Letters to the Editor
The Washington
Supreme Court Decision
The “activist judge” accusations of the religious and political
right must be hitting home. The Supreme Court decision against marriage
wrote, “while same-sex marriage may be the law at a future time,
it will be because the people declare it to be, not because five members
of the court have dictated it.” If the courts of the 1960s had followed
this logic, we might still be waiting on civil rights legislation.
As much as I wish the court had decided
for same-gender marriage, I still appreciate their truth that marriage
equality will become law when “the people declare it to be.”
Last summer I unicycled for five weeks and 1,000 miles to gather stories
of gay, and lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people. I also asked hundreds
of straight people what they thought of equal rights. Even for those who
thought homosexuality was a sin, when I told about specific couples, and
the specific hardships which the Supreme Court noted in last weeks decision,
almost to a person, people responded, “Yes, they should have those
rights.”
The fastest way to the privileges
and responsibilities of same gender marriage is to recognize that that
we’re talking about real people, and real gay and lesbian families
that already exist. A young gay man during my tour last summer defined
an ally for me. “Allies listen. And they believe what they hear.”
Getting beyond political and religious polarization will require us to
tell our stories, listen to one another, and believe what we hear. As
soon as we act, as soon as declare it to be, we can achieve marriage equality.
Straight into Gay America: My
Unicycle Journey for Equal Rights has just been released. It’s
my way of adding a voice to the equal rights movement. A neighbor who
is reading my book addressed me with some frustration, “You’re
making me think about things I’ve never thought about before.”
“Good,” I replied to this
mother of two young girls, “If your daughters grow up lesbian, now
you’ll be ready to keep loving them.” So many gay and lesbian,
bisexual, and transgender families have been torn apart by hatred of homosexuality.
Real family values don’t tear families apart. Marriage equality
will give dignity to all families. Let’s do what the court says,
and “declare it to be.”
Lars Clausen
Chelan, Washington
Pride from Rehoboth Beach to Burlington
The weather is mighty hot and humid this time of year in the quaint town
of Rehoboth, Delaware. As I chat to another member of the Rehoboth Writers
Guild, we shared thoughts of Burlington, Vermont.
Mine being the most recent and first time
ever, I glowed like a lightning bug in the still of the night as I plummeted
scenarios, adventures, people met, and the Pride Fest of Burlington. I
exploded with joy about the nature of the people I met and the at-home
feeling I possessed while in town. From the shores of the Atlantic Ocean
to the view of Lake Champlain, the Pride Fest was solid and liquefied
the need to be out through personal expression in the mountains and by
the ocean, wherever. As I was leaving town, I stumbled upon the Pride
Fest and the personality of Lynn and could not leave the rainbow flag
or the event itself.
We express the same attitude and charisma
here in Rehoboth Beach. Although the sights of nature may differ, the
heart of our annual Pride Fest carries the same respectful support of
community and those whom embark upon.
We here in Rehoboth Beach want to thank
you and yours for being especially open and receptive to out-of-town “family.”
And we invite you for a taste of Atlantic serenity as your lovely town
of Burlington has done and will continue to for many road trips to come.
Keep in mind that a few of us locals do rent rooms to those who visit
(oisea2@aol.com).
Thanks for the opportunity to share
these thoughts in OITM. I am looking forward to writing again, possibly
in the future of political stands and rights (VT/ DE), national issues
and articles of community connection.
Pamela J. Bergmann
Rehoboth, Delaware
Offended at Defense of Mary Cheney’s Book
What is it with these Gold Coast Log Cabin Republicans in Miami? Another
letter targeted at OITM.
This time it’s the Mary Cheney opus.
Obviously the book is not selling. Uncle Tom to the rescue!
Albert Santerre
Salem, New Hampshire
(Editor’s note: the letter Mr. Santerre is referring to (July ‘06
OITM) was distributed to a number of gay publications, OITM being one
of them. I included it in the letters as representative of another viewpoint
from the gay community).
Correction
The correct email for Queer Social Space is qssvermont@gmail.com
There was an incorrect listing in the August issue.