Letter to the Editor: Every American Deserves the Right to Marry
June 22, 2008 by Holly
An email was received regarding our post on the recent victory for the LGBT community in California, saying that denying lesbians, gay, bisexual and transgendered people the right to marry was unconstitutional.
In Every American Deserves the Right to Marry, a news article of the Million for Marriage petition put together by the Human Rights Campaign, received some negative feedback that I feel the need to address, especially considering the woman who sent this email did not leave her correct email address in order for me to reply personally and so, Letter to the Editor was born!
This, in conjunction with our first Letter to the Editor, is an open call for letters from you, the readers, to express your positive and negative thoughts on anything that is posted or discussed on Woman Tribune.
Name: Denise
Subject: Protest!
Wow. You just lost me as a subscriber over your article about everyone having the right to be married in America. I can’t be a supporter of gay marriage or support anyone who does. I think we’re missing the bigger picture here. Yeah, it’s great that we have freedom in America but we’re still supposed to abide by God’s laws. He’s probably in heaven shuddering over what a mess this world is making of his intention for marriage. The Bible clearly states that “man” and “woman” should unite. Nothing else.
Denise,
I am very sorry that you feel the need to email me and express your outrage over the recent article on Million For Marriage. I am even more sorry that you are insanely close-minded and are not willing to give every American the basic right to marry the person whom they love and want to spend their lives with.
The aim I have always had for Woman Tribune, as a blog and as a community, is that it appeals to all women and that includes lesbian, bisexual and transgendered women; all of whom exist in America. If your god was so unhappy about this, why would he make such people to begin with?
Marriage, as it exists now, has changed a bit since the times of dowries and marrying a person whom your parents chose for you. Marriage today has a lot of other factors to take into consideration such as your life partner being in a hospital and you not being able to know about their condition or see them because you are not “family.” The same applies for funeral arrangements, tax purposes, health care benefits, and before you go getting your panties in a bunch over these facts–A man and a woman walk into marriage with the same intentions in mind.
Furthermore, I am not sorry in the least to have lost you, or anyone for that matter, as a subscriber. Woman Tribune is intended for all women and all women should benefit from the articles that are posted; however, I for one will never condemn a woman or tell a woman that she is wrong for simply loving and wanting to marry another woman.
Your god is most likely shuddering in whatever heaven you believe exists by the true hypocrisy that is coursing through the veins of his so-called followers; those who are Sunday believers or are religious when it is convenient as well as those who hold up a book that was written and can be closely compared to the telephone game–What once were “facts” passed down again and again and suddenly what was written may not even closely resemble the history. Thank you for your email, for you have just given me the satisfaction a million times over for simply expressing not only my views, but the views of so many other Americans today in posting that article.
Sincerely,
Holly Ord
Angie on Sun, 22nd Jun 2008 3:39 pm
Thank you thank you thank you!
As a married woman, it makes me so happy to see others believe what is right for some is right for everyone. And “god” has no place in deciding whom those rights belong to.
Sorenj on Sun, 22nd Jun 2008 3:46 pm
Well said, I especially like the contrast to old world marriage rituals. Its amazing how people want to call themselves enlightened and declare that they have escaped the trappings of less civilized societies, and then instantly revert to “traditional values” when the mood or convenience strikes.
I wrote my opinion on this issues (with a couple of other tid bits mixed in) here (http://puntiglio.com/blog/?p=230) if anyone is interested
Thanks again for the great read
Beaman on Sun, 22nd Jun 2008 3:49 pm
I whole heartedly agree.
Jane Q. Citizen on Sun, 22nd Jun 2008 6:10 pm
Right on!
Stefanie on Sun, 22nd Jun 2008 9:21 pm
People like that make me want to scream and rip my hair out over the fact that there are still people who believe that dribble! For one thing, not everyone believes in god, so why should everyone be governed by religion? It drives me even more crazy because my brother is gay, and I want him to be able to live his life without worry of people such as Denise downing him because he loves men. I wrote a post for the Bloggers Unite initiative on May 15th on this very topic… well, technically, I posted a paper I wrote on it in college. LGBT rights are a passionate topic of mine…
Koozie Guy on Mon, 23rd Jun 2008 1:05 am
I agree to it..trully… I wrote a post for the Bloggers Unite initiative on May 15th on this very topic… well, technically, I posted a paper I wrote on it in college. LGBT rights are a passionate topic of mine…nice post and i liked it!!
defenineyong86 on Mon, 23rd Jun 2008 3:39 am
Each one on earth need marriage to prove their love and it is a proof that their great love can be accepted by all people in the world. “That is love, It shows our heart is full of love. We wanna love and be loved and spoiled” ones of my bisexual friends knew at Bimingle.com said on her blog. That’s why all LGBT love finding the right match online altought some people regard them as special onse.
Jordan on Tue, 24th Jun 2008 5:22 am
It shows our heart is full of love. We wanna love and be loved and spoiled” ones of my bisexual friends knew at Bimingle.com said on her blog. That’s why all LGBT love finding the right match online altought some people regard them as special onse.I wrote a post for the Bloggers Unite initiative on May 15th on this very topic… well, technically, I posted a paper I wrote on it in college. LGBT rights are a passionate topic of mine…
Domestic Diva on Wed, 25th Jun 2008 2:18 am
I totally agree with you, anyone that wants to marry should be able to no matter who they are. Love is Love. Period.
and to the person with the annoying email….I mean, seriously. Grow up already and get over it!
michael wong on Thu, 26th Jun 2008 10:18 pm
heck, you’re all invited to Canada where I’m from. There’s lots of space and there’s no dumb law against same sex marriages. besides we’ve got the Toronto Maple Leafs. go leafs go, though they haven’t won a Stanley Cup since before i was born. Seriously though, yeah even though i complain sometimes, Canada is pretty cool.
Jane @ Kidzarama on Sat, 28th Jun 2008 8:31 am
Hear hear.
Good on you for standing up and voicing your beliefs, Holly.
It’s one thing to live by your own beliefs, but another entirely to expect the rest of the world to do so.
Golfing Girl on Tue, 1st Jul 2008 10:55 am
Great article! I live in the Bay Area and when they announced the right to marry for all gays, I was so happy. My gay coworkers were so happy that it overwhelmed me. Everyone should have the right for true happiness and love.
Leigh Purtill on Fri, 4th Jul 2008 11:23 am
Excellent letter, Holly. You expressed all of my feelings about this subject so eloquently. I also loved your comparison of the Bible to a game of telephone. You rock, girl!
vanle on Wed, 3rd Sep 2008 8:46 pm
rock….and……rock…..girl