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Harvey's Top 10: "Let's Look At The Big Picture"

by Rhonda J Mangus | November 4, 2009 at 02:34 pm

314 views | 41 Recommendations | 5 comments

Ken Harvey, an accomplished author who won the Violet Quill Award for Best Gay Fiction of the Year, for a book of short stories, "if you were with me everything would be all right" finds himself, as he has in previous years, taking The Obligatory "Let's Look At the Big Picture" Blog Entry after Gay Marriage loses in the state of Maine.

It isn't all bad, so "Let's Look At The Big Picture":

1. Ten years ago, no one would ever have believed that almost 50% of a state would support same-sex marriage.

2. The margin of victory in Maine and California for same-sex marriage opponents was slim. And younger voters in both states were solid supporters of same-sex marriage. Time is on our side.

3. The voters of Washington State seem to have passed (it's not official yet) what is essentially a civil unions bill last night. Remember the uproar of Vermont's civil unions bill not that long ago? Civil unions have become an accepted part of the social landscape. Marriage will follow.

4. As of today, five states offer same-sex marriage licenses.

5. A number of openly gay candidates won elections last night.

6. The city of Kalamazoo passed an anti-discrimination ordinance that includes transgendered Americans.

7. The far right of the Republican Party was dealt a huge loss in New York's congressional race in the 27th district. Republicans have held that seat since the Civil War. A Democrat now holds it.

8. The Maine vote was not a vote to amend the constitution, and it is within the power of the legislature to pass another same-sex marriage law.

9. Every time there is a vote on marriage, more and more people get to know LGBT people. This can only be good.

10. There's always Canada.

On July 20, 2005, Canada became the fourth country in the world and the first country in the Americas to legalize same-sex marriage nationwide with the enactment of the Civil Marriage Act.

The five states that have legalized gay marriage are Iowa, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Connecticut — but all did so through legislation or court rulings, not by popular vote.

Repealed by voters, Maine became the 30th state to either ban same-sex marriage or overturn a court legislative decision that had supported it.

Related stories on NowPublic, here.

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Amy Judd

at 15:51 on November 4th, 2009

He does put things in to perspective nicely that's true.

Rhonda J Mangus

at 16:04 on November 4th, 2009

I thought so too, Amy! Because it's not all bad:)! It's just going to take more time. Thanks for reading, commenting, and for the recommendation!

Susan Marie Kovalinsky

at 18:05 on November 4th, 2009

As I told Spydermonkey: 20 years ago, there would not have been a referendum, because no Governor would have legalized gay marriage in the first place. Secondly, the referendum or vote would not have won by a slim 53%, it would have won by 90%. Third, gays are globally respected as in no other era of history. Look at Canada, Europe, Israel; the advances made have been nothing short of stunning. Philosophically, no one has been able to fully refute Andrew Sullivan's "Virtually Normal: An argument about Homosexuality". Gains outweigh losses.

Rhonda J Mangus

at 18:13 on November 4th, 2009

"Gains outweigh losses." I agree! Thanks for reading, commenting, and for the rec!

Spydermonkey

at 10:38 on November 5th, 2009

Queenshart, I think you are missing the main point of our argument, its not about what we think of ourselves (not entirely anyway) it's more about "Equality" in how we are treated and the desire for the same protections as st8 couples.

"It is in my humble opinion a spiritual solution that will heal this anger" That can't really happen until the "christian right" breaks off the incessant attacks using hate & fear.

You do know that many "Cristian" parents kick their children out of their home when they say "I'm gay" Or how about one of my cousins & my partner, that were told, "If you don't quit being gay, I'm going to disinherit you"

Too many people still think that it is/was a choice that we actively made, Did you wake up and decide to be straight one day as a kid? No, you just are..

This won't be resolved until the ignorance and hate speech are removed from the debate.