33-29, NY Senate Legalizes Gay Marriage

A Step

I wouldn't place this event on the level of a state outlawing slavery (as happened before the Civil War), but there is a parallel: Both positions embody the recognition of a human being as a human being, beyond any change of their status in law -- i.e., from chattel or negro, to Person; from hellbound deviants, to Just The [G/L] Couple Who Lives Next Door.

There will be backlash; of that I'm certain. In California, it was primarily opposition from the Mormon church leadership, in the form of a large bucket 'o money, which fueled Proposition 8.

And, while being LGBT in a predominantly Straight culture differs in fundamental ways from being a different race in a culture predominantly defined by Caucasians, people should remember that it was a long march from the Dred Scott decision to the Civil War and the Emancipation Proclamation to the Civil Rights Act -- a march still going on. The important lesson was: Keep marching.

The concept of A Common Humanity has not yet been enshrined above all others in our cultural and legal lexicon -- a few things (primarily race, money, religion) are still stumbling blocks in our understanding that all of us should have equal rights, and be granted the recognition that among other things human beings do is meet, fall in love, and make a life together.

Life can be hard. Somewhere in my Dog brain, I believe attempting to make a life together can make people happy. And even with our grasping for status, money, possession, acceptance; isn't that what we're all after -- to try and be happy in ways that don't harm or exploit others, but simply allow us to be what we are; human?

Life can be short. In the absence of any other incontrovertible evidence about what Existence might be, isn't the point to try and overcome our own learned or inherited junk, leave the world a better place than we found it, for the benefit of everyone else -- and to be happy as often as we can?

Isn't it?

But, I'm only a Dog, and no one listens to me.

---