Last night I went to the Lambda Legal Freedom to Marry reception down in Pilsen. The faux wedding reception included open bar, wedding cake, the tossing of the bouquet, as well as some mildly disturbing gay performers-think turkey baster jokes. Anyway, the event overall was lively and hopeful, however what struck me were the demographics of people there. I understand that marriage isn’t as important to a 20 year old as it is to a 35 year old in a committed relationship, but still. C.C. Carter, the emcee, alluded to parallels between the civil rights movements of the 1960’s and the current gay rights movement. I think this comparison is right on, but that bring me back to the previous question-if we all really feel like gay marriage is a civil rights aberation in the same way that the seperate but equal doctrine of the 60’s was-why are the only people who come out to events like this those who are directly effected by it?
In the aftermath of Prop 8 in California, I find it frustrating that a cause that used unite the LGBT community and its’ allies, is now being spearheaded only by those with something immediately at stake. We heard several couples talk about the legal benefits they don’t receive because they are in a domestic partnership rather than a marriage, and that even those married in Massachusetts of Connecticut lose such rights upon leaving the state. I agree that personal anecdotes are useful and necessary, civil rights aren’t about anecdotes and sob stories-they’re about equality.
