My first impression of the issue of gay marriage was honestly the Adam Sandler movie I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry (which I am actually watching right now… which thus prompted the topic of this week’s post). I first saw the movie when I was in the six or seventh grade, and I never really knew it was a political issue until watching the film. Obviously the film is not 100% factually accurate and gay people are represented in the most stereotypical depictions (the issue was clearly Hollywood-ized)… but like I said it was exposure to the issue.

The real presence of this issue in the media I have seen has actually been in children’s shows, though. A lot of people seem to feel its the media’s job to expose children to homosexuality to show them it’s a normal aspect of our society and that’s its okay to be gay. There was a lot of talk about Bert and Ernie on Sesame Street, from those pro and anti gay marriage. Those pro gay marriage wanted the two to get married, so homosexuals would be represented in the show’s cast. Those who were anti gay marriage said they wanted the characters off the show because they were teaching kids to be gay. Sesame Street correspondents simply replied that the two are just friends, and there was really nothing more there to look into. There was also a controversial episode of Postcards from Buster (link below), which wasn’t allowed to air on most PBS stations because it featured a family with two lesbian mothers.

In regards to the Bert and Ernie issue, if people really think they are going to gain gay acceptance through a show featuring an over sized yellow bird, a vampire who teaches numbers, and a brown hairy elephant like creature named Mr. Snuffaluffagus, then unfortunately I don’t think we’re fighting this battle in the right places. I don’t understand why people were so outraged by the Postcards from Buster, though. The whole point of that series is to show different cultures and how different people live… so I personally see no issue with featuring a family with homosexual parents.

Despite the fact that many people want TV shows to show kids that being gay is acceptable in society, I really don’t think it’s the media’s place. It’s not because I think that featuring homosexuals on TV shows will teach anyone to be gay (as I’ve heard from many people who are anti gay marriage), I just feel that how your parents raise you is going to have greater impact on how you think than what you watch on TV. Especially because these shows are geared at such a young audience, the parents are going to monitor what the kids are watching. If there’s a kid’s show with a gay couple, and a child’s parents are homophobes, the child isn’t going to be allowed to watch the show. I simply see no reason to wage the war of the gay marriage issue on Nick Jr. or PBS Kids.

Postcards from Buster – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhPLHBAO1Kg

So I understand the religious arguments against gay marriage, I can even sympathize with those who are pro-domestic partnerships but against calling marriage because they feel the title of marriage should be reserved solely for the unity of a man and woman. But when people say that allowing gays to marry will ruin the sanctity of marriage…. I just want to say hold up. Because heterosexuals have done such a good job of ruining the sanctity of marriage, that I think it’s physically impossible that gays could do any more damage than has already been done.

Anna Nicole Smith married someone sixty two years older than her. Kim Kardashian was married for 72 days before she got a divorce. Eighty six year old Hugh Hefner is married to a 26 year old playmate. And if you are going to say that these are just celebrities who live over dramatic lives, everyday people have done a fine job of ruining the sanctity of marriage, too. My aunt was beaten by her ex husband. Another one of my aunts was cheated on, and he began cheating on her after they had been married for fifteen years. So really I just find the argument that gays will ruin the sanctity of marriage invalid…. because it seems like heterosexuals don’t quite understand what exactly the sanctity of marriage is to claim that it can/will be ruined. Because from the looks of it, there is no sanctity in marriage. No one really seems to regard marriage as a sacred thing. People are in it for the money, for the sex, for the fame, for the extravagant weddings, the power, or just because its a societal norm. Other arguments against gay marriage have some validity… but really this one doesn’t… at all.  But of course this is all just my opinion… I don’t mean to insult anyone’s views or beliefs.

As I trust my audience is following my other blogs, I’m sure you are all aware that I wrote my credo on the issue of gay marriage. Gay marriage is a prominent topic in the news as the LGBT right’s movement seems to be the civil rights focus of this generation. I must say that I am slightly biased, as one of my mom’s brothers and one of my dad’s brothers are gay. I know both of their significant others… and my family has accepted both of my uncles regardless of their sexuality.

I know that  a large portion of the debate regarding gay marriage is political… but I really don’t find this to be a political issue. Typically Republicans/conservatives are against gay marriage, typically because conservatives tend to have strong traditionalist and religious ideals, and democrats/liberals are more open to the idea of gay marriage and change and acceptance. I am a registered Republican. As is my father, and all of his brothers except my uncle who is gay. My mom’s side also consists primarily of Republican conservatives. Yet my family is completely accepting of my uncle’s. So politics does not need to define your views on any subject. I think Anne Hathaway said it best at HRC awards in 2008 in her speech accepting an award from the association: love, is a human experience, not a political statement.

I understand political restrictions on the legalization of same sex marriages, and I understand this is not an issue that the federal government has any authority to take action on. President Obama has already declared portions of DOMA unconstitutional as the power to make such laws are not designated anywhere in the Constitution to the federal government, meaning that this issue is purely left to the states (by the means of the tenth amendment). But I see no problem with states legalizing same sex marriage. Does it make a difference if you love a man or you love a woman? Love is love, and everyone deserves a chance to solidify their love with holy matrimony.