So over the last week a few things have been annoying me, and it is mainly the view's of many Americans on the topic of Homosexuality and Gay Marriage. Which in turn then leads to the topic of North Carolina's Amendment one and the speech President Obama made for his support of Gay Marriage.
On Wednesday Pres. Obama made became the first sitting president to announce his support on Gay Marriage. In an interview on ABC he said "I've always been adamant that gay and lesbian Americans should be treated fairly and equally,".
"I have to tell you that over the course of several years as I have talked to friends and family and neighbours when I think about members of my own staff who are in incredibly committed monogamous relationships, same-sex relationships, who are raising kids together, when I think about those soldiers or airmen or Marines or sailors who are out there fighting on my behalf and yet feel constrained, even not that Don't ask Don't tell is gone, because they are not able to commit themselves in a marriage, at a certain point I've concluded that for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same-sex couples should be able to get married".
The speech is an act of bravery on Pres. Obama's behalf, and it's also a great victory for gay rights. How far will this go though? It's all well and good saying that you are in support of something, but as a man of great power, how is Pres. Obama going to make a change for gay Americans? With this issue being back in the news due to North Carolina's amendment, is this statement a well timed political stunt or is it something that Obama truly believes in?
He went on to say " It’s interesting, some of this is also generational, you know when I go to college campuses, sometimes I talk to college Republicans who think that I have terrible policies on the economy, on foreign policy, but are very clear that when it comes to same sex equality or, you know, believe in equality. They are much more comfortable with it. You know, Malia and Sasha, they have friends whose parents are same-sex couples. There have been times where Michelle and I have been sitting around the dinner table and we’re talking about their friends and their parents and Malia and Sasha, it wouldn’t dawn on them that somehow their friends’ parents would be treated differently. It doesn’t make sense to them and frankly, that’s the kind of thing that prompts a change in perspective"
Does this show a change in the mindset of a different generation? A generation that is going to be the future of America. A generation that is now wanting change in America. Being the most powerful man in the world, Obama has the ability to sway public opinion and needs to act upon it.
I just find it hard to believe that a country such as America can be so far behind the rest of the world when it comes to equality. I see somethings said on twitter that just absolutely astound me. For example I've seen Christians post that evolution was something that was dreamt up by a homosexual and that science shouldn't be believed, that homosexuals have an agenda to take over the world and other idiotic comments. What goes through these people's heads? I believe that America is being left behind by many other countries. Laws on equality are outdated compared to many other countries.
This then leads me on to North Carolina and it Amendment One.
Is this state for real?? Their own Governor doesn't agree with Amendment One!! She said during her tour throughout the state " I think it's wrong for North Carolina, clearly and simply," adding "People around the country are watching us and they're really confused, to have been such a progressive, forward thinking, economically driven state that invested in education and that stood up for the civil rights marches back in the fifties and sixties and seventies."
"Folks are saying what in the world is going on in North Carolina, we look like Mississippi." She added.
This is a bill that passed the vote despite an appeal from former President Bill Clinton. A bill that outlaws all legal protection and benefits for couples outside heterosexual marriage. This in turn effects children of same-sex couples and prevents women seeking help from domestic abuse. I really don't understand how such a bill could be legal. I know that America talks a lot about it's Constitution and the Declaration of Independence and in the Declaration of Independence it states:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness"
After looking for this I found someones comments on line about Amendment One and the Declaration of Independence, this is what they had to say:
"The Equal Protection clause of the 14th Amendment was added which says: "No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."
So, building on that,
* Everyone still has the same rights,
* States can't make or enforce laws that abridge privileges of US citizens,
* States can't deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law,
* States can't deny to any person within their jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
Now add in the fact that recognised federal civil rights law in the United States is grounded in the U.S. Constitution as interpreted by the Supreme Court. By this standard, marriage has long been established as a civil right.
The U.S. Supreme Court first applied this standard to marriage in Loving v. Virginia. As Chief Justice Earl Warren wrote for the majority: "The freedom to marry has long been recognised as one of the vital personal rights essential to the orderly pursuit of happiness by free men ..."
OK, so now,
* Everyone STILL has the same rights,
* States can't make or enforce laws that abridge privileges of US citizens,
* States can't deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law,
* States can't deny to any person within their jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws,
* Marriage is a FEDERAL civil right,
* The freedom to marry is a personal right essential to the pursuit of happiness.
This suggests that since everyone has the same rights, & States can't make any laws that infringe on "privileges" of US citizens (and I think it's safe to say that the rights that we are supposed to be endowed with by our Creator, as laid out in the Declaration, are a damn sight more than just "privileges") and since the freedom to marry is considered to be a FEDERAL civil right, then all these State laws banning same-sex marriage are unconstitutional."
So with this being unconstitutional, does it make it an illegal bill??
I think it's now time for America to move forward in it's thinking and in it's civil rights. Republican Christians are opposing a rights that the LGBT community should have because of their beliefs. I understand that, but what if their rights where taken away? Their right of freedom of speech and to be able to preach what they believe in. Personally I have no problem with anyone having different beliefs to what mine are, but don't take away the rights that other people deserve. What right do you have to do that? To stop me from showing the world the love I have for someone or my partner from having the rights any heterosexual spouse would have!!
If you want your rights let others have theirs.
I'd be interested in what peoples views are on this so please comment.
David.
