Alyssa's Taking Action Post

Here is my post about how I took action with gay marriage.  I went on to the website Freedom to Marry (www.freedomtomary.org) 

On the website you can Join the Majority for Marriage Pledge, you can speak out and contact your legislator, you can join mayors in supporting marriage, and you can also donate money to the win more states fund.

Signing the pledge gave me a sense of accomplishment, and made me feel like I was giving back to  the community. I also like that most people in our class signed pledges for their group projects.

There are many democratic values that I feel contradict the ability for people to marry whoever they want to marry.  I found these Core Democratic Values and Beliefs definitions on (http://www.classroomhelp.com/lessons/cdv/cdv_definition.html)

Fundamental Beliefs

Life:

 A person's right to life can't be violated except if your life or the lives of others is threatened.

Liberty: 

This includes personal freedom, political freedom, and economic freedom. This is the freedom for people to gather in groups. They have their own beliefs, ideas and opinions. People also have the right to express their opinions in public.

Personal Freedom 

 the right to think and act without government control.

Political Freedom 

 the right to participate in political process.

Economic Freedom 

the right to buy, sell and trade private property and the right to employment without the government interfering.

The Pursuit of Happiness: 

As long as you don't interfere with others you have the right to seek happiness in your own way.

Common Good:

 Working together for the welfare of the community or the benefit of all.

Justice:

 All people should be treated fairly in both the benefits and the obligations of society. No individual or group should be favored over another person or group.

Equality:

 Everyone has the right to Political, Legal, Social and Economic Equality. Everyone has the right to the same treatment regardless of race, sex, religion, heritage, or economic status.

Diversity:

 The differences in culture, dress, language, heritage and religion are not just tolerated, but celebrated as a strength.

Truth:

 They should expect and demand that the government not lie to them and the government should disclose information to the people. The government and its people should not lie.

Popular Sovereignty: 

The power of the government comes from the people. The people are the ultimate authority over the government.

Patriotism: 

The people or citizens show a love and devotion for their country and the values. They can show this by words or by actions.

I think that in the classroom it is important to teach about equality and social justices.  Just like with any topic that you teach in the classroom as a teacher you need to make sure that you are teaching age appropriate/ and grade appropriate material. The classroom is where children learn most of their knowledge, from social issues to basic arithmetic. They learn a lot from each other and other opinions as well as from what the teacher is teaching. If teachers teach social justice appropriately in the classroom it will help the students to grow up and use there knowledge effectively. 

Abby's Post

Like Lauren, in order to take action in support of gay marriage, I went online to a site called Freedom to Marry (http://www.freedomtomarry.org/) and signed a pledge that declares not only my support of gay marriage, but also declares my intent to be active participant in the fight for marriage equality. I then posted a link to the pledge on my Facebook page, hoping to inspire others to sign it as well. This site offered several avenues for people wanting to take part in their campaign - the pledge being one example. I also clicked on the link that gave me step-by-step instructions on how to go about contacting government officials and voice my support for gay marriage. These are steps I will take. I feel like it is not only my duty to be an active participant in issues that affect my country, but also feel it is my duty as the niece/cousin/friend of members of the LGBT community. Signing this pledge and committing to contacting congress made me feel influential - like I could do my part to make a difference.

 

Voicing an individual opinion is the idea at the heart of democracy. Democracy allows the voices of all citizens to be heard, not just those in positions of power. Just as each person is entitled to their own beliefs and values, a person is absolutely entitled to their own opinion. Moreover, these opinions  should be able to be expressed freely, without fear of persecution (as long as the expression is not one of physical violence or verbal abuse. I am talking about logical, reasonable opinions.) We do not have to agree with our fellow voters, but in order to gain a clear understanding of issues that affect us all, we should at least be willing to listen to those who oppose us.

 

I believe it is not only a good idea, but a responsibility to teach about social justice issues within a classroom. The key is to make sure the lesson has a purpose and is age/grade appropriate. Social justice issues have plagued the world throughout history, and only by introducing them to students can teachers provide a complete overview of whole our country (and world as a whole) was shaped. A classroom is where students gain a huge part of the information that will shape the adults they will become, second only to the home. In a home setting, the views that are pressed upon the children are those of their parents, and are usually one-sided. If teachers take the time to introduce a controversial topic like social justice in their classes, students will gain a better understanding of the issues. This will lead to them forming their own beliefs and opinions along the way, not simply parroting the words of their parents. The education system serves the public interest by turning out well-informed, actively involved citizens.

