C'est Moi, Catie

One of my main reasons for beginning my blog was to become another voice for Marriage Equality in America – to be a proponent for the passage of gay marriage laws in every state. Though this issue is important enough to talk about all day, every day, I thought it would be best to bring up these points when something particularly interesting comes my way.

Today I came across a slew of videos shot of Maine citizens making arguments for and against a state Marriage Equality law back in April 2009. Most of the two to three minute speeches were beautiful, and to me, undebatable.

My praise for these brave speech-makers could constitute several posts in and of itself. However, the pride in me was let down when I came across an anti-marriage equality campaign video telling the story of “The Parker Family,” a family whose son “was taught to accept same-sex marriage” by way of a “diversity bookbag” sent home with him in Kindergarden. The reporter and the parents call the message in the bookbag – a one page anecdote about “Clifford and [his] partner, Henry,” who constitute a family.

While the campaign video expresses shock and heavy dismay, the characters never really explain what is so bad about teaching children to “affirm these relationships.” Apparently, these messages “really confuse kids.” I want to know what the campaign is really saying. Is this nuclear family with sad music playing in the background suggesting that homosexuality is a choice, and that their children can become gay through the “indoctrination” by their Kindergarden teachers? Why should these parents be notified by the school before these “types of things” are taught?

It seems to me that gay marriage is hugely oversexualized and clearly misunderstood by the general public – as this type of message was responsible for the passing of Proposition 8 and countless other amendments country-wide. When do children learn about love? When are they taught that they can achieve all their dreams? Is that when they also learn that only some of them can achieve their dreams of marrying the person they love? Or is that a harsher, more crushing reality that comes later on, when their parents decide it’s time?

This, folks, is propaganda. It is one side of an issue that exaggerates and clearly misinforms for a political agenda. I could go on and on here, but I think I’ll just let you watch the video.