Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Image by nats via Flickr

Great news on the Marriage Equality front! Massachusetts has sued the federal government for over reaching their boundaries when it comes to marriage issues. The suit claims DOMA, Defense of Marriage Act, is forcing states to discriminate in the way they handle the benefits of same-sex marriages as opposed to the benefits entitled to opposite-sex marriages. Massachusetts stated in their suit only the states have the right to adjudicate who is allowed to get married, and the federal government, by claiming only a union between one man and one woman constitutes a marriage, is superseding individual state rights. Talk about a major jump in the direction of equality.

Speaking of marriages: This Monday I've been invited to witness two of my friends finally taking their vows after 10 years of being together. They are driving from Texas up to Iowa to take their vows and then they are off to honeymoon at Mt. Rushmore. Not exactly my idea of romantic, but after all those years of being together and traveling all over the world, Mt. Rushmore can have it's charms, I guess. (Think leather boots, jeans, and flannel shirts. LOL)

What really touches my heart about my friends wanting to take their vows is that said vows will not be recognized in Texas or in our federal government. Still, it means enough to them to say before God and witnesses that they are willing to commit to one another. It also means to them their union is recognized legally, even if that legality is only in a few states.

Maybe it shouldn't be a big deal to me, because I've known them for seven of the ten years they've been together. I've also witnessed plenty of straight marriages in my life. Maybe it's because I am witnessing first hand the indomitable human spirit and our sense of what is true equality and justice for all. Maybe it's because I am finally seeing the words of our Declaration of Independence ring in living action....."all men are created equal and they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights.....life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

It's not about tax credits or federal benefits. It's not about religious persecution, religious freedoms, or freedom of religion. It's not about wanting to make a statement for change. It is about two people creating a life for each other with a statement that says; I will commit myself and all my worldly possessions, thoughts, endeavors, and actions to you and to us. No matter where your viewpoints lie, how can you argue against that? Is that not what everyone, who is united by love, ultimately wants?

With that thought, I happily look forward to the day I can say I do, I will.

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