If you’re against gay marriage …
by Amber
"My dad recently brought up same-sex marriage in a phone conversation. In the past, he's been slightly homophobic – not hatefully so, but clearly uncomfortable. He's nearly 60 years old, a construction worker and a Vietnam vet. He grew up in a homophobic culture. But that culture has changed. And so has Dad.
"Dad said to me, ‘I'm so angry with these people saying gay marriage is wrong. There's nothing wrong with people loving each other and wanting to make a commitment to love and support each other. What gets me mad is these guys I work with. What business is it of theirs? I, mean, if you're not gay, why do you care? If you're against gay marriage, don't have one. Leave it to the people concerned to make choices about their lives. The government can't tell you who to love and it shouldn't be able to tell you who you can or can't marry. And nobody else should either.’
"I love my Dad. The world is changing and the reactionary measures of George Bush and other heterosexists will fail. Love will triumph."
Amber, Rochester, N.Y.
April 19, 2004