[Dionysus]

Well said, Sistermadly.

Originally posted by Sistermadly
Marriage isn't a religious institution, and I wish fundamentalists would stop harping on that issue. I don't care what it says in whichever bible -- the institution of marriage as we know it was created for the transfer of property through familial lines. In some ways, it was the only way that women could compete for access to the family assets: if she were married, the assumption would be that her "husband" would take care of whatever assets previously belonged to her father. The transfer would go from father to son-in-law, but it would still remain in the family.

People who are married in civil ceremonies - wait, let me refrain that - HETEROSEXUAL people who are married in civil ceremonies are not considered any less married than those who are married in high church weddings that are 17 hours long because you have to do mass in the middle of them. This is a fear issue, and WRT to some African Americans, I think the fear is that yet another group has come along and is is trying to jump on the "disempowerment" wagon, which leaves even less room for us.

Personally, I think it's idiotic to play the "I'm more oppressed than you!" game. If people are hurting, if people are being disenfranchised and denied the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, it's LEGAL issue, plain and simple. We have to decide whether it is still legally conscionable in this day and age to openly discriminate against a class of people.