An Open Letter to NY State Senator Greg Ball
Normally we don't get political here at BTeamBombers, but this one feels kind of important and it represents yet another shift in how social media and the web as whole can effect the democratic process. As the debate over gay marriage rages on in the state of New York, state senator Greg Ball (R - Dist. 40) has taken to twitter to ask the public how we think he should vote. Ball is a young moderate who recently stated that he cannot vote in favor of a bill that doesn't include language for "religious protections". Ball seems to be giving the issue careful consideration however, which is a welcome break from the knee jerk responses often found on both sides of this issue. The senator wants to here from the people. If you'd like to be part of the discussion, you can respond to his tweet "Opening up the discussion! So, if you were me, how would you vote on gay marriage? Yes or No?" @ball4ny, email him at gball@nysenate.gov or call his office at (518) 455-3111. My response is below.
Senator Ball,
I think it is both commendable and forward-thinking of you to take your decision making process on the issue of gay marriage to the public. I hope you consider each and every response to your tweet but more importantly, I hope and pray that you do the right thing. In this case, despite the debate that has engulfed our nation for the past few years, the right thing is plainly obvious. The constitution guarantees equality to all Americans, not only those who live and think the same way as those in the majority. That single fact, more than anything else is what separates The United States of America from the rest of the world and makes us great. The great American tradition of treating all of our citizens equally is what makes the rest of the world look to us for guidance and it is the greatest principle upon which this country was founded. According to these simple, yet important American values, the only thing to do is vote in favor of gay marriage.
I recently moved back east from California, where I lived during the 2008 election when prop 8 was voted in and gay marriage was banned. As a straight male, gay marriage had never been something to which I had given much thought, but in the months leading up to the election, as the debate raged on, I couldn't help but think of my gay friends, neighbors and co-workers and what it meant to them. I started to put myself in their shoes and think about how I would feel if the government dictated to me who I was allowed to love or marry. It is not the place of this or any other government to strip its citizens of any rights because of who they are or how they were born. When the results of the prop 8 decision were announced, it made me ashamed to be a Californian. Nobody was effected positively by the decision. Those who supported the bill gained nothing. Their lives, families and marriages didn't change, but those who opposed it were devastated. Many had their lives disastrously altered because the state stepped in and told them they couldn't carry out their plans of starting a family in the legal and traditional sense. There is enough division in this country. We need to start taking steps toward unity. Allowing all Americans the right to marry is a positive step in that direction.
More importantly, by denying gay Americans this or any other right, it implies that being gay is a choice and this implication opens the door to many other forms of discrimination from housing to employment to education. You wouldn't deny an American such a fundamental right if he or she was born left handed or with blond hair or if he or she were black or Catholic. Homosexuality is no different than any of these distinguishing features. People don't choose who they are attracted to or who they love. Gay Americans have no more control or choice in the matter than straight Americans and treating them as if they do only encourages their marginalization in society.
As a representative of the GOP, you profess to believe in freedom, small government, the absence of the government meddling in or interfering with your personal affairs. Banning gay marriage flies in the face of these values. It flies in the face of everything not just the GOP but The United States of America stands for. Please don't listen to those who are naive enough to hide behind the veil of so called "family values" or defense of the "sanctity of marriage". This is bigotry dressed up to sound noble. The best way to promote family values in this country is to allow all Americans, gay or straight to have families and the best way to defend the honor and sanctity of marriage is to give everyone the chance to experience it. It seems the issue that's keeping you on the fence is that of religious protections. This would be well and good if it were the job of the state senate to govern from a religious standpoint which the Constitution makes clear it is not. This is not a religious issue, it's a legal one. If religious organizations choose not to recognize same sex marriage, the same way certain religions don't recognize interfaith marriages, that's for them to decide. But insisting upon language in the bill guaranteeing them this right is unrealistic and I think you know it. This comes across as a device by which you can vote down the bill without directly or publicly opposing gay marriage. Take a stand Senator. You either believe that all Americans are equal or you don't. If you believe they are, you should vote in favor of the bill. The simple fact is that religion shouldn't even play a roll in your decision making process. Religion and government are to remain separate in this country. This is for the good of both religion and government and going against this principle weakens both.
In closing Senator, let me appeal to you to think about your legacy as a lawmaker in this country. You have the opportunity to create sweeping change simply by allowing gay Americans to exercise a right already afforded to every other group in this nation. It is my firm belief that 50 years from now, this period in American history will be remembered in a similar light to the civil rights movement and it is up to you to decide which side of this great struggle you want to be associated with. I have no doubt that those who stand up and defend the rights of all Americans to marry and pursue happiness will be remembered like Dwight Eisenhower and Bobby Kennedy as leaders and agents of change while those who opposed it will forever be cast to the same category in history as George Wallace and Bull Connor as bigots, anti-progressives and hate-mongers. I believe you know in your heart that the best thing for your state, this nation and for your constituents, many of whom are gay, is to fight for the rights of all Americans and vote in favor of gay marriage. Throughout our nation's history New York has been a leader on a national scale. Your great state is once again presented with the opportunity to lead by example by passing groundbreaking legislation and upholding the fundamental American value of equality. Take the lead. Do what's right. Thank you again, Senator for encouraging public discussion on this issue and soliciting the opinions of the people. It is a great sign that you are carefully considering both sides of the issue and I will continue to pray that you vote on the side of equality and freedom.
Respectfully,
Bill Malinowski