LETTERS: The Similarities of Gay Marriage and Racism
Letters to the editor comparing anti-marriage equality amendments to racism; one says African American legislators against same-sex marriage use their church as justification, just as others used the Bible to justify slavery.
I grew up in segregated North Carolina, and I find it painful to see Virginia harking back to those dark times ["Gay Marriage Ban Advances Toward Va. Referendum," front page, Jan. 26]. The movement to ban gay marriage reminds me of a feeling I experienced long ago-of having a designated group we are supposed to hate and of being fearful of speaking out against this ugliness because we might be ostracized.
This proposed amendment goes far beyond declaring that marriage is between a man and a woman. It would deny legal status to any arrangements that two people of the same sex might make in order to live in a partnership-shared benefits, parenting responsibilities, medical directives. It even threatens a medical directive a widowed friend has assigned to me because even though we are not gay we are both women.
The idea that this un-Christian behavior will protect traditional marriage would be laughable if it weren't so cruel. I grew up in a conformist time, and it took me years to speak out against the racial discrimination that we all practiced but nobody talked about. This time I am speaking out.
ANN P. WOOD
Reston, VA
I cannot understand the thinking of African American legislators who support bans on gay marriage ["Gay Unions Fracture Md.'s Black Caucus," front page, Jan. 28]. Most claim to be following their churches, but the Bible has been used to justify slavery and discrimination.
In 1959 a Virginia judge sentenced Mildred and Richard Loving for breaking the law against interracial marriage. The judge said, "Almighty God created the races," and "he placed them on separate continents. And but for the interference with his arrangements there would be no cause for such marriages. The fact that he separated the races shows that he did not intend for the races to mix."
While it may be convenient for people to mask prejudice with religion, it is disturbing when the persecuted become the persecutors.
JULIE M. SIBBING
Alexandria, VA
via WaPo
This entry was posted
on Friday, February 03, 2006 at 12:07 PM.
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ByUnfortunately, none of the arguments presented in these letters appear to sway voters. For whatever reason, the right wing fundamental activists are apparently more motivated to vote to take away gay rights than gays and our allies are to vote to protect them.
It's ridiculous to suggest that this is an issue that should be decided by the people in a popular vote, just as slavery and segregation were not ended by popular vote. There will never be a gay majority, so gay rights will never win in that forum. The recent Texas constitutional amendment is a classic example where 12% of the voting population passed the constitutional ban in an election. 12% is the voice of the people? I think not.
Gay people are being denied their right to equal protection, and the courts have to step in and remedy the situation.
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