Privacy confirmed

Where were you when you heard about the Supreme Court decision overturning Bowers v. Hardwick and affirming the right of individuals to privacy in their homes? Cris and I were in an elevator in the New York Hilton, one of those elevators with an annoying television playing CNN Headline News when the news was flashed upon the screen. (At least it wasn't just some tourist commercials.)

Loath as I am to add to the crush of comments on the matter, I have to say I was most amused by what Jerry Falwell had to say (no surprise there). Quoted in the New York Times this morning: "It's a capitulation to the gay and lesbian agenda whose ultimate goal is the legalization of same-sex marriage."

That's funny for a few reasons. First, on this day even Jerry Falwell has to say the words "gay and lesbian" -- not perverts, sodomites or any of the other slurs he would have used ten or twenty years ago. Second, he thinks the "ultimate agenda" for queers is legalization of same-sex marriage. My first reaction to that was, ha, just wait til he sees what else we have in store. Once Candace Gingrich becomes President, all must learn to play the piano! The color turquoise will be forbidden! (Apologies to the city of Palm Springs.) Tout le monde will be forced to wear natural fabrics! And everyone will moisturize.

Once I calmed down, I still had to laugh -- same-sex marriage! So scary. Ooga booga booga! What if they realized many queers don't want "marriage" if it imitates that of our parents? The freedom to be miserable -- to feel trapped -- to live with someone who despises you. Gee, I've wanted that all along -- not. The fact is, queer people have been free all along to be just as miserable with each other as our parents were, and we don't even have to get married to do it. As far as I'm concerned, Jerry Fallwell can stuff marriage up his fundamentalist fanny.

No, not all queers feel that way. The point is not to "imitate" marriage but to procure the same legal protections -- I know. But I wish there were no legal protections for marriage. Then all relationships would be treated the same without benefit of approval by the state or church.