Essential Estrogen

Mona Shaw has an excellent post about the same-sex ruling on the Iowa City Press-Citizen site. I've pulled two paragraphs below, but the entire piece is well worth your time.

... Marriage laws matter in this mix. They matter because until we, as a people, regard the love and commitment between two members of the same sex as equal to and as worthy as that same commitment between two members of the opposite sex, we're bigots whether the ascription offends us or not. Either you believe we deserve equal treatment under the law, or you don't. For that matter either you stand for love and understanding, or you stand for hate and fear. Either you stand for peace and compassion, or you stand for war and cruelty.

It's time to admit now, that over the years I've become weary of those who seem to believe not being homophobic (or racist, etc.) is evidence of their superior character or largesse. (I'm speaking to everyone who's ever thought or said, "I don't have to support those people.") Caring and supporting equality for any oppressed class of people should not be qualifiers for compliments or praise; they are fundamental requirements for being a decent human being. ...