 

The quote “Struggle for social justice is central to our nation’s history…“Concerns about the common good and the rights of the individual, no matter how humble in social standing, transcends politics and holds a definitive place in the realms of morality, ethics and federal law, and therefore in the world of teaching social studies” sums up the idea that social justice is not simply for the mighty. Social justice is not meant for some but for all, with no regard to race, gender, sexual orientation, or religion. Party affiliation does not matter - Democrat or Republican, it is the duty of a teacher to teach her/his students about social justice.

Teaching the BIG IDEA Behind Gay Marriage

Group Post:

               The "BIG IDEA" behind our chosen topic of gay marriage is the fight to make same-sex marriage legal in all 50 states. As the presidential election draws closer, this topic will become more and more prevalent, given the vast difference in where the two parties stand on the issue. According to the Human Rights Campaign, President Obama has led the way on significant advancements in equality for the LGBT community. From his historic endorsement of gay marriage equality, to repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" within our military, to fighting for hospital visitation rights for same-sex partners, Obama has made the Democratic stand clear. President Obama has done more to improve the lives of the LGBT community than any other president in history. While this is a kudo for Obama, the reality is that this is due, in large part to the LGBT community finding a voice and fighting for their rights.

               One critical attribute of this big idea is equality, something all people should have regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation. Equality does not mean "separate but equal," a concept that plagued the civil rights movement. Equality means equal, in every sense of the word.  It should not called "gay marriage" but simply "marriage. Segregation, another critical attribute of the topic, is an idea thought archaic by most of the United States, but for many people the idea of segregation only applies to issues of race. Why? The act of segregating is defined as "the separating of one person, group, or thing from others, or the dividing of people or things into separate groups kept apart from each other." By telling the LGBT community that they are not entitled to the same rights as heterosexual couples, those against same-sex marriage are perpetrating acts of segregation. Many of these same people would be outraged by acts of racial discrimination.

               As a country, we need to stop accepting acts of discrimination and segregation. We can no longer take on the attitude of "It doesn't affect me, so who cares?" or "I'm only one person, what can I do?" One way to accomplish this change in attitude is to start teaching students the facts early. Of course the subject is controversial, and must be handled with care. But if it is introduced in a way that is unbiased and age-appropriate, we as teachers are ensuring that students gain only the relevant information and are allowed to form their own (educated) opinions.

               To provide Information Knowledge, teachers will need to present a general overview of the gay marriage, including facts (when policies were put in place, when laws were changed, etc), concepts (the parties' opposing viewpoints, for instance, or the idea of equality), and generalizations (for example, relating the topic civil rights movement of the 1960s). While this information is important, it is somewhat hollow without Procedural Knowledge; that is, explaining how to make sense of the Information Knowledge that has been presented. Our textbook says that the purpose of Procedural Knowledge is to "empower people to set aside bias and subjectivity in order to engage in impartial analysis of new knowledge for the sake of more objective ideas." This would involve asking students to use executive processing functions and think critically. In other words, we are asking them to apply the Information Knowledge.

 

To break up this concept as a lesson to teach, we would do the following:

 

Step 1: What are gay rights? What are the issues that people are currently fighting for? What are some recent developments (positive and negative) in the fight for gay rights? (Information)

 

Step 2: What has President Obama done so far in his presidency to support gay rights and the LGBT community? What is the stance on gay rights in Massachusetts?  (Information)

 

Step 3: Which political party opposes gay marriage? If their candidate is elected president, what may happen to the LGBT citizens of this country? (Procedural)

 

Step 4: What can YOU do to take a stand? (Procedural)

 

During our class discussion, we will:

 

Take a poll to find out where our group stands on the issue of gay marriage. Do they think that any compromise other than full equality is acceptable? After we get a baseline idea of the group's stance on the issue, we will introduce facts about gay marriage that the group might not be aware of, including the rights that are denied to same-sex couples by banning gay marriage. (Even though most of our class has already expressed their views - supportive - on gay marriage, some might not know why they really support it. It may just "seem like the thing to do") In order to provide an unbiased overview of the issue, we will introduce both parties' viewpoints, as well as the reasoning behind them. After our presentation of facts, we will re-poll the class and see if opinions have changed. If there is no change, we will ask our classmates if any of the information we have presented has helped to firm-up their support of gay marriage, or made them question where they really stand.

 

 Gay Rights vs. Civil Rights

The New Civil Rights Movement

 

 

Lauren's Post

Hello everyone! Here is my blog post for this week about taking action on gay rights!

