As an outside observer I'm happy about the outcome in the US elections. I think a change in perspective, life experience and energy is well overdue. Perhaps this can overturn some of the cynicism the rest of the world feels towards the US these days.
Me, I'm working up a whole new batch of cynicism. In amongst all the joy it's worth noting that for a number of people, Mr Peeneee and his partner of 27 years for example, who 24 hours ago were married are now not. Proposition 8 (actually, that's Proposition H8 to be more accurate) overturned the right to marry for gays in the states where it passed, and those marriages are no longer recognised. Yes it's excellent that the US was progressive enough to grant that right in the first place, but it seems the battles are far from won.
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I know what you mean. I felt depressed thinking about it this morning too. I saw a great comment on Metafilter that gave me hope though:
"oh, and even if it's impossible to sugarcoat such a painful setback, I'd like to remind my progressive friends in California and elsewhere that, once you break the numbers down to voter age, the older the voter, in average the higher the opposition to gay marriage. I know time is a factor when you're being discriminated against, and your love is somehow considered unworthy of legal recognition, but time is on our side. with painful stuff like Proposition 8 they can only delay what's going to happen, and sooner than they think."
The whole married/unmarried thing is a freakin' drag.
That said, I am so beside myself with joy over the presidential results that I can hardly contain it. There is a palpable excitement here!
My hope is that the rest of the world understands that for the past 8 years, more than half of this country was against the Bush regime and all it's evils.
But for now, I'm just basking in the fact that yesterday, what's good about America came shining through!
I think it's still unclear about the marriages that have already taken place, if that helps at all. (I think it does.)
From what I've read, the amendment is not retroactive.
It's a big step back for equality, but, like you, I'm still heartened by the huge leap forward the country as a whole took yesterday. I think it's big. Like NEW ERA big. Like SINGULAR MOMENT big.
Yes, it's sad about prop 8. I have several friends in the US who have been together more than 10 years and all of whom have gone though legal marriage in CA recently. They are confused and unhappy, but also very happy about the Obama thing. There is some hope he will be able to push something though on a federal level - civil unions, at least.
Oh, I hadn't heard that it wasn't going to be retroactive, so that's something at least!
Disappointing, yes, but gay marriage is inevitable, I'm sure.
I'm just very happy for my country for once in a very long time.
Agreed Jason!
I agree with you completely. My overwhelming excitement at seeing my one-time temporary home of the USA electing President Obama (typing that still makes me smile!) was tempered by my disappointment in my one-time temporary home of California passing Prop 8.
I can't believe Prop 8 went through.
Don't they know that now all these people are LIVING IN SIN????
Outrageous.
Unfortunately, the retroactive issue is still under investigation. According to the L.A.Times:
"So most experts believe that the marriages that have already been performed would remain legal regardless of what happens with Proposition 8. However, this issue has never been tested."
It'll be interesting to see the outcome. I just hope there comes a day when The Gays get to pass judgement on heterosexual marriages.
Only the fabulous will be allowed.
still we have hope now for the first time in 8 years or so.
prop 8 has not officially passed (they are not through counting ballots) - and there are a number of ways to be involved to help fight the discrimination... in time, I know that equal rights will prevail - but the battle sometimes just flat out hurts... I am sad that it seems so many people just don't want same sex couples to marry... I can't see the reasoning - and I have yet to hear anyone give even one reason why equal rights should not be afforded to any couple wishing to commit and share their lives together in a marriage...
I’m focusing on not being bitter. There are already three law suits filed with the state supreme court contesting Prop 8 (I like your PropH8. So modern.) on a variety of complicated points AND the state attorney general said he would defend marriages like mine against be declared void retroactively.
Besides it’s better to revel in the huge reprieve from eight years of Bush. Yay.
Evan and I are in LA at the moment (we fly back tonight). It's not over yet. The are calls for a recount and the night before last there was a massive protest along Santa Monica Blvd and then along Sunset Blvd past our hotel here in West Hollywood. There was another one last night as well.
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