinion at least). But it is a constant struggle, the ideals of which I really hope will be realized one day (soon!). I look to this nation’s history as an example and as an exemplar for the civil rights movement of this age: though still racial tensions and inequality remains in spite of the strides the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s had made, the fight for equality is well worth it.
To those that say that “equality” should only be reserved to certain groups that fit within a specific mold, that is still bigotry, through and through. To claim to support equality among different races, genders, socioeconomic class, etc. but then to bristle at the notion of equality in spite of differences in sexual orientation is hardly espousing “equality for all”.
Gays in general are already marginalized all around the world, with homosexuality officially considered a crime in some countries, while in others the criminalization of homosexuality is more implicit through the attitudes of people towards gays. To be marginalized, especially at such a broad level in governance, overall attitudes that a society holds does have an impact on how someone comes to view themselves and the relationships they have with others. Many who consider themselves LGBTQ can be alienated by those around them with prevailing notions as to what it means to be gay, bi, transgendered, etc. LGBTQ teens, in particular, are at higher risk for attempting suicide than heterosexual teens in part because of negative attitudes towards gays.
There are people who rail against equality because they believe that it will lead to the homogenization of all people. Contrary to that notion, equality is predicated upon the idea that we are equal in the eyes of the law in spite of our differences, not that we should all be exactly the same.
- Allyson
*The opinions of Switched-On bloggers are their own, and do not reflect the opinions of the staff, board, or volunteers of the National Runaway Switchboard.