In the face of the great day given to me because of Iowa's Supreme Court ruling, to my dismay I see this statement from the President:
"The President respects the decision of the Iowa Supreme Court, and continues to believe that states should make their own decisions when it comes to the issue of marriage. Although President Obama supports civil unions rather than same-sex marriage, he believes that committed gay and lesbian couples should receive equal rights under the law."
This was the updated statement, the first one never used the words 'equal rights'. This is a rant.
Let me tell you that after the emotional season following prop 8 and all the other election night attrocities intending to send gay people back to the ghetto, I was dismayed to hear this lukewarm statement from the President. I am a gay man living in North Carolina. I want to be treated equally. If left up to my state, that will probably not happen in my lifetime (and according to the CDC I still have about 50 years of that left, barring a lack of health coverage killing me).
I have walked through halls as a high school student to be spit upon.
I have had a brick thrown at me while walking hand in hand with a boyfriend.
I have been told I am an abomination, unnatural.
I have been told seperate-but-equal is good enough.
I am not sick because I'm gay.
I am not less of a person because I'm gay.
I will not choose to marry a woman because I can't marry a man.
I will not abuse children.
I have no interest in marrying my cousin or my brother.
I do not want to marry my dog.
I don't want a church that doesn't want to marry me to marry me.
I don't care what you feel about me, you can feel whatever you want.
I want a family.
I want a husband, and children.
I want to be able to stand next to my family, and get married.
I want a honeymoon.
I want my neighbors, collegues and family to know what it means for me to have a family.
I want my husband and children to be able to see me when I'm sick. (Luckily, non-family can in NC)
I want my family to be taken care of after I die.
I want my commitment to my family honored and respected.
I just want to be equal.
Today, I am proud of Iowa. Today, I am not proud of my President.