For safekeeping, I stored my response, complete with added hyperlinks, on my blog today.
Well I feel better now!
(Kudos to the original author of the “The Forces of Good™ vs. The Forces of Evil™,” by the way. Are you responsible for that one, Isaac?)
Clout is the name of the radio show on Air America Radio that Phae and I were just on, with our friends Tom and Joy out in Santa Cruz, California, talking about polyamory and the current “scandal” over John Edward’s lovelife.
I got a chance to discuss monothesisism and dualism, and to explain how and why mudslinging works in political campaigns. Richard Greene, host of the show, loved the fact that Phae and Joy and Tom and I were “getting together” on his show, along with a poet named Sara from New York City, and challenging the dominant paradigm not only about marriage and relationships, but the very roots of America’s dysfunctional schizophrenia about sexuality.
Go to the show’s website and download the podcast!
I’ve been thinking about same-sex marriage recently (no, I haven’t got a boyfriend!), but in terms different from what the public is currently debating. In light of the recent California Supreme Court decision mandating equal marriage rights (and rites?) for same-sex couples, I thought I’d share them.
The Religious Reich’s war against same-sex marriage is only part of a larger picture. Perhaps if it is framed in the context of creedism, rather than just that of homophobia or heterosexism, we can create more effective strategies to stop it.
At the rock bottom of the RR’s theocratic agenda is an appeal to creedism. They believe that they have a “right” to shove their particular (and often peculiar) doctrines down the throats of every man, woman, and child on the planet. This is true whether you are discussing Christian or Islamic Fundamentalists (Jewish Fundamentalists only want to force their doctrines upon people living in Israel or in Hassidic communities elsewhere).
There are plenty of new and old religions in the world, with millions of their members in the USA, who do not agree with the sexual, reproductive, or marital doctrines of conservative monotheism. Why should one group of religions be able to use the power of civil law to enforce their doctrines and deny others’ doctrines?
The fact that Judeo-Christian-Islamic creedists are a voting majority in America is no more relevant to our civil rights than the fact that racists and sexists were once (and in some places still are) the majority of US citizens. The tyranny of the majority is specifically restrained by the constitution.
I advocate fighting this battle over marriage rights, reproductive rights, sex education rights, and all related issues in terms of resistance to creedism. The old protest phrase, “Keep your rosaries off my ovaries,” cuts to the heart of RR bigotry. Their views are rooted in the Torah, Bible, and Koran, so monotheistic creedists are “obligated” to be homophobic and opposed to all sexual freedom issues, just as they were once “obligated” to be racist or sexist.
People are entitled to have any sort of religious beliefs or non-beliefs they like. They are not entitled, under the US constitution, to force all other citizens to live under those same opinions, whether they call them “God’s Law” or anything else.
It may be easier for those of us who are (more or less) “straight” to use the “Homophobia is creedist” frame, but we might all consider using it in appropriate circumstances. Let’s make creedism as socially unacceptable as racism and sexism, and perhaps heterosexism will become equally unacceptable.
Go to www.beyondmarriage.org for some additional interesting thoughts on this issue. I think Robert Heinlein would be pleased at their goals.
As a Neopagan Druid, I’ll be happy to perform same-sex or multiple marriage ceremonies for anyone who asks me to do so. I consider it an obligation of my priesthood. Of course, I would hope that the couple/triad/quad/etc. would help out with any subsequent legal costs!
I was just sent this and thought I should share:
“Disabilities present many challenges to the average family and there are many options for discussion, support and venting. Unfortunately, polyamorous families find most of these discussion groups don’t cover all the dynamics presented by our chosen family make-up.
This group was created for poly families who have a member who has been diagnosed with a long or short term disability. It is open to disabled partners, caregivers, family members, extended family members and friends. Please use this group as a place to share your experience, strenth and hope with each other through internet conversation. Feel free to ask questions, vent frustrations or share stories of hope.
This group is not modified, per se. Message posts are sent to the list without approval by the moderator. Obviously, differences of opinion are expected as is a bit of cursing here and there, but please use common courtesy in your responses. Written attacks on individual members, cyber-stalking and spamming can result in loss of membership.â€
To subscribe send blank email to: PolyPartnersWithDisabilities-subscribe@ yahoogroups.com.
BTW, for those who didn’t know, we have a Pagan Polyamory Page here on our website, which I have just updated to fix broken links and add a few new books.
