Some Minnesotans Have a Sad About Marriage Equality

“I can’t say we’re bitter. We’re disappointed. It’s people saying, ‘If it’s good for me, I don’t care about anyone else.’ There’s nothing that’s intrinsically evil anymore.”  

This quote's from an article entitled "Some Minnesotans are more sad than bitter over gay marriage," posted in the StarTribune, that has gathered and centered the perspectives of some people who are sad about marriage equality.

Womp wooooooooooooomp.

In addition to the state no longer symbolically saying that homosexuality is "intrinsically evil" (quite an admission there, isn't it?) to some of these citizens this law signals a "deteriorating society," a "disintegrating" "moral compass," and a devaluation of the word "love." One opponent noted that she has "homosexual friends" and that she'll just have to keep on waiting for them to appear willing to listen, to just really listen with an "open heart," to her beliefs about homosexuality being immoral and eventually..... magically not be gay anymore?

Another opponent claimed that with all the texting that happens nowadays:

“There’s no deep thinking anymore. No way to sit down and fully think through an issue.”

I was unaware that the entire campaign in Minnesota, as well as the related DOMA and Prop 8 Supreme Court cases, were conducted entirely by text message.

And, what is it that gives some equality opponents the biggest sad of all? From the article:

"What hurts them most about seeing society change around them? Being called bigots, they said. Feeling forced to accept something they believe is wrong."

Of course.

I like to call this the argumentum ad "I will call you and your lifestyle a symbol of the apocalypse and you must like me for it! 'cuz if you don't, you're SO mean!"

It's silly, really.  Being an actual gay person, I can understand why same-sex couples and queer people would be sad if a marriage equality measure did not pass in their state - you know, given that the denial actually impacts their actual lives.  But, what does it mean to be So Sad that one has "lost" a "right" to deny other people marriage?

To me, it seems as though some equality opponents are sad about marriage equality measures passing because it means they've kind of symbolically flipped positions with gay people in the eyes of the state and, perhaps, the majority of Americans in terms of morality.

Some opponents of equality (and many LGBT people and allies) view a state's failure to recognize same-sex marriage as the state suggesting that homosexuality is immoral (or, say, "intrinsically evil"), a state's recognition of marriage equality might suggest that to oppose homosexuality is, at the least, immoral and no longer socially condoned. Opposing marriage equality, and uttering the opinion that homosexuality is "evil" or "immoral," becomes less and less a thing that is said in polite company.

What some opponents of equality are really sad about, it seems, is that - the marginalization of their homobigoted views. They are free to express their opinions, of course, despite the false cries of "censorship" and so forth. However, they can no longer express their opinion about homosexuality and same-sex marriage whilst still receiving widespread assurance that the state, the legal system, and most people agree with them and think their position is nice, commonsensical, and true.

In more exciting news, lots of other people were happy about marriage equality in Minnesota. (And you can always count on lesbians to show up to a wedding in tie-dye!)