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Before we store away all of our signs, buttons, label stickers and flyers promoting equality, let's keep in mind that our opponents are not yet giving up, not totally. Burt Cohen's Blogpost reminds us of that, and if you "Google News," you will see some of the hate-filled responses about what New Hampshire has done.
The National Organization for Marriage (NOM?) raises its money by keeping the fear going, and they have already threatened to go to the cities and towns throughout New Hampshire and ask local governments to voice their opposition to the new law as it goes into effect on January 1, 2010. Then they plan to use any momentum they gain from that effort in the November, 2010 election. Target: Governor John Lynch and New Hampshire Legislators, THEN they'll go after the new marriage equality law.
I have no doubt they have the financial resources to carry out their threat, and since it means more fundraising opportunities for them, they also have that motive. Money can buy more money, and fear can open checkbooks. We can see from the past couple of months what kind of advertisements they can run -- making people fearful of "the gathering storm."
So we need to keep ourselves alert and active. I don't think any of our cities or towns would pass resolutions opposed to marriage equality. The outsiders who are part of the National Organization for Marriage don't know New Hampshire people, or the New Hampshire Way.
Nevertheless, part of our job during the next six months will be to make sure that the process of marriage equality occurs smoothly. I'll be meeting with some state officials, as I did two years ago for the implementation of Civil Unions, to be sure the effective date of the new law comes without logistical problems.
The smiles of joy and happiness that will be in pictures in daily and biweekly newspapers throughout our state will go far at making it clear to our New Hampshire residents that saying "yes" to marriage equality was a good thing to do.
It may be true that those who spew hate can scare up more hate.
One of my local newspapers has an editorial about the marriage equality "controversy". According to the headline, they don't think it's an issue.
The idea that allowing gays to legally marry would somehow destroy "traditional" marriage is a sad commentary on the politics of fear.
To the fearful foes of marriage equality:
They are not asking your church to marry them. They are not even asking your church to approve of their marriages.
Once gay marriage is the rule of law, and once a bit of time has passed, we'll get over our fear of that, too, and discover that gay couples can make great marriages, great neighbors and, yes, great parents.
It's all about love.
I've read that hate is not the opposite of love, fear is.
I hope all State Senators, Republican and Democrat have no fear behind their votes on HB436. A decision based on fear is usually the wrong one.
