Just a brief footnote on the Maine marriage equality vote that's gotten so much attention today. As many people have noted, State Rep. Sherly Briggs voted against the bill despite the fact that her daughter is a lesbian. There's a lot that might be said about this, but what strikes me most is the reasoning she read into the record:
I have been struggling with this bill for months knowing it is going to come forward ... that I'm going to have to choose ... I'm so sorry I'm going to hurt my family, friends, citizens of the state of Maine. See, my daughter is gay. I have known this for about 15 years. Throughout all this time, I have kept my personal feelings on this matter separate ... She has never ever heard me express my opposition to this in her life ... I would never hurt her. I would got to end of the earth for her. But because I feel so strongly about opposed to this bill, blame it on my upbringing or the good book. ... I can't change how I feel ... But because of who I am and where I am and as a member of this legislative body, ethically it is my duty and responsibility to publicly say to my daughter that I do not support [gay marriage]. I just had to finally confess to her exactly how I feel and now I have no choice.
I hope someday she realizes that the agnoized emotion she's describing has a name: it's called coming out of the closet.
(crossposted from gerrycanavan.blogspot.com)