FireDancer
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 3, 2008
We as a country realized that "separate but equal" is anything but in 1954. (oh, and a note about putting things to a vote--this would likely not have happened if voted on--civil rights are nearly always voted down when left in the hands of voters--I really don't know why that is I guess most people are just very resistant to change).
You are right and I agree with you. The question remains though if separate but equal is the legal equivalent of different but equal. Only one body can make that decision and it is the supreme court.
The best way to deal with it, IMO, would be to pass a law that same sex couples can have a civil union that is the legal equivalent of marriage and then, eventually, challenge that under the separate but equal ruling from Brown Vs. Board of Ed.
Because the current gay rights movement is mirroring (sadly) the equal rights movement of the early 20th century one way to win it is to battle it the same way, in steps as opposed to leaps. While I would be all for same sex marriage, called marriage, tomorrow the reality and the ideal are different and taking it in manageable chunks I believe will get the gay community to equal rights faster.
I'm not saying it is ideal but we have to deal in the current reality.