Gay and Lesbian Marriage -- 2012

As of November 7, 2012 gay marriage has been legalized in 9 US States (ME, MA, CT, IA, VT, NH, NY, WA). 31 states have constitutional amendments banning gay marriage. 6 states have laws banning gay marriage. 

According to a new ABC News-Washington Post poll, 51% of Americans support gay marriage. The survey is reportedly the fifth consecutive news organization poll since March 2011 to find that 50% of respondents believe gay marriage should be recognized as legally valid.

The results of the ABC/Washington Post survey also includes some interesting findings about the ages and political leanings. More than 6 in 20 young adults, and 3 out of 5 liberals are in favor of marriage equality, while two-thirds of senior citizens and 81% of “very conservative” respondents oppose gay marriage, according to ABC.

Some pro and con quotes that I found on ProCon.org website sheds light on some of the divided positions actively playing out currently:

Barack Obama, JD, 44th President of the United States, stated during a May 9, 2012 interview for ABC News with Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts: “When I think about members of my own staff who are incredibly committed, in monogamous relationships, same-sex relationships, who are raising kids together; when I think about those soldiers or airmen or marines or sailors who are out there fighting on my behalf and yet, feel constrained, even now that Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell is gone, because they’re not able to commit themselves in a marriage; at a certain point, I’ve just concluded that for me personally, it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same-sex couples should be able to get married...When I meet gay and lesbian couples, when I see how caring they are, how much love they have in their hearts, how they’re taking care of their kids, when I hear from them the pain they feel that somehow they are still considered less than full citizens when it comes to their legal rights, then, for me, I think it has just tipped the scales in that direction.”

David Blankenhorn, MA, Founder and President of the Institute for American Values, stated in his June 22, 2012 New York Times op-ed titled “How My View on Gay Marriage Changed,” stated: “In my 2007 book, ‘The Future of Marriage,’ and in my 2010 court testimony concerning Proposition 8, the California ballot initiative that defined marriage as between a man and a woman, I took a stand against gay marriage. But as a marriage advocate, the time has come for me to accept gay marriage and emphasize the good it can do...I don’t believe that opposite-sex and same-sex relationships are the same, but I do believe, with growing numbers of Americans, that the time for denigrating or stigmatizing same-sex relationships is over. Whatever one’s definition of marriage, legally recognizing gay and lesbian couples and their children is a victory for basic fairness.

Mark Osler, JD, Professor of Law at the University of St. Thomas, wrote in his May 19, 2012 article for CNN.com’s “Belief” blog, titled “My Take: The Christian Case for Gay Marriage: “I am a Christian, and I am in favor of gay marriage. The reason I am for gay marriage is because of my faith. What I see in the Bible’s accounts of Jesus and his followers is an insistence that we don’t have the moral authority to deny others the blessing of holy institutions like baptism, communion, and marriage. God, through the Holy Spirit, infuses those moments with life, and it is not ours to either give or deny to others...It is not our place, it seems, to sort out who should be denied a bond with God and the Holy Spirit of the kind that we find through baptism, communion, and marriage...The question before us now is not whether homosexuality is a sin, but whether being gay should be a bar to baptism or communion or marriage.”

Lamba Legal, the largest legal organization in the US committed to the civil rights of gays and lesbians, wrote the following in the article “Marriage,” available at www.lambdalegal.org (accessed Sept. 12, 3012): “Regardless of how completely their lives are intertwined or how deeply they care for each other, individuals in same-sex relationships frequently are treated like strangers under the law – and none are afforded full equality in this country. This unequal treatment causes concrete and devastating harm. It most deeply affects those with children, those with fewer financial resources, people of color, senior citizens or those with less access to education. In addition, the government’s denial of legal statuses and protections available to different-sex couples brands lesbians and gay men as second class.”

Marshall Forstein, MD, Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard University Medical School was quoted in the New Jersey Civil Union Review Commission’s Dec. 10, 2008 final report titled “The Legal, Medical, Economic & Social Consequences of New Jersey’s Civil Union Law” available at www.state.nj

Joseph Ratzinger, DTh, Pope Benedict XVI and Cardinal Prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith at the time of the quote, wrote in the July 3, 2003 report approved by Pope John Paul II “Considerations Regarding Proposals to give Legal Recognition to Unions Between Homosexual Persons, “available at www.vatican.va: “God has willed to give the union of man a woman a special participation in his work of creation. Thus he blessed the man and woman with the words ‘Be fruitful and multiply’ (Gen 1:28). Therefore, the Creator’s plan, sexual complementarity and fruitfulness belong to the very nature of marriage...There are absolutely no grounds for considering homosexual unions to be in any way similar or even remotely analogous to God’s plan for marriage and family. Marriage is holy, while homosexual acts go against the natural moral law. Homosexual acts ‘close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved.”

