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Thursday, November 15, 2012

Thank The Straight Folks


Gays and lesbians are a tiny percentage of the population. And while we laid the groundwork for the breakthroughs we saw last week in Maine, Maryland, Washington, and Minnesota—we built this—we didn’t build it on our own. The majorities in the state legislatures in Maine, Maryland, and Washington that voted to make same-sex marriage legal? Straight. The governors who signed laws making same-sex marriage legal? Straight. The overwhelming majority of people who voted in favor of marriage equality in all three states after anti-gay bigots forced public votes on our civil rights? Straight. The majority that voted against writing anti-gay bigotry into Minnesota’s state constitution last week? Straight. And the president who took a huge political risk and came out for marriage equality before his reelection campaign? Straight. It has gotten better for us—better, not perfect—but it hasn’t gotten better for us in a vacuum. It’s gotten better for us because straight people have gotten better about us.
        Rights are rights. They shouldn’t be put up for a vote. And we shouldn’t have to say “thank you” when they’re recognized. But the sad fact is that we have had to fight for our rights. But here’s the happy fact: We didn’t have to fight this one alone. Thousands and thousands of straight people stood with us and fought for us. We had help. And that’s what we should thank the straight people for. Not for granting us our rights—rights are rights are rights—but for joining our fight.
        If you know a straight person in Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, or Washington—if you know a straight in any state or in the District of Columbia—who donated money, phone-banked, went door-to-door, or took a political risk on our behalf, take your picture with that straight person, write a few words about what they did, and post it to www.straightupthanks.tumblr.com.
We saw a huge breakthrough in the struggle for LGBT equality last week. And it wouldn’t have happened without the help of so many righteous, kick-ass straight people. I’ll bet every queer person reading this knows a straight person who they should thank. I certainly do. Thank them in a public way: go to www.straightupthanks.tumblr.com, click on “submit a post,” share a photo, and thank a straight ally.
Because we literally couldn’t have done it without them.

10 comments:

  1. Oh go away you bunch of handout seeking leeches. This clearly wasn't about the commitment that marrige is but more a convience. You all came up with a way to sponge off of society. It was all about benefits whether it be health care for your "spouse" or SS benefits and retirements.

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  2. Exactly. THIS will help all benefits empty out quicker and cause more financial burden on this country. Rome Fell. Now, it's time for the U. S. to Fall.

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  3. And these couples will also be paying for marriage licenses and having weddings that will put money into the economy. Get over yourselves.

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  4. Oh yeah I'm sure so many are going to spend tons on weddings. It was all about benefits and they said so themselves. They fully admitted to being nothing more than a bunch of leeches with their hands out for whatever they can get for free. A commitment doesn't take a piece of paper. All this talk about not being able to visit their partners in hospitals was a bunch of bunk and as far as estate issues that is not rocket science-write a will.

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  5. Anonymous said...
    And these couples will also be paying for marriage licenses and having weddings that will put money into the economy. Get over yourselves.

    November 15, 2012 4:24 PM

    What an idiot!! Gays are nothing but porn freaks and child molesters.

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  6. We will see a stunning rise in pedophilia as a result of the decision.
    Homosexuality is a deviant mental sickness.
    It should be treated. Not encouraged.
    I do not want them around my children and most certainly do not want them teaching or in positions of authority over anyone's children.
    It is against the basic laws of nature and subverts the entire point of loving unions between men and women.

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  7. "What an idiot!! Gays are nothing but porn freaks and child molesters."

    November 15, 2012 7:35 PM

    I'm a porn freak and I'm straight. There goes your entire argument.

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  8. I'm sure you're all of the opinion that homosexuals "choose" to be gay, so if they were in heterosexual marriages it would be okay for them to receive the same benefits? Thus "leeching," as you put it, the exact same number of benefits for their spouses. Logic, it defies you.

    Only the loyal readers of this blog could turn a gracious letter into pitchfork-grabbing foolishness.

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  9. I'm with 745. Thank you.

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  10. 745 how do you "treat" a gay person? I believe they are born gay, it is not a sickness or a disease. Your comments are ignorant and selfles. At what age did you decide to become straight?

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