I’m a lesbian planning on marrying my partner in the spring of next year. When we wed, we (under current laws) will not be able to obtain a marriage certificate, nor will we qualify for the hundreds of tax benefits granted to straight married couples in this country. If one of us ends up in the ICU section of the hospital where only immediate family is allowed, we might be denied access to be there for our loved one. If a tragedy should occur and major medical decisions must be made for one of us, our marriage will not automatically grant us the right to have our pleas to keep the other one on life support recognized, should our families disagree. We will have to jump through ridiculous hoops to change my last name to hers, and when we have children, our family will have to be closely examined to determine if my wife can adopt the children I bore. Gay adoption isn't even allowed in Cobb County, where we were living, hence our recent move to Fulton.
This is the state of Georgia, where gays and lesbians are treated like second-class citizens and denied the basic right of marriage to the ones we love. It’s been my hope that we will evolve to be like California and grant gays and lesbians the rights to marry.
But with the recent overturning of Proposition 8, the proposed amendment to the California State Constitution that would eliminate same-sex couples’ right to marry, everything seems in jeopardy. On a historic day when America got its first black president and the civil rights movement for African-Americans advanced beyond many people’s wildest dreams, the basic rights for the GLBT community was snatched away from us. It sickens me, and I’m beyond sad.
The decisions made in California directly impact us in Georgia and everywhere else. Atlantans are gathering this weekend to support gay equality with organized events, and I encourage everyone who believes in civil rights to attend.
The lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community will be joined by friends, families and allies to support gay marriage equality at two events scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008. At 1:30 p.m, a protest will take place at the Georgia State Capitol. A candlelight vigil will follow at 5PM at the corner of 10th St. and Piedmont Ave.
The protest and vigil will be part of the nation-wide efforts coordinated by grassroots-organization Join the Impact. The events will show solidarity in support of LGBTQ equality and in opposition to Proposition 8.
For the LGBTQ community and its supporters, last week’s historic election was undercut by the disheartening reality that 52 percent of Californians voted to take away civil rights for same-sex couples. Currently in the United States, same-sex couples in long-term, committed relationships are denied over 1,000 benefits and protections granted to their married counterparts. For example, they are denied the right to visit a hospitalized partner, the right to Social Security survivor benefits, and the right to unpaid leave from work to take care of an ill spouse.
Vigil organizer Scott Touchstone stated, “It is fundamentally unfair and unconstitutional to deny to some citizens the rights and protections given to others.”
Organizers want both the protest and the vigil to be peaceful shows of support for California’s LGBTQ community and a step in the right direction for ensuring that all Americans are treated fairly.
Join the Impact invites all Atlantans who believe in justice for the LGBTQ community to bring a sign (less than 2”x2”) to the protest at the State Capitol at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 15 and a candle to the vigil at the corner of 10th St. and Piedmont Ave.
For more, visit www.jointheimpact.wetpaint.com/page/Georgia.