I appreciate the 14th amendment argument: hiding my sexuality, suffering contumely from hateful people, living with rejection from my biological family, officially immoral, illegal and insane. What a beginning. How forlorn the hope for a loving relationship with another person. How daunting the responsibility to mentor others and craft a proud legacy to pass along to others. It's been a challenging three score and change.
I also appreciate the incredible progress that's been made - "insane" went away in the early '70s, "illegal" went away in Minnesota in the '90s and again in the '00s with reference to the old blue law about sodomy, and "immoral" has at least become an elective rather than a required course. Incredible kudos are due the official posture and heartfelt convictions that characterize the leadership of our city and our region. "Gay Pride" is not theoretical hereabouts. It's astonishingly real and international in its scope and we can all be thankful for this novel cultural understanding. Minneapolis has been good to me. You've saved my life and given me an opportunity to give back from a hard-earned reservoir of insight and good will. Gay marriage isn't on my personal horizon. My personhood was forged in a papal seminary environment in the early '50s and I have no Plan B. What I do have, however, is a clear understanding of the evolution of the notion of "equal rights" under the law and see the concepts of "domestic partnership" and "civil unions" as way stations in a societal journey to full equality for my kith and kin. Minneapolis, I am relieved to say, is ahead of the curve for reasons we find familiar. Hennepin County is maybe not so enlightened and I appreciate Mayor Rybak's willingness to help shine a great light into these dark places. It will take all three branches of government and some prayerful introspection to find the path forward that will "get us to the church on time". Fred Markus, West Phillips REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
