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Ya know,
I don't think people are trying to compare the gay rights and the civil rights struggle in terms of the scale of the two or in terms of the losses (in life, history, family, culture, etc) they both groups have suffered. It seems undeniable that African-Americans have suffered losses and set backs from 400 yrs of slavery plus another 100+ years of discrimintation that we can't even measure yet.
However, I think people are just saying that there are some commonalities amongst the actual rights that each group was/is looking to obtain. There is a similarity btwn blacks not being permitted to marry whites at a time when it was considered sinful and an abomination & two men not being able to marry one another at a time when it is considered sinful and an abomination. There is a similarity between blacks not being permitted to rent or buy a home in a predominately white neighborhood & two women not being permitted to rent or buy a home in a predminately straight neighborhood. Just like there was a similarity between blacks not being allowed to vote and women not being allowed to vote.
Now not being able to hide your race certainly does make the struggle more difficult. You don't get the benefit of people assuming that you are "like them", and treating you fairly by default. However, you shouldn't get equal rights by default. You should be able to live your live out loud and in the open, and still receive equal opportunities. I mean, are we really ok living in a society where you have to pretend to be something that you aren't just to receive basic rights like getting a job or an apartment.
On a side note: I know we got away from the gay marriage issue. This discussion seemed to be interesting too, but my bad to whomever began the thread.
Marie
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