Comments on: Enough with the “wedge issue” nonsense http://www.gaysdefendmarriage.com/2008/06/03/enough-with-the-wedge-issue-nonsense/ A website for LGBT folks who support marriage as the union of husband and wife—and getting the gay leadership to return to more pressing LGBT issues for our community. Mon, 30 Aug 2010 20:49:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: David Benkof http://www.gaysdefendmarriage.com/2008/06/03/enough-with-the-wedge-issue-nonsense/#comment-234 David Benkof Fri, 06 Jun 2008 21:54:25 +0000 http://www.gaysdefendmarriage.com/?p=30#comment-234 Mark- Yes, you're right, although the suggestion that marriage being on the ballot this time because Republicans need a wedge issue in each presidential election - and not because of the recent legislation and litigation regarding marriage in California - is not reasonable. Mark-

Yes, you’re right, although the suggestion that marriage being on the ballot this time because Republicans need a wedge issue in each presidential election – and not because of the recent legislation and litigation regarding marriage in California – is not reasonable.

]]> By: Mark Barton http://www.gaysdefendmarriage.com/2008/06/03/enough-with-the-wedge-issue-nonsense/#comment-201 Mark Barton Wed, 04 Jun 2008 18:54:39 +0000 http://www.gaysdefendmarriage.com/?p=30#comment-201 'Of course, predictably, according to the Los Angeles Times, leading California Democratic strategist Garry South “described the ballot measure as part of a decades-old strategy by California conservatives to use a wedge issue to mobilize support during a presidential election.”' Err, it says "a" wedge issue. In context that would seem to mean "a" wedge issue for each presidential election, but not necessarily the same one each time, and certainly not same-sex marriage each time. ‘Of course, predictably, according to the Los Angeles Times, leading California Democratic strategist Garry South “described the ballot measure as part of a decades-old strategy by California conservatives to use a wedge issue to mobilize support during a presidential election.”’

Err, it says “a” wedge issue. In context that would seem to mean “a” wedge issue for each presidential election, but not necessarily the same one each time, and certainly not same-sex marriage each time.

]]> By: David Benkof http://www.gaysdefendmarriage.com/2008/06/03/enough-with-the-wedge-issue-nonsense/#comment-199 David Benkof Wed, 04 Jun 2008 17:06:49 +0000 http://www.gaysdefendmarriage.com/?p=30#comment-199 QueerUnity, I don't claim that you hate the traditional family or heterosexuality because of your belief about what marriage is. I'd appreciate if you didn't do the reverse for me. It so happens that I have been complaining to my fellow traditionalists when they call themselves "pro-family" - as if a couple of lesbians and their baby aren't a real family. I don't hate anybody. QueerUnity, I don’t claim that you hate the traditional family or heterosexuality because of your belief about what marriage is. I’d appreciate if you didn’t do the reverse for me. It so happens that I have been complaining to my fellow traditionalists when they call themselves “pro-family” – as if a couple of lesbians and their baby aren’t a real family. I don’t hate anybody.

]]> By: Chairm http://www.gaysdefendmarriage.com/2008/06/03/enough-with-the-wedge-issue-nonsense/#comment-194 Chairm Wed, 04 Jun 2008 02:28:32 +0000 http://www.gaysdefendmarriage.com/?p=30#comment-194 More Independents and Democrats, take together, voted for state marriage amendments than Republicans, in absolute numbers. More Moderates and Liberals, taken together, voted for state marriage amendments than Conservatives, again in absolute numbers. The man-woman criterion is not simply a religious criterion of marriage. Marriage has been both-sexed in societies where the Bible has not been prominent and where it has even been banned and where religious people -- particular those who read and cherish the Bible -- have been persecuted. I agree with David, marriage protection is not a wedge issue. It is an authentic issue that the defenders of marriage have been called to raise in prominence simply because the attack on the social institution of marriage, by the SSM campaign, makes it necessary. SSMers just don't like to be opposed -- even though they generally do not comprehend the actual disagreement. As a result SSMers, and unfortunately some leading Democratic strategists, misrepresent the disagreement and the defenders of marriage. Damned if we defend marriage and damned if we do not. How convenient for SSMers. More Independents and Democrats, take together, voted for state marriage amendments than Republicans, in absolute numbers.

More Moderates and Liberals, taken together, voted for state marriage amendments than Conservatives, again in absolute numbers.

The man-woman criterion is not simply a religious criterion of marriage. Marriage has been both-sexed in societies where the Bible has not been prominent and where it has even been banned and where religious people — particular those who read and cherish the Bible — have been persecuted.

I agree with David, marriage protection is not a wedge issue. It is an authentic issue that the defenders of marriage have been called to raise in prominence simply because the attack on the social institution of marriage, by the SSM campaign, makes it necessary. SSMers just don’t like to be opposed — even though they generally do not comprehend the actual disagreement. As a result SSMers, and unfortunately some leading Democratic strategists, misrepresent the disagreement and the defenders of marriage.

Damned if we defend marriage and damned if we do not. How convenient for SSMers.

]]> By: queerunity http://www.gaysdefendmarriage.com/2008/06/03/enough-with-the-wedge-issue-nonsense/#comment-190 queerunity Tue, 03 Jun 2008 20:44:38 +0000 http://www.gaysdefendmarriage.com/?p=30#comment-190 I don't think it is a wedge issue to get republicans elected, although most people who will vote against marriage equality will likely vote republican. I believe these people really believe that marriage for gays/lesbians is bad based on their irrational biblical beliefs. It is sad how the bible has been used as a tool for hate for so many centuries. I don’t think it is a wedge issue to get republicans elected, although most people who will vote against marriage equality will likely vote republican. I believe these people really believe that marriage for gays/lesbians is bad based on their irrational biblical beliefs. It is sad how the bible has been used as a tool for hate for so many centuries.

]]>