marriage equality and a rant

Despite my personal radical take on the issue (read below), I am blogging today for marriage equality. This week is Freedom to Marry Week and I am proud to be a part of the blogswarm to promote this cause. According to the Freedom to Marry website, “By ending sex discrimination in marriage, much as we ended race discrimination in marriage a generation ago, we are building a better America, protecting and supporting families, children, and the freedom of choice for all.”

I can work with that. Just remember that this is one very small way that we can work toward eliminating inequalities. Let us use the energy around this issue to move forward on so many others!

I believe in marriage equality. More than that, I believe in equality. So while I think everyone should have the freedom to marry whoever they want without judgment, I also believe that everyone should have the freedom to not get married at all – that unmarried people should still enjoy the same rights and respect as married individuals, that everyone should be able to live a life that fits them without fear of judgment or discrimination. All people, queer or not, should not feel that their lifestyle—partnered, single, married, poly, or anything that fits in between—is any more or less legitimate than any other because it is or isn’t sanctioned by the state or church.

Pretty soap-boxy, but I needed to say it. Most of you who know me have heard me rant about how I, like Bob Ostertag, think marriage is the wrong issue and that the queer community is focusing too much energy on marriage when there are many other types of discrimination that need to be addressed.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this.