Sunday, May 13, 2012

Bigotry Isn't Only a Southern Brew

I'm a native North Carolinian and my state turned to the dark side this past Tuesday, voting to amend our state constitution to prohibit gay marriage, indeed any type of union other than a so-called traditional marriage between a man and a woman. I don't know if that means in the tradition of Kim Kardashian or if those who voted for the amendment have something a bit bit longer in mind before it counts as a marriage.

I voted against the amendment as did all the people with whom I'm still speaking. I have no patience with bigotry of any sort and there is no rational basis for such beliefs. The "I'm entitled to my opinion" argument doesn't fly with me. I'm entitled to discontinue all association with you if you choose to be a bigot.

However it is not my intent to rant about bigotry in this post. 

I am disturbed at a trend that I've spotted among quite a few non-southern folks to declare this anti-gay marriage bigotry to be a southern problem. It's not that I mind well deserved criticism directed at my state for the recent vote to add legalized discrimination to our state constitution. I am disturbed because as long as it's the other guy who is responsible then we avoid uniting in a collective effort to dismantle these laws as in clear violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th amendment to the U.S. Constitution.  History is littered with denials of rights up to and including genocide in which everyone says, "Who me? I didn't approve of it. It was ________." (fill in the blank).

Thirty-one states have amended their constitutions to declare that marriage is between a man and a woman. Unless the South has cloned itself, this problem extends way beyond the south. 
Only the gray states lack an amendment prohibiting gay marriage.

It was particularly disturbing to read one person's comment, on a blog post about NC's recent vote, asserting that she lived in Virginia and would not set foot in NC because of the passage of Amendment One. Virginia already has a constitutional amendment preventing gay marriage. It's as if the country has been asleep since around 2004 when state legislatures began amending state constitutions to enshrine bigotry as legal.

What NC has done is draw attention to this problem yet again. By the way. Minnesota plans to vote on this issue in November 2012. I'm not good at geography, but I'm pretty certain that Minnesota is not in the south.

Only six states and the District of Columbia allow same sex marriages as of May 2012. Wikipedia has a good article identifying which states have passed anti-gay marriage amendments and the effect of those amendments that is accurate up until May 2012. It includes NC's recent vote.

Until we face the reality that bigotry knows no geographical boundaries, we're simply going to engage in periodic indignation when homophobia slaps us in the face, blame it on the south and then go on about our business, secure in the myth that only those other people practice bigotry. Thirty-one states down, only 19 more to go. This is a national issue, not a southern one and we need a national strategy to address it.

12 comments:

Ken Riches said...

Hope the trend reverses soon, it is very disheartening.

Jono said...

I wish you were wrong about it not being just a Southern thing, but you're not. I still shake my head in disbelief that it can be legal to write discrimination into a constitution. I am in Minnesota and will do what I can to not let it happen here.

Big Mark 243 said...

I think it is very convenient to fall back onto broad stereotypes when it comes to discriminatory practices, but it is only when they hit home do people realize that it isn't someone else who has to deal with this kind of thinking but that it is something that happens in their own backyard as well...

Murr Brewster said...

Stereotyping is lazy. All stereotypes break down at the individual level. And all of us are individuals.

Collin Hinds said...

The issue will probably end up being decided by the Supreme Court as a constitutional issue. Hopefully, when it happens, we will have a SC consisting of compassionate people.

Beth said...

Although Indiana hasn't amended its Constitution, a law banning same sex marriage has been in place for some time now. So no, it is not restricted to southern states.

Cathy said...

Hi Sheria, it's been awhile. I've been involved in the LGBTQ community, following how States have been voting and it's sad, surprising in fact, as I thought more folks were at least "tolerant" which, though condescending, is still better than hating. A male friend in N.C. is so homophobic I have trouble just talking about same-gender marriages and the rights given under that institution but not to gays (except those few States mentioned) Thanks for the Wiki link and for stating your feelings so plainly. USA, Inc is following a path of complete idiocracy and blind indifference to basic HUMAN rights and needs. Hard to be optimistic these days.

Cathy said...

Hi Sheria, it's been awhile. I've been involved int he LGBTQ community, following how States are voting on same-gender marriage, it's truly sad and surprising actually - I really thought folks were more evolved by now in their thinking. It's very condescending for people to say "I'll tolerate them, I'm not homophobic" but far to many still are. Thanks for speaking up plainly with common sense and HUMAN rights for all.

Cathy said...

Hi Sheria, been awhile. I've been following the LGBTQ community sad way States have turned toward "tolerating" which is just condescending, instead of granting same-gender marriages a legal standing, it's so simple. Where is all his homophobia coming from??

Cathy said...

HI Sheria, been awhile! I've followed the LGBTQ community and the direction States have sadly taken in same-gender marriage, which seems so simple and right. Where is all this homophobia coming from?? Gays can adopt children but not marry - seems it may have a money agenda concerning inheritance and spousal rights. Hard to be optimistic these days. N.C. is a crucial State in the federal election, I wonder if Obama will keep his pro-gay marriage stance.

Cathy said...

HI Sheria, been awhile! I've followed the LGBTQ community and the direction States have sadly taken in same-gender marriage, which seems so simple and right. Where is all this homophobia coming from?? Gays can adopt children but not marry - seems it may have a money agenda concerning inheritance and spousal rights. Hard to be optimistic these days.

Joy said...

YES!! Thank you! We've been saying this for years, haven't we? I also get tired of being included in these broad generalizations while realizing our history of overt racism in the South. We don't have a monopoly on bigotry.

I think marriage equality will be decided by the Supreme Court when a case reaches them, like the Loving case did for interracial marriage. Do you?