When we talk about the recent victories in Delaware and Rhode Island or the hopefully impending repeal of DOMA and Prop 8, are we talking about “gay marriage” or “marriage equality”? Or both?
LGBT activists have taken lately to using the latter term over the former, myself included. The standard argument is that all marriages should be treated equally, so there’s no sense in distinguishing “gay” ones from straight ones. But HuffPo columnist Murray Lipp doesn’t agree, arguing that there is value in specifying which marriages are between couples of the same sex.
His primary argument in defense of the phrase “gay marriage” is that it brings visibility to same-sex unions, upending the assumption that marriages are inherently heterosexual. Plus, the term is well-known and easily recognizable. Here’s why he wants us to use both “gay marriage” and “marriage equality”:
“Gay marriage” refers to the actual phenomenon of same-sex marriage, the legal union between two people of the same sex. It’s something which is legal or not in any given part of the world. “Marriage equality,” on the other hand, refers to the equal allocation of rights and benefits to all married couples, regardless of whether those couples are opposite-sex or same-sex. It does not describe a type of marriage. It describes an outcome, an achievement or goal, that being the attainment of equality.
When a same sex couple marries, yes it’s a “marriage,” but it can also be described as a “gay marriage” — the adjective “gay” adds further descriptive value which may have significant communicative utility depending on the context. Using the word “gay” helps specify difference but it does not imply “better than” or “less than.” Furthermore, when a same-sex couple marries that marriage is not called “marriage equality” — the term does not describe a type of marriage.
The attainment of “marriage equality” is impossible without “gay marriage” first being legalized. When a given state or country legalizes same-sex marriage and additionally provides equal rights and benefits to all married couples irrespective of whether a couple is same-sex or opposite-sex, then it can be said that “marriage equality” has been achieved in that region. While “gay marriage” is now legal in various states of the USA, “marriage equality” has not yet been achieved in the USA nationally as the federal government does not recognize same-sex marriages.
I’m not certain I totally agree with this, mostly due to the portion I bolded above. I am hesitant to focus too explicitly on the difference between a “gay marriage” and a “straight marriage,” particularly because the premise of the fight for marriage equality is that all marriages are the same, gay or straight. Or is pointing out the existence of these “different” marriages key in eventually having them treated equally?
Clearly I need to better organize my thoughts, but only because there’s a lot to say about this. What’s your take on this topic?
Did you know…It is illegal for your school’s web filter to block web sites for “LGBTQ Content.”
Get the facts at transstudent.org/facts
or here: http://www.aclu.org/dont-filter-me-web-content-filtering-schools
(via projectqueer)
“Reaching out for help is the bravest thing a person can do.” -Daniel Radcliffe
Although most reactions to Collins’s coming-out have been positive, nearly a quarter of those surveyed strongly or somewhat oppose Collins’s announcement.
A gay couple was beaten and subjected to antigay slurs while walking through midtown Manhattan in broad daylight Sunday. Police are turning to the public to help identify the suspects.
Families are changing, and a huge majority of Americans are okay with it.
A new study by uSamp and Oxygen Media found that 87% of Americans “believe the definition of a traditional family has evolved” and another 55% say there’s no such thing as a “traditional” family, among other key statistics.
The study noted that many social changes are becoming more acceptable to the general population than they were 10 years ago, including:
- Adopting a child from a different race than your own (87 percent)
- Interracial families (87 percent)
- Stay-at-home fathers (86 percent)
- Same-sex marriage (85 percent)
- Single-parent homes (84 percent)
- Same-sex adoption (83 percent)
- More people believe same-sex couples can be great parents (79 percent), women are taking on traditionally male roles today (88 percent), men take on traditionally female roles (76 percent), and even a single father can act as a mom (78 percent).
Additionally, Americans today are seeing the benefits of mixing families, whether it’s race, biology or sexual orientation, and 94 percent think mixed families (those with both biological and adoptive children) are becoming more common. Children from interracial families are exposed to more culture (51 percent) and are thus more accepting of other races and ethnicities (65 percent). Furthermore, 79 percent of adults think that same-sex couples can be great parents and can give their children the same opportunities and love to their children (73 percent) as heterosexual couples.
Times are changing, and it’s for the better. All families are important. I’m glad we’re starting to realize it.
An LGBT rights group in China called Queer Comrades is launching a campaign to raise awareness of transgender people and trans issues.
As part of the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia next week, the group will hold a special event that will educate the public about transgender communities. The event will include a showing of Brothers, the first documentary about trans men in China, and organizers are already reaching out to media for coverage.
‘Chinese society is currently still largely unaware of the plight of transgender people in China, who face stigma and discrimination on a daily basis,’ said a statement from event organizers Queer Comrades.
‘With the event, we focus on bringing attention to transgender communities in China and increasing public understanding of transgender issues.’
Awesome!
