It's stunning to see state voters marginalize my very existence

[rodeodance]

http://www.madison.com/tct/opinion/column/guest/index.php?ntid=106549

Mark Gates: It's stunning to see state voters marginalize my very existence
By Mark Gates

Let's make one thing absolutely clear: I am not, have never been, a one-issue voter.

Those voters described in polls as "undecided" always give me great pause for thought. Undecided? How could anyone be undecided about Iraq or health care costs or soaring compensation for CEOs, to name a few.

I suppose I could fall in that category when grappling for solutions to the global economy or the genocide in Darfur, but even in these instances, I am not without opinions.

I certainly had a definite opinion on the amendment to the state constitution on gay marriage and, although polls suggested otherwise, still had hopes that Wisconsin (not Arizona) would be the first state not to dignify such a red herring with approval when so many other pressing issues were on the table........

[samdogmom]

1. I am so sorry for you Mr. Gates and for our once progressive state, too!

Wisconsin used to be a beacon of clean government and progressive policies. We have fallen so far, so fast--it's breathtaking. I don't understand the results myself.

[clyrc]

2. This is the one thing that saddens me about this election

I hoped for better from the American people.

[Sapphocrat]

3. This paragraph speaks directly to me:

"Who voted against me, I wondered. Was it that guy at the car wash who always greeted me with a smile? Surely not the post office clerk with whom I always commiserate about her long commute to work? Had the dog walker I spoke with the other day while out getting the paper secretly been giving me the fish eye? Which of my neighbors were capable of such perfidy? How could they do this to me?"

On one hand, we LGBTs are no different from anyone else. But on the other, every single interaction I have is colored by these same questions.

[marmar]

4. In my jubilation over the election results, it's easy to overlook these amendments...

and the sad fact that there's still legal inequality for some Americans. Now that we've taken the reigns from the Reich wing, we've got to take control of our party and let them know that they've got to advocate equality. And we breeders have got to be better allies and start speaking up.
I just finished arguing with a cousin this afternoon about the amendments. Her attitude was, "Why do they need to get married?" I turned it around on her and said, "Someone was probably asked a similar question about one of our family members in the not-too distant past: Why do they need to sit in the front of the bus or shop in this store?" She went silent for a minute and said, "I see what you mean."