-Lauren

 

 •What you did for a “take action” and reflect on how it felt.

For my “take action” I signed a pledge on the Freedom to Marry Organization’s website. The pledge states “I add my voice to those supporting the freedom to marry. I pledge to work to enable same-sex couples and their families to share equally in the responsibilities, protections, and commitment of marriage.” On the website, I also donated 10.00$ to the organization. By making a donation, I will help the Freedom to Marry Organization continue the crucial work needed to end marriage discrimination once and for all. You can take the pledge here: (http://www.freedomtomarry.org/page/s/pledge). Making this pledge made me feel powerful because this is something that affects my life; I have a gay family member and best friend fighting for their right to marry.

 

 •Reflect on how taking this type of action connects with democratic values.

Having equal rights for all is at the core of democratic values. The value of life means that a person’s right to live freely should never be violated. A person’s right to liberty ensures personal freedom to love and marry whoever you chose. To have personal freedom ensures the LGBT community the right to think and act without government control. My taking the pledge is a fight to create a common good, which means working together for the good of the community.  Gay Rights ensures equality and justice for the LGBT community in this nation. All people should be treated fairly in both the benefits and the obligations of society. No individual or group should be favored over another person or group. Everyone has the right to Political, Legal, Social and Economic Equality. Everyone has the right to the same treatment regardless of race, sex, religion, heritage, or economic status.

 

 •Last, where do you lie in regards to teaching about social justice issues? YOU AS AN EDUCATOR NEED TO DECIDE FOR YOURSELF WHAT EDUCATION IS ALL ABOUT--DO YOU BELIEVE THAT EDUCATION IS AN INSTRUMENT FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD?

As a teacher I will advocate for the equal rights of all citizens and will teach democratic values in the classroom. I certainly believe that education is an instrument for creating common good. Social justice is something that needs to be taught to all children in order for them to grow into responsible citizens. Teachers should always teach by example, with meaningful parent involvement, lessons that go beyond the simple ‘version’ of history (remember Columbus!?) and a curriculum that helps students become active citizens

 •What do you think about that quote of ◦“Struggle for social justice is central to our nation’s history…“Concerns about the common good and the rights of the individual, no matter how humble in social standing, transcends politics and holds a definitive place in the realms of morality, ethics and federal law, and therefore in the world of teaching social studies”

I think this quotes covers the big idea for teaching social justice in the classroom. Social justice is the foundation for which this country was built upon; why do you think the Puritans came here? All 8 of my great grandparents came to America because they didn’t have freedom in Canada and Sicily. I think it is important for us as teachers to educate children that social justice means moving towards a society where all hungry are fed, all sick are cared for, the environment is treasured, and we treat each other with love and compassion.

Hot News Item

http://news.yahoo.com/deaf-university-roiled-gay-marriage-controversy-085504898.html

Celebrity Support

http://www.eonline.com/news/354913/anne-hathaway-s-wedding-pics-donating-money-to-support-gay-marriage?utm_source=eonline&utm_medium=rssfeeds&utm_campaign=imdb_topstories

Fairness for Queerness!

Hello everyone, this is my interview with my very dear friend Louis. Like Abby mentioned with her interviewee I obviously knew which side of this policy Louis would agree with because he is homosexual. Louis opened my eyes to why it is truly important for gay marriage to be considered valid federally in this country. Many people think that fighting for gay marriage is just to appease homosexual men and women so they can choose who they love and love freely; it goes way beyond that. Louis made me realize that instead of placing obstacles in the path of gay couples; it seems that the smarter, more better alternative from a societal perspective would be to encourage monogamy and stability amongst relationships that is what the true sanctity of marriage is about.

I believe that gay marriage is a matter of injustice. To put it in context: imagine if tomorrow, Congress enacted a law denying African-Americans the right to raise children together in a legally protected relationship. Or if by act of law, Hispanic and Jewish couples who had lived together for years would no longer be permitted to file their tax returns together, be under their spouses’ health insurance, or legally share a house together. Don’t you think there would be civil OUTRAGE?  So, my question is why do we not feel this way about homosexual couples? Isn’t their struggle a matter of civic injustice?

-Lauren

Is this a problem you think is important?  Why/ Why not?

Of course this problem is important. As a gay male, I have struggled with my identity my whole life and it took me a long time to be comfortable with being who I am. Now that I have the courage to love freely, it hurts me knowing that my love will never be acknowledged or valued by our government. Gay marriage is at the forefront of the civil rights movement at this point in time and I hope that I will one day be recognized by the federal government and have the same rights regarding my relationship as everyone else.

