Thursday, November 08, 2012

Turning A Corner

You won't hear me talk much about partisan politics. As Foreign Service Officers, we serve whoever is the President. And that would not have changed for me had the election gone the other way.

I have my opinions, and my friends know them. But what I will tell you publically a few things I am celebrating. One, I am celebrating that we as Americans, though we may differ on the way to get there, all want what is best for our country, and we demonstrate it with our vote. I am proud that we have a country where we can vote and where we can disagree without fear.

But this election, I am especially proud to see us turning a corner on equality.

For the first time, voters chose equality. In Maryland, Maine and Washington, voters chose full marriage equality. And in Minnesota, voters chose not to enshrine hate into the constitution (though same-sex marriage is still illegal there).




And for the first time ever, an open lesbian has been elected to the U.S. Senate.

This all gives me great hope.

Of course, the caveat is that I don't think my rights should be up for a vote. When the Supreme Court overturned misegenation laws in 1967, 75% of the population was opposed to interracial marriage. But the Court did the right thing anyway, because rights should not be up to the tryanny of the majority. That said, I am still happy the voters did the right thing. We are moving in the right direction. No sane person on either side of the political aisle now questions whether people of color should be considered fully equal and have equal rights. Because of course they should. And it is my hope, and my belief, that we will one day reach that point with full equality for LGBT persons.

Until then, I will revel in this corner turned, knowing that at least there are a few more places that I can add to my potential retirement list. Seattle seems nice...

And I will hold onto the hope that one day, my beloved South Carolina will also be added to that list. Because really I want to retire to Folly Beach, but only if my family is fully protected by full marriage equality.

7 comments:

Nicole said...

Hey Digger, I have been reading your blog for a few years and my husband has joined the fs since then. We are Washington state voters still and my whole family back home was extremely proud to pass this law for our neighbors, coworkers and friends who can now get married! Thanks for all the great FS info I've gotten over the years!

Nicole said...

I started reading your blog a few years ago when my husband was thinking about joining the FS. He has since joined and I still read it. We are still Washington state voters and along with my family back home, we were so proud to vote to pass this law so that our neighbors, friends, and coworkers can get married! Congrats to Washington! Also thanks for all the great info I've gotten on this blog over the years.

Nicole said...

I started reading your blog a few years ago when my husband was thinking about joining the FS. He has since joined and I still read it. We are still Washington state voters and along with my family back home, we were so proud to vote to pass this law so that our neighbors, friends, and coworkers can get married! Congrats to Washington! Also thanks for all the great info I've gotten on this blog over the years.

Nicole said...

I started reading your blog a few years ago when my husband was thinking about joining the FS. He has since joined and I still read it. We are still Washington state voters and along with my family back home, we were so proud to vote to pass this law so that our neighbors, friends, and coworkers can get married! Congrats to Washington! Also thanks for all the great info I've gotten on this blog over the years.

Hihankara said...

Seattle is actually pretty great. You'd be welcome!

Anonymous said...

As a fellow FS officer and a Maine resident, I am proud that I helped deliver that result! The Maine coast is lovely, and there's no state income tax foe FS officers wqhile we are out of state.

Anonymous said...

Eventually we will all be truly treated equally in this country. This election was a good step in that direction.