A family’s photograph album is generally about the extended family and, often, is all that remains of it. ~ Susan Sontag
I am very frustrated with the state of equality in America for all Americans these days. I know I should be all “the glass is half full” about the fact that we’re moving (however slowly) toward progress, but somewhere in the last thirty-something years I’ve lost what little patience I ever had. It absolutely drives me up walls that gay marriage isn’t here yet. Being as I’m semi-bi and never planning to marry, it’s not like this applies to me, but I’m just offended (there is no other word for it) as an American that the rights of these individuals (some of whom I love) are tied up at an apparent crossroads of flying spaghetti monster mania and Constitutional duh.
Honestly, I can never be allowed into our nation’s capitol building because I would never stop slapping people — which, I’m pretty sure is probably illegal. At the bare minimum, I’d end up tasered on youtube.
What gets lost in the endless rhetoric, however, is the frustrating WTF reality of situations that have to be faced in self-preservation practicality by members of the gay and lesbian community. In the last week, I’ve encountered two personal stories about such situations that are (and should be) appalling to those of us who actually do consider America to be based on the concept of freedom and justice for all.
The first is the fact that Annie Leibovitz is facing a financial crisis, largely due to tax issues that stem from inheriting her long-time partner’s estate. Granted, the situation isn’t quite that simple. Non-married individuals who inherit art collections often face tax heartache, and certainly Leibovitz’s personal trials are related to other ventures failing, etc. I’m also well aware that at a time when many Americans are facing the loss of their homes and the challenge of putting food on the table, a multi-millionaire shouldn’t be high on the pity list. But the inevitable truth to face here is that if it happens to someone moving within the higher privilege circles of society, it’s certainly happening farther down the food chain. Watching one of of the biggest names in modern photography face choices about placing her and her partner’s life’s work into hock simply because they were never afforded the same rights as most Americans is a gut wrenching statement about how far we’ve yet to go in this fight.
To that end, on a much more “everyman” note, Andrew Sullivan has been sharing reader letters in blog entries he calls “The View From Your Recession.” These vignettes illustrate situations being faced by people tackling the very serious challenges wrought by today’s economic uncertainties. A recent one, talked about a company that was shutting down in Boston and moving to a state with more favorable economic advantages for the company. Employees were given the option to move with the company, or lose their jobs. To anyone, the idea of uprooting and following a job across country is a tough choice, but in Massachusetts that situation can be even more devastating.
The reader writes:
As a single person, it never really hit home how cruel having one state who recognizes gay marriage and another who does not really is. You see, my co-worker married his partner a few years back. They have a house, children, cars, the picket fence. (No dog though.) Though we have never spoken about it, it pains me to think that he is facing a choice between finding a career in a different state and retaining his rights (such as they are) as a father and a husband. How many of us are asked by the government to choose between having a happy family and the financial success that encourages that happiness?
I would never stop slapping people.
There are many silly and ridiculous things about SL and I bitch about most of them along with the chorus, but it should be recognized that, in general, the SL population (as least the segment I encounter) is supportive of LGBT individuals, and their right to equality and dignity. I would wager there are more gay marriages in SL than any single RL country. Hmm. I wonder how we’d try to get stats on that.
