Time Warp Fiber

If you live in California, that is. Now, some of you will know that one of the reasons I live in California is to be rid of the every day hate and fear that surrounded me like a cloud living in the American Southeast. I spent my days last fall carefully closeted, terrified I would lose the job that barely kept the wolves from the door. I spent the year before that fight a losing war to be physically safe in my own dorm room. I marvel living here, in the Bay, at even the scant signs of acceptance present. My heart leaps seeing a teenage girl holding hands with her girlfriend, stopping to talk about my apartment property with two elderly men with matching commitment bands. How sad a state of affairs America has become when nearly a year away has not yet knocked of the shell of fear.

 And so I feel particularly under attack that Prop 8 is on the ballot. Hate followed me home, and I'd really rather not keep it. The principle is, by voting yes on this proposition, you remove rights granted by CA judge for all people to marry whom they choose. Nothing else happens. Probably 90% of the population is not directly affected by this, but they think they are. It is beyond me why so many people are so filled with hate they they would attempt to remove basic legal rights from others. 

I have heard a number of arguments against this stance. One individual, whom I will not name, stated that his objection was 'ew.' I would like to point out that this person is one-half of an interracial marriage. Which was illegal until really very recently under the same grounds. I have heard that this limits freedom of religion. Now this one fascinates me. My wedding would affect your church in Kansas how, precisely? Your 'right' to hate monger and wound from the pulpit is, horrifically, more protected than my right to make the decisions any straight adult can make.

Fifty years ago, churches preached against integration. No one says anymore that the churches' rights are limited because racial categories have legal protections now. I feel, sometimes, that I am the only person who sees the similarities. Perhaps it is because the historical perspective of most Americans is limited to the last five years. My affluent, intelligent students could not tell me what the Cold War was and when it took place. So maybe people simply do not remember a time when brown skin legally got you turned away from your job, your church, your neighborhood gas station. But that in itself is shameful. And now, not so very long after, there is another group of people, trying to get by in their lives, trying to live without shame, as people should do in this country of supposed freedom, and poison pursues us. Where does it come from? In large part, the vaulted halls of a religion which purports to believe that god is love. Is anyone else confused?  

So, if you are in California, please think before you go to the polls. Do you want to vote to actively limit the rights of any class? Do you want to continue a strong tradition of segregation, suspect classes, and genetic discrimination? And don't, please don't, for a moment delude yourself that it is some anonymous immoral sex fiend you're voting against. It's me. I live my life among you. I have worked in your local yarn shop, taught your children. I don't spend my time clubbing and having unprotected cavalier sex with strangers. I spend it in my home with my partner, making homemade bread, knitting socks, and hoping that one day I won't have to be afraid that people will hate me so much that they would strike against me without ever seeing my face.  

A few notes: I've turned off comments on this post. If you have poison to preach, please do so elsewhere. You are in my online living room, and frankly, my life is not up for debate. Also, if you wish to rescind your readership due to the post, I will wave joyfully at your back.