On Oct. 3, George W. Bush issued a proclamation declaring the
week of Oct. 12 through Oct. 18, 2003 Marriage Protection Week.
Bush makes it very clear in his statement that although he believes
Americans “must continue our work to create a compassionate,
welcoming society, where all people are treated with dignity and
respect,” this only applies to heterosexual couples, because
he very specifically defines marriage as a “union between a
man and a woman.”
He asserts, “Research has shown that, on average, children
raised in households headed by married parents fare better than
children who grow up in other family structures.” However,
research also shows that children of lesbian, gay, bisexual,
transgender parents fare just as well as children of heterosexual
parents; the issue is that of two-parent households, not that of
heterosexual-parent households. Allowing same-gender couples to
marry would not contradict this research; rather, it would merely
mean that more children would stand to fare better because their
parents are married.
Supporters and proponents of this proclamation have set up a Web
site outlining what they regard as the true purpose behind
Bush’s proclamation. It is very specifically a site spewing
hatred for LGBT families. This isn’t about protecting
marriage; if it were, there would be other targets. No, this is
very much an attack aimed directly at us.
It comes as no coincidence that the new “Marriage
Protection Week” comes on the heels of National Coming Out
Week, a week-long celebration of LGBT identity in the United
States. What Bush has essentially told us is this: “You had
your week; now get back into the closet.”
I agree that children might be better off in homes with two
parents, though it’s not my place to pass judgment on any
other family structure. However, Bush’s administration not
only judges family structures, but does it in a way that indicates
that those two parents must fit a certain profile, or else they are
not real parents. If same-gender parents and their children do not
qualify as a family unit, then what about children being raised by
grandparents, by aunts and uncles, or by adoptive parents? Do these
families, too, fall into the group denigrated by Bush’s
proclamation?
Why does Bush not attack the television marriage programs
sprouting up on network television? Shows like “Married by
America” and “Who Wants to Marry a Millionaire?”
for example, detract from the sanctity of marriage; these marriages
will not last because they are based on greed and desire for fame,
not mutual trust and love. They also send to America the message
that marriage is something to be taken lightly. Bush, however, lets
this type of marriage pass, placing it above the commitments of
LGBT couples because it’s still a marriage between male and
female parties.
Indeed, instead of saying, “Marriage is a union between
two people who share love and commitment,” he directs his
venom at the LGBT community by specifying, “Marriage is a
union between a man and a woman.” He doesn’t actually
say anything about love as it relates to marriage. Apparently,
that’s not what families are about.
This proclamation is particularly damaging in California, where
state senator Pete Knight continually attempts to overturn domestic
partnership legislation. This is a man driven by a hatred or fear I
cannot comprehend ““ his son is gay, his brother (now
deceased) was gay, and yet he fights to deny us our rights. Family
values? Clearly he doesn’t respect his own family, so how can
he respect mine? He wrote Proposition 22, and he now attempts to
overturn all LGBT-related civil rights and domestic partnership
legislation passed in the state of California. He is a hateful man,
and his values are not family values.
I don’t understand why politicians supposedly serving the
United States and California (e.g. Bush and Knight) neglect to meet
the needs of their constituents. I am a fifth-generation American.
I am a fourth-generation Southern Californian. I pay taxes, and my
future career will contribute to the greater good of American
society. Someday I will have children, and they too will be
Americans. Why, then, do I not deserve the same rights as any other
American ““ the right to marry the person I love and raise a
family? The right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness?
Apparently, under the Bush administration only heterosexual people
are created equal.
Concoff is a fifth-year communication studies and history
student.