Do you think others in our community this is an important problem? why/ why not?

Of course I think this is a problem, and it is something that I deal with every day. Thankfully my family, friends, and the people that I surround myself with are for gay marriage. The PROBLEM is that gay marriage opponents go on to conclude their points with these ‘end of the world’ visions of the moral decay of our nation. A lot of people believe that legalizing gay marriage would threaten the sanctity of the institution upon which our very society rests. But my point is that 50% of marriages in the United State leads to divorce, so shouldn’t we respect a person’s choice to marry freely and instead of pushing for man-woman marriage why can’t we push for a person taking upon themselves the true ‘sanctity’ of marriage and the responsibilities.

What policy, if any, does government now have to deal with this problem?

Our government has allotted each state to decide to legally recognize gay marriage, however the federal government will not consider gay marriage as being valid.

 What are advantages of this policy?

There are SO MANY ADVANTAGES! If gay marriage is recognized legally by the federal government, I as a gay man will be granted the rights as every straight marriage which includes: The right to spousal benefits guaranteed to public employees, including health insurance, life insurance and disability payments, plus similar contractual benefits for private sector employees. I will also be granted Priority in being appointed guardian of an incapacitated spouse or in being recognized as acting for an incapacitated spouse in making health care decisions.

What are disadvantages of this policy?

 There are no disadvantages of this policy. The real problem is that conservatives are against gay marriage because they against gays, not because they care about the sanctity of marriage.

How might the policy be improved?

 This policy needs to amend rights to gays, and to also make us recognize gays legally. It also needs to make Americans believe that making gay marriage legal is not just for gays, it is for every race, every sex, and every person who has been discriminated against.

What disagreements, if any, about the policy exist in this community?

There are many disagreements concerning gay marriage, most of these are made by religious conservatives. I will try to explain briefly these issues that they have with ME.

1. Gay marriage promotes promiscuity: My thought is how ironic are gays being labeled promiscuous when we want our STABLE RELATIONSHIP to be considered valid.

2. Gay marriage corrupts morals and depletes the sanctity of marriage: So you are telling me that marrying someone that I have been with for over five years, have a stable and solid respectable relationship with, and I am madly in love with is considered corrupt; but Kim Kardashian’s 72 day marriage to a dude she barely knows is respectable and considered valid???? Why can’t we start accepting REAL relationships as valid and start being concerned with quickie Las Vegas style marriages that last for 2 days?

Where can I get more information about this problem and the different positions people take on this problem?

Human Rights Campaign-www.hrc.org
Marriage Equality Project- www.marriageequality.org/meusa
Lambda Legal Defense & Education Network-www.lambdalegal.org

My interview with Jarid

I interviewed one of my good friends Jarid.  Jarid and I teach colorguard together during the marching band season, and we compete together on a team during the winter season. I have known Jarid for 5 years now and we have been become very close friends. 

When I asked Jarid if he thought gay marriage was important he said yes.  Jarid got married to his partner Robert three years ago.  They did not live in Massachusetts prior to being married.  They both moved from New York to Massachusetts for work four years ago, and after living here for a year they got married. Jarid thinks gay marriage is important because he like any other person should be able to live their life with someone who makes them happy.  He believes just because they are gay doesn't mean that they don't share the same love as a man and a woman would if they got married.

We are both involved with the colorguard community, which is a big community once you are in it but if you are outside of it you would probably not know what it is.  The colorguard community is a very open community.  Jarid said that he believes that 30-40 % of the community are LGBT, and everyone is very accepting of each other.  In our own team we have 30 members, within those members 15 are LGBT and the rest of the team is open minded and accepting of them.  Jarid says he feels comfortable in the community as a whole and as well in our own particular team. 

With the election coming up Jarid is voting Obama.  Not only because Obama accepts gay marriage but because of Obama's way of thinking and his open mindedness. Jarid believes that this world is changing everyday, and you have to have a president that has a open mind to accept change.

Jarid is happy that gay marriage is allowed in Massachusetts, but he believes that more states need to accept it too. He thinks that all states should be open to gay marriage, not just a certain few. With the election coming up he is afraid that if Romney becomes our next president that other states who do not already accept gay marriage will not be able to change while Romney is in office.

