Heterophobia

http://www.towleroad.com/2009/11/straight-uk-couple-wants-gay-civil-partnership-as-protest.html

When I initially saw the link to this article, the Tweet read, "Straight UK Couple Wants Civil Partnership as Protest," my reaction was anger. I automatically assumed that the couple was protesting marriage equality, not standing up for it. I'm so ashamed that I reacted this way.

Suppose the couple was trying to protest gay marriage by putting the shoe on the other foot, and demanding that they have the right to the unions and legal contracts that homosexuals are wedged into. Would it not be hypocritical for the gay community to rise up and deny them their right to a civil union? We should open our arms with flourish and welcome them into our colorful world of civil unions and commitment ceremonies. I was so angry at first, because I thought they were trying to throw the fight for rights back in our faces, when they are, in actuality, fighting to obliterate the negative connotations that plague gay marriage. Anger, when dealing with the issue of equality, is never the correct response. Frustration, confusion, persistence, determination, open-mindedness? All proper responses.

The right to marry is very important to me. I want to be able to publicly, and legally, solidify my love in marriage. Many homosexuals are so turned off to the idea of marriage, viewing it as a heterosexual institution that our community should naturally deny because we need to create an identity for ourselves; an identity and union completely separated from heterosexuals. I disagree with this viewpoint, respectfully. I believe that equality is worth the struggle. We are all humans after all. "If you cut us, do we not bleed?"

My father, who was initially vocally supportive of my relationship with my partner, has now begun showing distaste and resentment towards the idea of us being wed. This weekend, during a particularly unpleasant visit, he said, "If a man can decide to marry another man, then he might as well be able to pick whoever he wants to marry. Be it two women, a monkey, a child. Marriage is a traditional institution created for a man and a woman in the hopes of protecting sanctity, protecting children, upholding tradition. I didn't sign up for your liberal and backwards revolution." Thanks, Pops.

Are homosexual relationships truly akin to pedophilia and bestiality? Damn, dirty humans trying to marry apes. It just ain't natural!

We have a long road ahead of us, we gays, but I truly believe there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Love will prevail. In time, the masses will look back on this period of discrimination and shake their heads, wondering how the basic concepts of equality and human rights ever became such an rage inducing issue. Dad argued that we "are searching for acceptance in an unwilling nation" and that we already have rights, so we "might as well gratefully accept what [we] are granted." Easily said when you already have rights.

Portia de Rossi, who recently accompanied her wife, Ellen Degeneres, on Oprah, was poised and elegant while making her argument for their right to be wed. She asserted that, "It's a legal stamp of validity. It's hard to know how it feels until it happens. I hope everyone gets to have that feeling. The thing about being a gay couple is that, in the past, you referred to your wife and there were quotation marks around it and people could snicker about it. Now it's fact, it's a law- she's my wife. I get to say she's my wife, and it's a fact." Well put Mrs. de Rossigeneres.

So no, Daddy Warbucks, we are not fighting for your approval. We are fighting for our lives. For our futures. For our partners and ourselves. For our community. For basic human rights. We are fighting for love.