Wednesday, March 03, 2004

A Proud Day

Today, Multnomah County has started to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. The local news is showing pictures like those out of SF in the last couple weeks - a long line of couples, giddy with joy at being able to achieve their most cherished desire. It warms the heart to see it. How anyone could be against such love and joy totally mystifies me, but the bible-thumpers were there as well, spewing spittle and hatred in equal measure.

It turns out that Oregon law defines marriage as a “civil contract entered into in person by males at least 17 years of age and females at least 17 years of age.” It nowhere says that it has to be one male and one female only. So this is entirely legal, and it’s a shame that that no one took advantage of this years ago. So to counter the rhetoric of previous OCA hate campaigns, this is equal rights, not “special” rights. Simple equality, nothing more.

This is the most positive news to come out of Oregon in years, and it hearkens back to why I moved here 26 years ago. I am so proud of Portland today, despite the depressed economy and political repression in recent years. Portland now joins San Francisco, Massachusetts, New Paltz and Iowa City in saying that, yes, we are all equal. Why is this such a radical concept?

I hope this becomes a flood of communities across the country, to extend all rights to those of any sexual or gender orientation, to let self-expression bloom again after years of repression and hatred. And I take great pleasure in living in a place that extends not only equal rights to all, but also an upraised middle digit to Bush and the homophobic religious right. With a warm smile and in the most loving way, of course…

- Bob Woods