Section One
Friday,
March 18, 2005
Volume 33,
Issue 11
Sat, Nov 21, 2009
IN THE SGN
SECTION ONE
Front Page
MORE/ALL
SECTION ONE
STORIES
SECTION TW0
Arts & Entertainment
We each have a role to play |
||
|
|
||
| We each have a role to play | ||
| On March 8, many of us watched televisions or streaming video intently as nine Washington State Supreme Court justices quizzed attorneys about the constitutionality of the states Defense of Marriage Act, passed in 1998. It was a momentous day, the culmination of two separate lawsuits that resulted in Superior Court judges ruling that same-sex couples have the constitutional right to marry. Northwest Womens Law Center, Lambda Legal, the ACLU, and other legal groups prepared careful arguments, complemented by friend-of-the-court briefs from dozens of organizations and individuals. And after the arguments were heard, the justices were left to reach a decision on their own.
But the court cases werent the beginning of the road, and they arent the end. Groups such as Legal Marriage Alliance of Washington have worked diligently for years, first to raise awareness of marriage discrimination within the LGBT community, and then to work for marriage rights in the greater community. The Superior Court decisions finding for the plaintiffs were possible because years of increasing LGBT visibility and acceptance had changed the political and social climate from the time of the Singer case, in 1971, when marriage for same-sex couples seemed absurd to most people, including many same-sex couples. We have the momentum. Polls show that younger people see no reason same-sex couples shouldnt marry, and the once-radical idea of civil unions is now the compromise many conservatives propose. Its taken hard work to get to this point, and there is hard work left to do. The Supreme Court may well rule in our favor, but that outcome does us little good if a constitutional amendment follows the decision. Conversely, the court could uphold DOMA now, but with continuing public education efforts we can win in the court of opinion and eventually change the laws through the legislature. This is a job for everyone. In the court of public opinion, there are no carefully drafted briefs. Rather, there are daily conversations over dinner tables, phone calls to distant relatives, and e-mail messages to friends. There are role models in corporate offices, shopping malls, hospitals, and places of worship. We make a difference when we talk about the real effects of discrimination. Each of us has an important role to play. Be out. Be honest. Be open. Look for opportunities to educate formally or informally. Enlist straight allies to help educate others. And get involved. The most effective messages are those spoken from the heart. But that doesnt mean youre on your own. Its easier to talk with people about issues of discrimination if you have the facts to back you up. Educate yourself so that youll feel confident talking with friends, family, and people youve just met. For links to resources about marriage equality, visit www.equalrightswashington.org. |
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
QUOTE/UNQUOTE |
