Listen, Dammit.

It's happening. Right now. In California. The fall of our society.

People of the same sex are getting married.

Listen. Listen hard. You'll hear something: The fabric of our world ripping apart.

Can you hear it? Listen again. Just below the clinking of the champagne glasses. It's there. I know it.

Maybe it's beneath the speeches and the well-wishes and the congratulations. Keep listening.

Maybe it's beneath the laughter.

Our lives are being torn apart, I know it! Keep listening.

No, that's not it. That's kissing. You can't tell kissing from the upending of everything our country stands for? Boob.

Listen harder. Listen past the sound of children knowing that their parent's bond is now legal and binding. Listen past the sound of couples being granted their rights. Listen, dammit!

It's there, beneath the words of ministers and justices and officiants, beneath the pledges of love.

If only people would stop clapping, I know we could hear it better.

Comments

[R]

so you had to go and write something all funny and touching, didn't you. Damn you, sir!

(*sniff*)

[Joy]

You'd like Roy Zimmerman's song Defenders of Marriage.

[Chickenpig]

This post was beautiful. I don't know if you intended it to be a poem, but it certainly reads like one. My cousin and her boyfriend tied the knot on Saturday. I wonder if they could feel their marriage being cheapened by the happiness of thousands of gay couples...somehow I doubt it.

[Liza]

Thanks again, LD, for your light and highly entertaining take on this issue. I wish a trip to California was in the cards for my partner and I, but between the toddler and being 6 months pregnant, I don't know when that might happen.

And LOL to Sadia and Lunasea.

[Burgh Baby]

*applauds*

[Leith]

This was enough to make me stop lurking, too. Thanks for saying it better than I ever could (although with just about the same amount of sarcasm).

[Nicole]

But--but---but...if TEH GAYZ can get married, that would mean that marriage isn't about procreation! And we all know that's all that marriage is designed for. Won't somebody think of the (lack of) children?

Seriously, though...Great post and exactly what I've said (if not nearly so eloquently) for ages.

[bryan]

I felt the same way. It was like satan himself was screwing my wife...and me...and my gay dog.

http://www.sympathypain.com/the-gay%e2%80%a6/

[Brian]

Dude, Bryan, did you really just say that? That might just be the awesomest comment I've ever read.

[Liz]

That was amazing. I never post comments, but I had to on this one. You're my hero.

[heidi]

GREAT post. I hear ya :-)

[MadWomanMeg]

Beautifully written. Very eloquent and full of all the right things. I personally don't understand the kafuffle over gay marriage...but I too wrote my own (not so eloquent) blog post about it.

http://mindofamadwoman.blogspot.com/2008/05/clean-up-stage-left.html

You have captured the feelings of so many people here. Well done! I love reading your blog.

[Stewbie]

YAY!!! Another reason why I love reading your blog!

[Jamie]

Ding! Ding! You win!
Love the post!

[Victoria]

You just gave me goosebumps! :)

[Polly]

You are artful, artful, artful, LD. You take the pithy post and make of it a sonnet. Can't even say any more, I'm so moved.

All us folks are just plain lucky to have you writing.

[Abbey Leigh]

Love it. Thank you.

[RonZ]

This is an awesome post--but the next step is to get involved with a state organization leading the way for Marriage Equality.

So, what are you waiting for???

In NY, we have www.MarriageEqualityNY.org, and in being a volunteer for 5 years I can definitely say we need the man power.

If you are outside of NY, go to www.MarriageEquality.org to find out how to get involved in your state.

[loren]

Oh man, is this what people have been predicting?!? California better be careful or the Bush administration will find a way to break it off of the mainland.

Congrats to all the newlyweds! Now if only Minnesota would follow suit so my cousin could get hitched already.

[LizK]

Thank You. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
I want to send this post to the county clerks of the two California counties (my home county included!) who have decided they will stop performing ANY weddings to avoid having to marry same-sex couples.
Thank you.

[Dee]

This is AWESOME! I am going to put this up on my blog (credited of course). I hope you don't mind!

Thanks for this...

[Polly]

Phooey! I left a comment some time ago, but it looks like instead it left the desktop and wandered off somewhere other than your comments stream.

I really could say so little, since you've said so much so beautifully in so few lines. But I do recall thanking you, and conveying something like "Brother, you make a sonnet of the humble genre 'post.'" Really. Newbies & pretenders take note.

[ZigZagMama]

The fabric of my life is certainly ripping...

Up until now, I never had to worry that my beloved baby sister (who is, devoutly and dearly, lesbian) would run off and elope...

(We live in California.)

I've spent much of the last week phoning her.

"You aren't filing for a marriage license, right now, are you?"

"You know, I really like Lindsay, but its only been three months. Three months!"

And finally,

"Do not, under any circumstances, run off and get hitched at city friggin' hall...I want to be the Maid of Honor, and your nephew is carrying the rings! Damnit."

Rip. Rip. Rip.

A little happy tear...

I finally, get to be as nosy and obnoxious as every other older sister!

[Kat]

Ugh. I agree.

[Bec]

I sent that along to pretty much everyone I know. I raise my martini to you, my friend.