 <----- Jarid spinning in a parade in N.Y

Jarid participates in a LGBT colorguard that marches in parades all around the U.S once a month.  The members of the group come from all around the U.S and he says it is a good way to interact with a LGBT community that the members come from all around the U.S. He likes getting to know other people in the LGBT community and hearing about their stories. 

"A basic human right is being denied to people who love each other and are committed to each other."

As I began to interview my cousin, Jenn, about her stance on gay marriage and gay rights in general, I knew what her feelings would be: Afterall, Jenn is a lesbian planning to marry her (female) fiance in 2014. What I wasn't expecting was the mix of passion and level-headed arguments she would bring up during our interview, bringing about the perfect balance of an outraged individual who feels like she is being discriminated against, and informed citizen, basing her arguments on the rights afforded to citizens of our country through our Constitution.
What really hit home for me was when Jenn mentioned that a homosexual individual who is denied the right to marry may experience an entire spectrum of emotional side effects, inlcluding depression, suicidal tendencies, etc. These emotional downward spirals affect not only the person, but their family as well. As Jenn's cousin, I cannot even fathom how difficult it would be to watch her suffer in that way.


While the emotional side of me was touched by some of Jenn's arguments, the practical side was drawn in by others: The bottom line is the rights of the LGBT community are a human rights issue. Period. Like Jenn mentioned, this whole "denying gay marriage" thing is reminiscent of the ban on interacial marriages prior to the civil rights movement. Who do we think we are to decide what other people can do? If it is not hurting anyone or putting the country in jeopardy, why is this even open for discussion or part of an election platform?
People are never going to agree 100% on ANYTHING. But not agreeing does not mean making decisions for others based on your own personal views and feelings.

 Me: Is this a problem you think is important? Why/ Why not?
Jenn: Absolutely it is an important "issue." It's not a problem. Society is trying to make it a problem. It's important because a basic human right is being denied to people who love each other and are committed to each other. Church and state are NOT staying completely separate in this matter and that is unconstitutional - there is your problem.

Me: Do you think others in our community this is an important problem? why/ why not?

Jenn (right) and her fiance,
Ariane, at Gay Pride, Boston,
2012

Jenn:Not being able to marry as a gay couple is a problem that affects not only the couple, but their families also. Denial of the right to marry to gay couples can wreak havoc on a person. It may cause depression, alcoholism, addiction, suicide, bullying etc. Parents that are supportive of their gay children may also worry constantly about the safety of their children. As an adult, engaged to be married lesbian, I am excited and thankful, to live in a state, where I am able to walk down the aisle and marry my wife whenever I to do so. Unfortunately, the majority of the country does not have this privilege. There is also no federal protection for couples that get married in states where gay marriage is not outlawed.

Me: What policy, if any, does government now have to deal with this problem?

Jenn: The federal government has granted each state to structure and provide their own stance on gay marriage. DOMA (the Defense of Marriage Act) was also passed by congress to define mariage as the union of one man and one woman. Same-sex marriage is not recognized federally, even is the couple is married in a state where same sex marriage is lawful.

Me: What are advantages of policies regarding this topic?

Jenn: There are no advantages to these policies - for gay or straight couples. Stopping two people from marrying, regardless of sex, affects no one BUT the actual couple attempting to marry and it affects them in a negative way. If two men or two women get married, what does that actually do to affect the lives of other couples who happen to be straight?

Me: What are disadvantages of this policy?

Jenn: Loving couples in 46 states are unable to marry and have to live in a community that shames them. Healthcare providers, in our own country, may turn the spouse of a gay man or woman away, EVEN IF THE COUPLE IS LEGALLY MARRIED IN THEIR OWN STATE. Gay couples are unable to file their federal taxes jointly even if married in one of the legalized states.

Me: How might the policy be improved?

Jenn: The simple rights of Americans need to be looked over. The constitution should not be ammended to appease people against same sex marriage. Years ago, interracial marriages were legalized on the basis that it was "a basic civil right." This should also be applied to same sex marriage.

Me: What disagreements, if any, about the policy exist in this community?

Jenn: In my community, liberalism is prevalent. Same sex marriage is welcomed and wanted among the people in my community. It is welcomed and it feels wonderful. The state of Massachusetts has set a fine example for the rest of the country in legalizing same sex marriage. I can honestly say that I feel safe in my state. It's sad that I do not feel safe or accepted traveling anywhere in my own country, land of the free, for fear of hate crimes and gay bashing. Gay people need to have their rights acknowledged and protected as well as every heterosexual person.

