The battle for same-sex marriage provides Strength In Numbers with a
unique and challenging opportunity. Although our mission statement
says that SIN will not take any political positions or allow directly partisan political commentary on our groups, the cause of allowing
marriage to same-sex couples is, in my opinion, a civil rights matter rather than a
simple political one (like supporting a particular candidate or party).

In this case, the very nature of social support for HIV+ gay men is
put to the test as to whether we as a community will be able to fully
explore the protections and liberties afforded with state sanctioned
marriage. Marriage is an essential part of society itself. We as gay
men not only find within our various social groups the ability to make
new friendships, but to also meet potential romantic partners (and now potential legal spouses). The
establishment of the essential human right to choose who we love and
to have that relationship fully recognized and celebrated by our
friends, family, and government is a core value and potential leading achievement of the
entire LGBT movement and history.

Therefore the issue of Prop 8 transcends the typical political subject
and should be expressed to some degree here on SIN. I do ask that any messages that relate to Prop 8 and efforts to overturn or protest it
focus on how SIN members can be involved in those efforts rather
than simply passing along political commentary on the issue. This
will help keep our message boards focused on action rather than
lengthy statements (better reserved for other message boards). 

 

And to those outside of California who wonder how this same-sex marriage ban may affect them, all they have to consider is the amount of money and pressure that anti-gay marriage advocates poured into this ballot.  They know, as we have all learned before, as goes California, so goes the United States, and even the world.  If California succeeds in recognizing same-sex marriages forever, it will be the largest population and single economy to do so (as the state itself ranks in the top 10 economies in the world).  With millions of same-sex couples returning married in California and then returning to their home states or moving to other states, they will then seek recognition of their marriages in those states or foreign nations, requiring at some point the US Supreme Court or other nations to determine the final status of same-sex marriages in order to create a uniform approach.

 

Therefore Prop 8, the battle to overturn it and the collective efforts around the nation and beyond to affirm same-sex marriage in the State of California are extremely important matters that could impact all same-sex couples and could affect the future of gay relationships around the world.  Gay marriage also is important in that with its recognition and legitimacy in the eyes of the government, homophobic individuals will (at least over time) lose that ability to denegrate and insult same-sex couples in public, much as such insults to inter-racial couples became unthinkable after those marriages were made legal.

Thank you.

Bryan

Founder, Strength In Numbers