It's Important, People!!

I have been fighting off the urge to write about the horrors of Factory Farming and the affect on innocent animals who suffer for our convenience so I decided on another issue that people might actually be willing to read about. Heck, it’s already in the news anyway!

Marriage Equality is hanging around in New York like a giant Rainbow Elephant in the Room, being avoided by the Senate and collectively raising the Blood Pressure of Gays and Lesbians in New York and right here in Florence, KY (every step in the right direction is a small victory.) I read and hear so many people comment that Gay Marriage debates and law making are wasting time that could be spent on the Economy, Energy Crisis, Housing Market, Etc.

Perhaps these people are not aware of the impact that not being able to marry has on GLBT families. We don’t want it because we are trying to snatch the pearl of Marriage from traditional families or because we want to be viewed the same way traditional families are (although that would be nice.) We don’t want to change the way marriages are performed in your church. It is just that the issue of legal Marriage Equality AFFECTS us drastically.

It affects our taxes, our bank accounts and our rights. It affects the rights we have to make decisions for our families. It affects our ability to visit our spouse when in the hospital. It affects the results should our family break apart as so many families do, straight and gay. If affects our recognition by the government which in turn affects how much we pay for insurance and other necessary benefits.

This affects me daily. For example, we want to sign Cristy up for Insurance with my company, so we got a Domestic Partnership affidavit form notarized. Were we able to marry then that marriage would constitute a change of status and she could immediately start on my insurance. However the “Partnership” means that we have to wait until open Enrollment (possibly in turn causing a gap in insurance for a Diabetic.) Additionally, since the government does not recognize my partnership as legal, I have to pay income taxes on the presumed benefit our family receives from Cristy’s Insurance. This is just one issue among thousands that gay people have to deal with on a daily basis.

It goes back to a discussion that my Mom and I frequently have. Most people have issues that are important to them based on their own experiences and situations. Everyone (hopefully) votes based on these issues and their relative importance to that individual. Many people want lower taxes until something that they rely on or utilize is taken away…then they complain.

I voted for Barack Obama partly because of his support for the Gay community. Please remember that you are not the only person who voted for that politician and your issues and reasons for choosing them will not be their only focus once they take office. They have to address MY issues as well as everyone else’s as best they can.

I will glitter bomb you if you disagree, or maybe virtually glitter bomb you (please see previous post.)