Three Hours Out

I did not volunteer with Fair Wisconsin this election season, and no matter what happens tonight, I will always regret not getting involved. This semester started out too stressed and progressed too painstakingly for me to find the time. But three hours before the polls close, I'd like to say something that needs to be said. Those who led the movement to defeat this amendment are heroes. I have been deeply moved by the energy, enthusiasm, and hope that has driven this campaign - and in as much as I can say so as a common voter, it was an honor to vote "No" this morning.

I hesitate to write in this manner because it suggests something sappier and less important than I want to convey. But let's really think about what we're up against, all things considered. Yes, most of those who voted "Yes" today are good people. They wouldn't pass by you if you were bleeding on the street, even if you were wearing a Fair Wisconsin T-shirt. Their votes were not driven by hostility towards gay people, but were borne of the conviction that tradition matters. That's respectable in some cases, but it's sorely misguided here - and we're up against a culture which thinks tradition is more important than treating people with dignity.

We should not hesitate to confuse the children by making social progress. They'll get over it, and they'll be better people for it. We should dare to support a society which does not treat gay people as curious novelties. Too often gay people are seen as cute enough to talk to (and really funny on Will & Grace) but undeservant of the same structure of life that everybody has. The gay rights movement is the great civil rights movement of the modern day. It is not enough that anti-sodomy laws have been overturned by the Supreme Court. The only way to extend proper dignity to what is a significant portion of the population is by ensuring the right to marriage to everybody. But I refuse to be a pessimist. If the results come in and the ban passes by a landslide, so be it. People will change their minds, but they'll do it slower than some had hoped. We have at least three hours to dream about success here. But with a lot of luck and prayer, Wisconsin will become the scourge of the Christian Right very, very soon.