Hop Against Homophobia/Transphobia - the landscape

Hi all! Thank you for joining us for the Hop Against Homophobia and Transphobia 2014! Yep, there will be a prize up for grabs for one commenter (details at the bottom of the post.) Always fun, but not what this hop's really about.

May 17 is the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, and while the issues facing the LGBTQ community are ones we should be aware of every day, this is a day for the world to come together and share stories, information and triumphs.

In the past, I've concentrated on LGBTQ youth, particularly homeless and at-risk youth. This year, I want to talk about something hopeful and joyous - the changing map of the US. Let's take a look at April of 2004 first. Note that most states specifically said at this time that same sex marriage was illegal - not just that they didn't recognize it, but that it was illegal - in 2004. Massachusetts is the lone, brave pioneer:

Moving forward a bit, to October of 2006, take a look at how the anti-gay marriage factions have hurried to put in state constitutional bans - not merely illegal any longer, but banned according to that state's constitution. It was discouraging, to say the least, for marriage rights advocates.

But the fight was on. As they say - bring it. Poor California changes color several times over the next seven years, as does Hawaii, Illinois and little Delaware. But look what's happening, slowly but surely, as we go to July of 2013:

It's far from over. We all know that. But the momentum, slow and ponderous as it has been, keeps gathering. Federal courts find it harder and harder to uphold laws that are obviously in violation of the country's constitution, in violation of the civil rights of its citizens. The laws are there to protect against the tyranny of the majority. It's a lesson we have to keep learning, apparently. But look - just look! - at the map today. See all the states that are bi-colored? Those are the ones where the courts are saying no. And all that lovely blue. Not there yet - but it's quite a difference from the first map, wouldn't you say?

Come on states, you can do this. Denying people basic rights is inhumane and marriage has both financial and legal rights attached to it (just ask the young man who wasn't allowed to attend his partner's funeral, the one who was denied hospital visitation rights, the elderly couple who were separated and their property seized.) It's time to join the rest of us in the 21st century.

Here comes the prize part (hey, I promised, right?) Please leave me a comment and your contact info (please, please leave contact info) for a chance to win a copy of Finn: Endangered Fae 1.

Winner will be drawn on May 27th - I'll contact you then if you've won to ask for your preferred file format.

Thank you for stopping by!


Back to the hop!

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