And last week's election showed another thing: the marriage card as a national wedge issue just doesn't work. Even when the three largest provinces allow same-sex marriage, straight folks just aren't taken in my right-wing claptrap: "Going into the election the Conservatives were ahead in the polls, but after playing the marriage card the party's support fell, allowing the Liberals to return to power, but with a minority government." And we US queers might not have to flee across the border just yet: opinions here on same-sex marriage are the same as they were before the backlash that followed on the heels of Lawrence. Even though they were produced by HRC (which is unfortunately lobbying for a version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act that would protect only those queers who are non-trans and gender-conforming), it was nonetheless a real joy to see, at the Chicago pride parade, so many folks wearing "George W. Bush: You're fired!" stickers.
The religious right is unlikely to abandon its bigotry, which is rooted in a totalizing, essentialist view of sex differences. But I think over the next few months we're going to learn something about the Nascar Dad, the Soccer Mom, and other mythical American heterosexuals. That most straight folks don't really care very much about gay marriage, once they get used to the idea, may one day seem as predictable as the marriages seem banal. As Hendrik Hertzberg said in the New Yorker, the best that can be said about Bush's support for the FMA - in light of his obvious discomfort speaking about the issue and his unwillingness ever to answer reporters' questions afterward - is that even he seems a bit embarrassed by it.
Or, as HRC said in recent print ads in Cincinnati, timed with a Bush campaign stop:
Jobs lost in Ohio since 2001: 255,000
Gay marriages in Ohio: 0
1 comment:
(*wave* and *hugs*; it's kat) I went to pride in Victoria (provincial capital and second largest city in BC, though much much smaller than Vancouver) and the parade was entirely composed of community groups and unions. and, well, two politicians. but still. and the idea is that you just tack on the end of it if you're queer and keen on marching, so there was a whole mob of people....wouldn't work in a city the size of chicago. the parade was about the size of the chicago dyke march, i'd say.
new dyke bar in vancouver is called Lick, how good is that! prob going there tonight. then back up coast on monday for more outdoorsiness.
xo
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