Today is an amazing day in the United States as the Supreme Court has ruled that banning same-sex marriage was unconstitutional.
There has been both negative and positive reactions to this decision, but there’s one that I want to focus on in particular; the statement that Hillary Clinton gave.
On twitter she wrote:
“Proud to celebrate a historic victory for marriage equality—& the courage & determination of LGBT Americans who made it possible
I have so many queer friends who are all praising Hillary for her support of same-sex marriage and thanks her for her help in the fight, but the reality is that Hillary Clinton is not an advocate or a fighter for same-sex marriage.
In 1996, Hillary’s husband signed and supported the Defense of Marriage Act and was also the president that initiated “Don’t ask, don’t tell.”
Now, you have every right to argue that Bill Clinton signed those bills into law, and not Hillary. Fair enough, but if Hillary really was a fighter for same-sex marriage she still should have spoken out against her husband’s actions.
Even without speaking out against her husband’s actions, Hillary has been on the side of those who oppressed queer people. In 2004, she spoke against same-sex marriage and said she only supported marriage between “one-man and one-woman”
She told the senate:
"I believe marriage is not just a bond but a sacred bond between a man and a woman. I have had occasion in my life to defend marriage, to stand up for marriage, to believe in the hard work and challenge of marriage. So I take umbrage at anyone who might suggest that those of us who worry about amending the Constitution are less committed to the sanctity of marriage, or to the fundamental bedrock principle that it exists between a man and a woman, going back into the midst of history as one of the founding, foundational institutions of history and humanity and civilization, and that its primary, principal role during those millennia has been the raising and socializing of children for the society into which they are to become adults."
During the 2008 election, she appeared on Ellen, and said that she supported equal rights, but would not support calling it “marriage”, but would be happy calling it “civil unions”
She even told Ellen that she even supported the states to decide.
So, why is Hillary Clinton suddenly supporting same-sex marriage? Hillary Clinton is a politician and will support whatever gets her the votes. She is simply using the fact that the majority of the country and young people support same-sex marriage to gather more votes. She is not an activist for same-sex marriage, but a “popularist” who is using the gay-rights movement instead of supporting it.
While presidential candidate Bernie Sanders has always supported same-sex marriage and even voted against Bill Clinton’s anti-gay policies.
So I urge people (especially queer people) who support equality to consider who they are voting for, and I encourage talk-show hosts like Ellen Degeneres who invite Hillary Clinton on their show to speak about her campaign remind her of the policies she supported and help instill.
So I have this to say to Hillary Clinton. Before you start acting as if you are a advocate for same-sex marriage, look at the policies that you supported and help instill that has hurt so many queer people. And look at the real work that REAL gay-rights activists have done and died for. So I, and many others, take offense when you not only use the gay-rights movement for your political-gain, but take credit for the work that REAL activists have done.