Make the Yuletide Gay

From the Illinois State Senate comes this video of State Senator Ricky Hendon speaking on the issue of gay Civil Unions. In it, he delivers an important message for his opposition on the issue:

He makes an important point, one that I’ve written about here previously: that there’s heavy discrimination and homophobia in the gay marriage debate disguised under a thin, disingenuous veil of excuses.

Firs it’s hate the sin, not the sinner. Barring that it becomes the argument of a “sacred” institution, which is bunk considering no religion on this planet has or ever could claim ownership over the institution of marriage and that the statement usually falls out of the mouths of insecure adultering politicians (and more than a few  closet cases). Then, when opting for the faulty compromise of Civil Unions, the issue becomes monetary, with concerns about pensions and other nonsense.

Thankfully there are politicians like Sen. Ricky Hendon who will at least have the decency to call people out on a practice that bears a similarity to those in the 1960s that put roadblocks in front of Civil Rights with the excuse that it was “too soon” and that desegregation would cause more harm than good. It’s a cowardly form of bigotry, and I for one wish our own State of New York had more people like Hendon to stand up to the Ruben Diaz’s of the Chamber and say “enough’s enough.”

What does this have to do with Christmas?

Very little admittedly, at least on the surface. I can only tie it in with my own personal views and feelings towards the holiday, which is about the love and appreciation one shows towards the company of all those in your life – friends or family, gay or straight, regardless of background or affiliation or practices. Because I wish for a Christmas in my lifetime where people who have been so kind in their friendship and shown me great charity are not viewed as a “sub-culture” and pushed aside in life and society; when holiday parties can occur where no mention is made by an individual of a nuptial or other rights that are restricted to someone else in the room.

No, it’s not a social justice holiday, but it is a holiday that is focused and marketed on the better angels of the human spirit. In that spirit, I share with you the above video and these thoughts to reflect on.