equality and the issue before us now

it seems that as heterosexual friends more and more endorse the view that homosexuals should be able to share in the "misery of marriage" if they choose, an opposing voice emerges arguing that we should not even care about pushing for homosexual marriage.  some argue that we should concentrate on maintaining our right to diversity, that american homosexuals should not push for inclusion in a herteronormative institution like marriage.  some argue that we should be more concerned securing for all the rights gained from access to this institution; they argue that we should be more interested in universal rights.

i agree that we americans, both homosexual and heterosexual, should be concerned about broader issues.  we should seeking to provide universal access to healthcare in this country.  we should be looking to guard diversity and individuality culturally.  but part of that diversity will be supporting homosexual marriage.

we once wrote out "lgtb" to cover a wide range of people.  we now recognize many more identities and communities than those four letters.  american homosexuals and transgendered people and ungendered people and polyamorous people and so on have multiple interests and identities and communities, just like our wider american culture.  we do not share genders or sexual preferences or proclivities or communities necessarily, but we can share in a cause, in a fight for equality.  we can come together and say that no matter our gender or the gender of those we love or how we love, we demand the same rights as every american.  we can demand that all americans no matter should live most fully.

some of us may want to engage in the institution of marriage.  this is a tradition into which we are raised, which we accept and desire or decline.  foucault would argue that one cannot escape the cultures and communities and discourse into which one is born and raised and exposed.  but one can break the bond between discipline and normativity by decoupling action and practice from goal and end result.  in this case we're talking about marriage for the sake of marriage.  not to gain access to healthcare.  not for lower taxes.  not for access to the wills of lovers.

healthcare.  taxes.  immigration.  inheritance. he country must face these all these issues sooner rather than later, especially as they involve all american communties.  however the lgbtqi(etc) cause can support this one issue that is before us, gay marriage, access to which is desired by at least some in our community if not all.  we can come together to support progress in a pivotal issue of equality that has the potential for transformative change in this country while still working to progress further, to solve other larger problems.