Put your hands together for the fab-9 supreme court justices, protecting your right to party it up like Gomorrah. Editors note: we had to black out the section of Mr. Vanderzanden's crotch... don't ask.
Over a month has passed since the Supreme Court ruled on Lawrence and Garner v. Texas, which has made a huge opening for gays to push through by eliminating anti-sodomy laws. The initial spurts of emotion which resulted from the landmark case have now subsided, and it is becoming clear that this broad stroke of privacy granted by the Court’s decision is here to stay.
Many conservative leaders had a stiff response to the Court’s decision. The ruling, which is a slap across the face for the Christian Right, has been hard on many who have a moral objection to homosexuality. While the generally conservative Supreme Court has now indicated a willingness to grant gays access to the many of same rights enjoyed by straight couples, right-wing leaders remain rigidly opposed to homosexuality.
“We are standing firm against homosexuality. Our fathers stood firm and their fathers before them, and we will not come down from our position,” said Christian Coalition Spokesman George McElroy.
The issue of homosexuality is a sticky subject for most. Advocates on the right have been accused of coming on too strong with their opinions. Indeed it seems leaders on both sides are guilty of shooting loads of vindictive and hateful comments at each other.
“Why do these f*****s have to hit you in the face with it? They’re so proud—they always just come right up and wave it around in your face, just like that,” said Mississippi resident Frank Fitts. “I can’t swallow too much more of this sh*t.”
Words such as these have made this issue a long, hard struggle for gays in this country. Gay advocates indicate that Americans simply need to relax and open themselves up a bit to allow homosexuality into their lives.
Man or woman? Androgyny becomes a matter of taste, rather than law. Is this... person "your thing"? Strap on your hip waders and jump in cowpoke, today's your lucky day!
“We’ve loosened the laws up a bit, but we still have a ways to go—most states are still tight on disallowing gay marriages, for example,” gay rights advocate Gary Ace said. “We understand that this may be tough for many people to get used to, but eventually this sort of thing will be acceptable, even comfortable, for many Americans.”
Many gay rights leaders indicate that the unorthodox methods employed in their legal battle show that this issue is a slippery slope in the courts. Lawyers have had to go up many back alleys, winning rights on technicalities instead of principle, and fighting to maintain control on an issue that could erupt at any moment into legal pandemonium.
The shifting nature of the law means that gays are being forced to remain in an awkward position. Gay rights leaders continue to work America’s opinions from the front while their lawyers take on the courts from the back, and the height of the legal and emotional battle is sure to reach a climax soon. But gays remain confident their rights will come.
