Gay All The Time

It is certainly interesting times in the world today. Aside from the all the violence out there what is interesting to note is that Australia’s States are passing state laws granting same sex rights despite opposition from the Federal Government and in Rome, the Italian Senate is urging for same sex union legalization as well. While back in the United States, the country is still gathering petitions to deny Gays those same rights.

The South Australia parliament passed legislation Thursday granting same-sex couples most of the state rights accorded to opposite-sex married couples. (see Story)

Rather interesting to note, that even down under they get it. Just as Liberal leader Dion in Canada noted, Rights are for everyone, the same concept is echoed in Australia as well.

The bill passed 16 – 3 in the upper house, bringing South Australia in line with the country’s other states. It covers property ownership, inheritance and hospital visitation rights. (see story)

In Canada the racist government of Stephen Harper found its support for re-opening the debate less than when the bill was originally passed by the Canadian Parliament. Then the bill had passed by a narrow margin, however the vote today was 175 to 123 against re-opening the issue. A clear signal that the other political parties, representing about 70% of Canadian voters, feel the issue of same sex marriage has been decided, and decided properly.

Yet in the United States churches are openly breaking from those who advocate equality. Two of the oldest churches in Virginia are expected to leave the Episcopal Umbrealla over the issue of sexuality, including the ordaning of a Gay Bishop.

Parishioners who support a split say they can no longer abide what they see as moral backsliding by the Episcopal national leadership, marked most starkly by the 2003 consecration of the first openly gay bishop, V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire. (see story)

However what I find most interesting is that in Rome, the Italian Senate has passed a motion asking the government to get a law out recognizing same sex couples and granting them rights currently denied them.

The motion cited “the growing debate within politics and public opinion concerning common law unions and the rights and duties stemming from them,” and said that the bill should “recognize the rights, including regarding taxes, of persons in de facto relationships”. (see story)

The country that hosts the Vatican City State and the Pope, is moving away from the racist pronunciations of Pope Benedict, and is doing what I would call the true Christian thing. After all, according to history Christ was the first to reach out for the tax collectors, the sick, the shunned. That is what his ministry was about and now it isn’t his church leading that fight, but is his people.

Strange world isn’t it? I mean his church is the one major force opposing equality for a minority, and just as his word was spread despite torture and death, it is still reaching beyond the rhetoric. People are seeing for themselves, using their FREE WILL to choose doing what is right, as opposed to satisfying bigots and racists.

Maybe the world isn’t all the screwed up? Maybe too, one day, the United States will join the rest of the world, and realize that equality is more than words on a tattered old piece of paper, that is something that burns in the hearts of people, everywhere. That equality is something you can only deny for so long, before freedom wins out. After all, it only took 70 years before Russians turfed communism, so whats a few more years to wait before Americans grow up and join the rest of the world?