The American Bar Association’s House of Delegates passed “Resolution 111” by a voice vote with only one person voting against it on Aug. 10, 2010 (available at abanet.org): “The American Bar Association urges state, territorial, and tribal governments to eliminate all of their legal barriers to civil marriage between two persons of the same sex who are otherwise eligible to marry. Many gay and lesbian people seek a committed, lifelong partnership with another adult, and to raise children. ABA policy has kept pace with our society’s evolving understanding that gay and lesbian people are healthy, functioning contributors to our society who face discrimination – both as individuals and as families...This proposed recommendation will signal the ABA’s support for the extension of equal marriage rights to same-sex couples under state, territorial, and tribal law, as consistent with our country’s constitutional principles of equal protection and due process, as well as states’ strong interest in protecting and fostering the family unit...In addition, the denial of these important protections harms the hundreds of thousands of children being raised by same-sex couples. Treating same-sex couples differently not only tangibly harms those individuals, couples, and their families, but also stigmatizes them and their children by deeming them unworthy to enjoy fundamental and equal citizenship rights.”

These are just a sampling of current opinions showing a growing number of people addressing and becoming more conscious of the multiple issues facing gays and lesbians. Most importantly, I feel, are the human rights and equality issues. As our country grapples with these concerns, progress is being made state by state as these rights are being reflected in our political system and acknowledged by more and more people. We are becoming a forefront issue in people’s minds. It is an interesting time.

Election Year 2012

The election year is upon us. As the Republicans battle it out in their primaries, it is important for us to know where each candidate stands on issues of importance to lesbians, gays, bisexuals and the trans community. Just how do (or don’t) the Republicans stand up for gay rights?

Newt Gingrich was a Representative in Congress from Georgia from 1979-1999 and was Speaker of the House from 1995-1999 when Bill Clinton was president. He says he is the Gay person’s candidate. As reported in the DesMoines Register Newt Gingrich said, “I believe that marriage is between a man and woman. It has been for all of recorded history and I think this is a temporary aberration that will dissipate. I think that it is just fundamentally goes against everything we know.”

In a statement to the conservative Family Leader organization, he said, “As President, I will vigorously enforce the Defense of Marriage Act, which was enacted under my leadership as Speaker of the House, and ensure compliance with its provisions, especially in the military. I will also aggressively defend the constitutionality of DOMA in federal and state courts. I will support sending a federal constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman to the states for ratification. I will also oppose any judicial, bureaucratic, or legislative effort to define marriage in any manner other than as between one man and one woman. I will support all efforts to reform promptly any uneconomic or anti-marriage aspects of welfare and tax policy.”

Newt Gingrich has a lesbian sister, Candace Gingrich-Jones who has been active in LGBT rights and politics for almost as long as her brother has been in office. She has often spoken out against her brother’s policies and says she backs Barack Obama in the 2012 presidential elections. She says, “I could not support the campaign of somebody who doesn’t think I deserve the same rights as other people.

Mitt Romney was the governor of Massachusetts when that state became the first in the United States to legalize gay marriage. In spite of this, Mitt Romney has made it clear he is opposed to gay marriage. As he positions himself as a conservative candidate for U.S. president, he opposes most rights for gays and lesbians.

Mitt Romney signed a pledge from the National Organization for Marriage that says he will support a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage, defend the Defense of Marriage Act in court and nominate anti-LGBT judges.

Mitt Romney has opposed gay marriage since his state became the first in the U.S. to legalize gay marriage. He said, “I believe that the family is the foundation of America – and that it needs to be protected and strengthened.” When asked by Chris Matthews of MSNBC about what he thinks the difference between marriage and civil unions is, Romney said, “Well, I would rather have neither, to tell you the truth. I don’t want civil unions or gay marriage.”

When asked if, as a Mormon, he believed homosexuality was a sin, he said, “I separate quite distinctly matters of personal faith from the leadership that one has in a political sense.”

Rick Perry started his political career as a Democrat in Texas’ House of Representatives. He served three terms in that office and switched to the Republican party towards the end of his final term. He became Governor in December 2000 when George W. Bush resigned the office to become President. He has been the Texas Governor since 2000. Rick Perry is touting himself as the Champion of Conservative Principles in his election bid.

Rick Perry is against gay marriage. He signed a pledge with the conservative National Organization for Marriage. It says he will support a constitutional amendment to declare marriage to be a union of one man and one woman. It also includes a vow to support the Defense of Marriage Act in court and to appoint judges who will support traditional marriage.

On December 6, 2011 President Obama released a plan to promote human rights and to end discrimination and persecution of gays and lesbians around the world. Rick Perry issued the following statement in response to the human rights declaration: “This is just the most recent example of an administration at war with people of faith in this country. Investing tax dollars promoting a lifestyle many Americans of faith find so deeply objectionable is wrong. President Obama has again mistaken America’s tolerance for different lifestyles with an endorsement of those lifestyles.”

