First, the good news: my brother-in-law and his boyfriend are engaged!
I couldn't be happier. Grizz and Gizmo (terribly clever aliases) are an amazing couple, and so perfect for each other. Not to mention, some of my favorite people to hang out with.
Now the soul-crushing reminder: they can't get married in Michigan.
Not only can they not get married, but Michigan lawmakers are considering laws that would make it MORE legal to discriminate against them.
Direct quote from the above article: "In Michigan, it's legal to discriminate against customers based on sexual orientation or gender identity. A push last year to expand the state's civil rights law to include protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender Michiganders failed. So did a bill that would carve out overarching protections for businesses that discriminate, but piecemeal efforts to preserve different components of discrimination are under way in Lansing."
This law would allow the equivalent of these signs to be legal...again:
What can I say that I haven't already said? What can I do? I've written emails, I've called congressmen, I've slapped pink triangles on my car, I've shouted from my bully pulpit (such as it is). Still I sit here and watch two men I love wait for the government to allow them to have my rights and freedoms. To expect the protection I get without question.
But the end of the tunnel is coming.
See that? 37 states where gay marriage is legal, and court cases in nearly all the rest. Michigan is a minority. And for once, I'm glad a minority is about to disappear.
I couldn't be happier. Grizz and Gizmo (terribly clever aliases) are an amazing couple, and so perfect for each other. Not to mention, some of my favorite people to hang out with.
Now the soul-crushing reminder: they can't get married in Michigan.
Most soul-crushing thing I can find on short notice.
Not only can they not get married, but Michigan lawmakers are considering laws that would make it MORE legal to discriminate against them.
Direct quote from the above article: "In Michigan, it's legal to discriminate against customers based on sexual orientation or gender identity. A push last year to expand the state's civil rights law to include protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender Michiganders failed. So did a bill that would carve out overarching protections for businesses that discriminate, but piecemeal efforts to preserve different components of discrimination are under way in Lansing."
This law would allow the equivalent of these signs to be legal...again:
There were more...a lot more.
What can I say that I haven't already said? What can I do? I've written emails, I've called congressmen, I've slapped pink triangles on my car, I've shouted from my bully pulpit (such as it is). Still I sit here and watch two men I love wait for the government to allow them to have my rights and freedoms. To expect the protection I get without question.
But the end of the tunnel is coming.
From here
See that? 37 states where gay marriage is legal, and court cases in nearly all the rest. Michigan is a minority. And for once, I'm glad a minority is about to disappear.
Presto
