Great victory, grand loss

Tuesday was a night of victories. Victory for the Democratic Party, certainly, but [also] I believe Obama when he speaks of fighting partisanship. It was a victory for African-Americans. However, the tears in Jesse Jackson’s eyes Tuesday reflected my own overwhelming joy, even as a young white male. This was a victory for America—but not for all Americans.

Tuesday, America suffered one grand loss among the many victories. We showed that we could overcome racism, but could not escape discrimination and bigotry. With the passing of three statewide bans on gay marriage, the fight for equality [continues], just with new combatants. On Tuesday, same-sex couples lost—but beyond that, love lost. Allowing same-sex marriage does not hurt the entire institution. However, disallowing it is not only purely discriminatory, but is more harmful to the sanctity of marriage than the alternative. With separated church and state, and therefore without its religious implications, marriage is a legal and emotional representation of two peoples’ life-long love and devotion. How can that be outlawed?

My love and future marriage have lost. Though I can marry the woman I love, I do so carrying the knowledge that friends and family who deserve that same right cannot. If their love means nothing to the state, to our citizens, why should mine? Why should anyone’s?

— Timothy M. Reis
Arden

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2 thoughts on “Great victory, grand loss

  1. Cheshire

    Boycott. If homosexual couples can’t marry, join them. Handfast, have your religious leader join your hands, but don’t file with the government.

    Let’s start a sympathetic movement. Who’s in? Hetero, homo, we’re all still human.

  2. Tim

    I don’t know how much that will help though… marriage gives us extra tax breaks, I’m sure the government wouldn’t mind letting the boycott go on

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