Ron Paul served in the United States House of Representatives as a Texas Congressman from 1976-1977, again 1979-1985 and currently from 1997-present. He ran for president in 1988 as the Libertarian Party candidate, even through he remained a registered republican.

Ron Paul is opposed to Employment Non-Discrimination Bill that is inclusive of gays, lesbians and transgender. He opposes a transgender-inclusive hate crimes bill. As a matter of fact, he opposes any hate crimes legislation. Ron Paul voted to support a ban of gay adoptions in Washington, DC in 1999.

Ron Paul believes the government should stay out of marriage. At a Values Voter Debate in September 2007, Ron Paul said, “True Christians, I believe, believe that marriage is a church function, not a state function. It’s not a state function. I don’t think you need a license to get married. We should define it.” In May 2011 he was asked about legalizing gay marriage at a presidential debate on Fox News. He said, “I think the government should just be out of it. I think is should be done by the church or private contract and we shouldn’t have this argument. But if we have something to say about marriage, it should be at the state level and not at the Federal Government. Just get the government out of it. It’s one area where it’s totally unnecessary and it’s caused more trouble than necessary.”

Rick Santorum is a former Representative in Congress (1991-1995) and Senator (1995-2007) from Pennsylvania. He is a social conservative often criticized for his anti-gay statements and voting record.

Rick Santorum is opposed to same-sex marriage and recognition of same sex couples. Not only is he opposed to same-sex marriage, he vows to annul any same-sex couples that are already legally married, including those married in California, Iowa, New York, New Hampshire, Connecticut and Vermont. In an interview with MSNBC’s Chuck Todd, he said he would support a federal constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. When asked about those already legally married he replied, “Well, their marriage would be invalid.” While campaigning in Iowa, Rick Santorum told a crowd that equal rights for gays and lesbians would “destabilize the family” and “accommodate a different values structure.”

For years, Rick Santorum has been a vocal opponent of any kind of gay rights legislation or court ruling. In 2003 Rick Santorum said in an interview with the Associated press about the Supreme Court over turning Texas sodomy law, “If the Supreme Court says that you have the right to consensual (gay) sex within your home, then you have the right to bigamy, you have the right to polygamy, you have the right to incest, you have the right to adultery. You have the right to anything.”

In the same interview Santorum equated homosexuality with Incest and Bestiality. He said, “Every society in the history of man has upheld the institution of marriage as a bond between a man and a woman. Why? Because society is based on one thing: that society is based on the future of the society. And that’s what? Children. Monogamous relationships. In every society, the definition of marriage has not ever to my knowledge included homosexuality. That’s not to pick on homosexuality. It’s not, you know, man on child, man on dog, or whatever the case may be.”

Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States, has rallied support for GLBT like no other President. How does he stand on the issues of importance to gay and lesbian voters?

On Hate Crimes: From the White House Website: President Obama and Vice President Biden will strengthen federal hate crimes protection by passing the Matthew Shepard Act, and reinvigorate enforcement at the Department of Justice’s Criminal Section.

Employment Non-Discrimination: From Whitehouse.gov: President Obama supports the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and believes that our anti-discrimination employment laws should be expanded to include sexual orientation and gender identity.

Gays in the Military: In September 2011 President Obama signed legislation to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” For the first time ever, gays and lesbians can serve openly in the United States military.

Gay and Lesbian Adoption: President Obama believes that we must ensure adoption rights for all couples and individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation. He thinks that a child will benefit from a healthy and loving home, whether the parents are gay or not.

On Gay Marriage/Civil Unions: Although Barack Obama has said that he supports civil unions, he is against gay marriage. In an interview with the Chicago Daily Tribune, Obama said, “I’m a Christian. And so, although I try not to have my religious beliefs dominate or determine my political views on this issue, I do believe that tradition, and my religious beliefs say that marriage is something sanctified between a man and a woman.”

Obama did vote against a Federal Marriage Amendment and opposed the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996. He said he would support civil unions between gay and lesbian couples, as well as letting individual states determine if marriage between gay and lesbian couples should be legalized.

From the White House Web site: President Obama supports full civil unions that give same-sex couples legal rights and privileges equal to those of married couples. He also believes we need to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and enact legislation that would ensure that the 1,100 + federal legal rights and benefits currently provided on the basis of marital statues are extended to same-sex couples in civil unions and other legally-recognized unions. These rights and benefits include the right to assist a loved one in times of emergency, the right to equal health insurance and other employment benefits, and property rights.

In examining the highlights of where these leaders stand on issues of importance to the GLBT community it is clear that we still have a long way to go before we can have the human rights we deserve. In history right now we are making slow progress toward these goals. It is vitally important for us all to vote to continue this direction of growth.