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It's Great! But now what?
12 years ago
General
It was one of the first things I did when I got up yesterday morning. I rushed to my computer and pulled up the news. It was final, “Supreme Court declares DOMA unconstitutional,” although there is very little reality to that statement, considering only a small section of DOMA had been overturned. Then a few minutes later, the news announced the court’s ruling on Proposition eight and it too had been overturned (More specifically it defaulted the the lower courts ruling). It was amazing, some would say historic. The GLBT community of California had fought a long and hard war, and at times I could imagine it looked somewhat bleak, hopeless and tiresome. Finally they had achieved their victory.
Though as I sit back taking in the events of yesterday, I have to exercise a slight caution and remind myself that while California is moving forward into the twenty first century, my state (Oklahoma) is still stuck in the 19th century. It stand to reason with all of the victories and the court decisions, that the tide is finally turning, and America is finally moving forward and everyone in the GLBT community will have their day in the sun. I still have to ask myself one question, “How soon I can realistically expect that for me and my mate”. In 1967 a landmark case graced the presence of the US Supreme Court, and with one sweeping movement forced the remaining sixteen states in the union to allow interracial marriages. It would be safe to assume that the same exact thing would have to happen again in order for me to gain my rights.
So in retrospect, we should be thankful and celebrate this monumental and momentous occasion, but I will reserve my feeling of adulation and my adrenalin rush just a little longer. I just hope that it’s not too much longer.
Though as I sit back taking in the events of yesterday, I have to exercise a slight caution and remind myself that while California is moving forward into the twenty first century, my state (Oklahoma) is still stuck in the 19th century. It stand to reason with all of the victories and the court decisions, that the tide is finally turning, and America is finally moving forward and everyone in the GLBT community will have their day in the sun. I still have to ask myself one question, “How soon I can realistically expect that for me and my mate”. In 1967 a landmark case graced the presence of the US Supreme Court, and with one sweeping movement forced the remaining sixteen states in the union to allow interracial marriages. It would be safe to assume that the same exact thing would have to happen again in order for me to gain my rights.
So in retrospect, we should be thankful and celebrate this monumental and momentous occasion, but I will reserve my feeling of adulation and my adrenalin rush just a little longer. I just hope that it’s not too much longer.
Mobius Whitetalon
~mobiustrap
When the Oklahoma GLBT community is willing to stand as unified and strongly as the communities of other states, that's when progress will begin. It may well be as tough of a fight as it has been in California, perhaps even more so given the politics in Oklahoma. The question will then become, "Is this fight worth the effort?" and the answer to that will need to come not simply from stand alone individuals, but as a complex whole. I agree, today has been a good day worth remembering; but as you say as well, the fight is not over. There is still much to be done. The GLBT people in Oklahoma can and should be learning from other states as to the methods of effecting change. As to the "How soon" question, that will depend on when an active role is taken to create a new Oklahoma. It may be as tough and painful as the Californian community has had. If the end result is indeed worth the effort though, ultimately nothing will stand in the way of progress however long it may require.
Dratis
~dratis
Well Arkansas is in the same thing Warnn. Though we should both remember that while our individual states are still more then happy to deny a large percentage of their population human rights. We now have a foot hold with constitution of this nation. Over the years states have slowly been winning out on this fight. Time is the only question in this my friend. Your correct that there is still work to be done this is just a large victory for human rights. I'd hope we get some big sweeping ruling from on high to fix all of this but I doubt that politicians will bother to take a stance until things are overwhelming in favor for since none of them want to risk their career. So we have to all talk their ear off and show them this is right.