Me: Where can I get more information about this problem and the different positions people take on this problem?

Jenn: www.HRC.org is an excellent organization that has been formed to support and fight for the rights of gay people. www.bostonpride.org is also a good site. www.itgetsbetter.org. www.glbtnationalhelpcenter.org www.pflagg.org

 <3 Cousin Love <3 Jenn & me

Come Out. Vote.

National Coming Out Day is October 11, and with so much in the way of LGBT rights riding on this year's presidential election, voters are being encouraged to lend their support and let elected officials know that they support ALL human rights, including those of the LGBT community.

Take a look at this site to get some background info on National Coming Out Day :)

(Site also includes a link for straight allies, A Straight Guide to LGBT Americans, to learn about the emotional spectrum that people typically feel after someone comes out to them and find easy ways to learn more and demonstrate your support for LGBT Americans and equality.)

Gay Rights Related News Video

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=17407577

What's this all about?

As the election draws ever-closer, there are voters who are totally behind the Democratic party and others who give their complete support to the Republicans. Many voters, however, are still undecided, and will be looking to several of the hot-button current events issues to make their ultimate decisions. Each party platform brings different ideals and plans for reform, and in many cases, these plans and ideals are utterly opposing viewpoints. Among the issues of contention, same-sex marriage has played a large role. With this blog, we hope to develop an awareness of the stand on same-sex of both parties, provide information on the current state of same-sex marriage within the U.S. and the world, and give those who are undecided some political food for thought. Along the way, we will include general LGBT rights information that we may come across,any changes in public policy, and election updates.

As it stands now, gay marriage is something that is decided on a state-by-state basis, not country-wide. Right now, only seven states allow/recognize same-sex marriage: Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Maine, and Vermont. Washington, D.C. also recognizes same-sex marriage as legal. Other states across the country allow civil unions or domestic partnerships, but this is along the lines of the seperate-but-equal segregation prior to the civil rights movement. Those who oppose same-sex marriage often claim that marriage is meant to be a union between one man and one woman. Period. In these arguments, religion is often cited as a driving force behind these views. Yet, people must remember there is a division between church and state. Should another person's personal views impact the lives of others in such a drastic way? Those who stand behind gay marriage argue that marriage is a human right, not merely a privilege for heterosexual couples.

To start, here's a little background info on where each of us stands on the issue:

Lauren: I stand up for gay rights for many reasons. The most important reason is the equal dignity of homosexual love. I believe that opposite-sex and same-sex relationships and that the time for stigmatizing or segregating same-sex relationships is over. Whatever one’s definition of marriage, legally recognizing gay and lesbian couples and their children is necessary for us to grow as a community and a country. When people ask me why I stand up so proudly for gay rights my answer is simple. My best friend Louis is gay and he is the kindest and most lovable human being I have ever met. He loves with the entirety of his heart and he invests everything into his relationships, he is the most loyal friend a girl could ever ask for. I hope that one day Louis has the same right that I do, to be able to marry the person he wants to spend the rest of his life with and to be rightly represented. If Kim Kardashian can marry someone for merely 72 days due to a publicity stunt, why can’t Louis be able to marry the person he loves? It just isn’t fair. I really hope that debating gay marriage might help to lead heterosexual STRAIGHT America to a broader and more positive recommitment to marriage as an institution. Marriage isn’t something we should take as a joke (hence: Kim Kardashian). Marriage is about being committed to the person you love, regardless of your sex.

 

Abby: As a heterosexual woman living in the 21st century, I will most likely never experience a situation where I am told I cannot marry a person I love. Sadly, this is not true for many people living in the U.S. Some of these people are members of my own family and/or among my closest friends. I know these people - I mean really know them. They are all loving, kind, generous individuals who deserve nothing but happiness. If that ultimate happiness is to be found in a marriage with a member of the same sex, what right does anyone have to take that away? I think that too often people assume the "it doesn't affect me so who cares" attitude when it comes to issues like gay marriage. The truth is, it affects us all. Gay marriage is not simply a gay rights issue - it is a human rights issue. Much in the same way the civil rights movement of the 60's was needed to pave the way for positive change among the races, the gay rights movement is needed to ensure equality for a demographic that makes up a large portion of our country's citizens - the LGBT community. This summer I had the pleasure of joining in my cousin's happiness as she announced her engagement to a woman she met and fell in love with and with whom she has started to build a life. I am grateful to live in Massachusetts - one of the few states that recognizes same-sex marriage - so we can all share in their happiness when they get married in 2014!