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Loading ...Prop 8 Exclusive: Young gay marriage activist leads national protests
She argues, “The minute we say we are going to boycott the LDS, for example, we stray. It is time we take back the conversation and do it responsibly. There is already too much finger pointing.
“Not to be get Barack Obama on you, but we have to reach across the party lines. Obama won because he met John McCain with respect. And John McCain lost because he did not meet Barack Obama with respect.”Balliett lives this brand of respect. At her own nuptials, she and her betrothed were mindful that certain family members would be traveling not only great physical distances but also great philosophical differences to share in the ceremony.
“It was very important for us to have as many loved ones present at our wedding. Since we can’t have the laws of our own government bind us together for life, we needed to have the laws of our family bind us together for life.
“In marriage, God and family keep us accountable. But government is supposed to provide the rights to help us stay accountable. If we are outside of Washington state, for example, and one of us goes into the hospital, the absence of those rights makes it impossible to be able to take care of each other and to live up to the commitments we have made to one another,” she says.
And with this simple, yet thoughtful assertion, this passionate 26-year-old has managed to reframe the entire marriage debate. The framework is respect.
For in acknowledging the role of religious community ‐ or at least personal spiritual choice ‐ in the marriage debate, Balliett defers not out of fear, but out of honor.
“The government has to provide the rights,” she says. “The churches should define what they want to call those rights. But any citizen engaging in a consensual relationship with someone they want to spend the rest of their life with should have to choose the church that is going to give them the type of marriage they wish to have.”
With the passing of four anti-gay measures, this discussion has only begun to hit its stride.
For now, Balliett must keep eyes on the prize: To bring the discourse to a national level through a groundswell of fresh, young activism. The first test of Join the Impact’s impact will be measured by the turn out for this weekend’s protests at city halls across America.
And Amy Balliett? She’ll be in Seattle Washington: “I will be there organizing volunteers and sitting back and watching…” she says. What she may see is the first of many tipping points throughout a very long debate.
Kate X Messer is the Senior Features Editor and “Gay Place” blogger at The Austin Chronicle, in Austin, Texas.
This is awesome! I will attend the protest in Baltimore on Saturday. Thank you, Amy and Willow for putting this together!
Our voices will be heard and we will eventually achieve equality. Our government is to protect the minority from the tyranny of the majority, but they must be reminded that this is their duty.
Another straight guy that will be out there Wednesday. I forwarded the link to all my friends on MySpace today.
It is what is right and fair. Simple. Together, we WILL win this.
Thank you Amy & Willow, you done good!!
It really angers me not just how the Californians voted on Proposition 8, but more on the WHY. Making the majority decide on the fate of the minority is not Democracy but TYRANNY. The life experiences and realities of the LGBTs is not something those who voted for Prop. 8 experienced. This is just them imposing their morals and beliefs to all.
- Marlon Lacsamana
Philippines
I was raised Mormon, but am no longer. I know how Mormons operate and what they want. It is absolutely necessary to put pressure on the Mormons for their leadership role in passing Prop 8.
enough is enough i was in the HRC website a few times this week and a big fat NOTHING shouldnt they be directing us on what to do now and showing leadership afterall we have taken matters into our own hands we just need to stay focused but take no crap any more the push also needs to be for new clearer laws holding churches accountable for the hatred they spread
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9f8YE3YtAUU
Homosexuality is not a choice.
Nor is it a deficiency. The only deficiency associated with this topic is the discrimination against a gay or lesbian person simply for being who they are.
I am a man; I didn’t choose to be a man.
I am straight; I didn’t choose to be straight.
My wife is a woman; she didn’t choose to be a woman.
My friend Joshua is black; she didn’t choose to be black.
My friend Ting-Ting is Asian; she didn’t choose to be Asian.
My friend Steve is Hispanic; he didn’t choose to be Hispanic.
And my sister Lisa is a lesbian. She didn’t choose to be a lesbian.
She did choose to build a life together with Eileen and to have a baby together. They did choose, after nineteen years, to marry last month ” exercising the same equal right my wife and I were afforded nineteen years ago.
And their family is as loving as is my family. Their foundation is as stable as is my families. Their child is as exceptional as are my children. Their contribution to society is as valuable as is my families.
Their marriage does not impact nor diminish nor subtract from my marriage in any way.
It’s a travesty that the passage of Proposition 8 has stripped their equal rights away.
It’s not right. It’s not fair. It’s not American.
Please share this video and message with your family and friends.
We all need to keep the pressure on and never relent! We cannot afford to back down. The bigoted and hateful evangelical christians are teaming up with mormons and catholics to further take away OUR RIGHTS! Read about their plans here http://news.lavenderliberal.com/2008/11/11/war-on-gays-evangelical-attack-plan-outlined/
WE MUST NEVER LET UP UNTIL WE GET THE RESPECT AND EQUALITY WE DESERVE!!!
@Amy “The churches should define what they want to call those rights.”
Amen. I’ve lately been saying “holy matrimony is the province of the church. Marriage, however, is a civil marker of relationship, trust, mutuality and commitment.”
And anyone wanting a church home that welcomes you and supports your same sex marriage? Check out Unitarian Universalism.
Peace.
Nice Job Ladies.
Ya’ll have been able to do what the HRC has failed to achieve for decades.
lesbians should b able 2 b married.nw that we cant alot of lesbiansgays lgbt are heartbroken. Everyone should b treated equal
Great job Amy and Willow!!!
The momentum you have created is amazing. We tracked over 200 visitors to our website from JoinTheImpact site within 12 hours of posting our info. Wow!
We will be doing our part in Eugene, OR. I am truly excited about what will be created out of this national movement.
Thank you for getting it started!
Amazing!!! I am tired of the finger pointing and ready to just fight back. We have waited for our existing leadership to do something useful. The HRC has failed us on soooo many levels even though we have given so much money to them. Where are they? Have they spread the word about the protest? We need to DEMAND new or better leadership and looks like we have a good rep. for the job. Well done ladies. Can’t wait to see the massive turnout – I’ll be in Denver with my family waving our gay flag!
Useful and inspiring information!
I’ve joined the impact! Can’t wait for Saturday! Lets make some noise!
I was wondering who was behind this…..Well, kudos to you Amy & Willow! I’m doing my part by spreading the word and mobilizing in the burbs of Chicago. I can’t wait to see the crowds congregate across the country. We have waited long enough for civil rights. We can’t sit back and wait for society to be “OK” with gay people. We need to demand basic human rights and this is the time to do it! See you Saturday!