CIVIL UNION: CIVIL RIGHTS V. PERSONAL MOTIVES

Proposition 8. Question 1. Question 6.  Over the last few years, the issue of gay rights has forged its way into the forefront of legislation on the state and federal levels in this country.  From grass roots efforts to recognize gay marriage, advocates have continued on a steadfast path that has recently reached the highest court in the land—The U.S. Supreme Court.  With all of the gay rights/marriage advocacy, one could wonder if gay rights have become the dominant civil rights issue of the 21^th century? Are former opponents becoming proponents for political gain?

Since the 1970’s when proponents of gay rights and marriage first introduced their cause to legislation, there has been a steady push to endorse those rights.  As of today, nine states and the District of Columbia have passed legislation to legalize gay marriage.  From Jay Z to John Kerry to Al Sharpton to Brad Pitt, one may wonder if there is a bandwagon of opportunists looking to garner popularity points for personal gain through supporting this issue. One can’t deny that the passing of gay marriage is an economy booster.  In New York, the subsequent excitement following the legalization of gay marriage resulted in skyrocketing sales for the wedding industry.  Same sex couples flocked to wedding attire stores and wedding planners with the hopes of having the fairytale experience they’d so longed for.  On the contrary are these people simply using their celebrity to voice their support of civil rights for others?   Some celebrities and public figures have voiced their support and have even attempted to make a comparison between gay couples fighting for marriage to the plight of African Americans on their journey to equal rights.  Most recently, there has been a large movement to garner as much support as possible.  Some church leaders have begun using their influence to have their members reconsider messages taught opposing gay marriage.  Even President Obama changed his traditional stance of viewing marriage as “a union between one man and one woman “ to endorsing gay marriage, thus becoming the first sitting U.S. President to do so.  Many questioned whether or not this was a political move in the wake of re-election and a poor approval rating at the time.

With all of the celebrity and political endorsement, it has made it very hard for opponents of gay marriage to be looked at as anything other than bigots.  I truly believe that every issue important to an individual is worth fighting for, but I don’t think that fighting for any issue should be done as a political move.  Also, people who don’t share the “popular” opinion shouldn’t have their arms twisted or be politically ostracized for their beliefs. Historically, that has been the case in this country.  Abraham Lincoln didn’t sign the Emancipation Proclamation because he was necessarily a supporter of freedom for black people, but signed because his back was against the wall and the country was being destroyed by war.  Same sex marriage is and will continue to be a hot issue in this country, but let’s not turn its support into a political circus.