To Boldly Go

Just as a friend thought enough of my post about the Cali Supremes decision on gay marriage and Latinos to re-post it in its entirety, I can't say that I can improve on mole333's post over at the fabulous Culture Kitchen. Nothing like the meeting of geekery and social justice.

Now that the California Supreme Court (all but ONE of whose judges were appointed by Republican Governors, mind you) has declared marriage equality Constituional, we can congratulate George Takei (better known as Mr. Sulu in the original Star Trek) and Brad Altman for their upcoming marriage.

Photo from George Takei.com.

I should note that when non-controversial (which often means "safe-seeming to your Average American) do controversial things, it breaks barriers better than when controversial people do controversial things. The death of Rock Hudson from AIDS made it acceptable in America to die of AIDS. That may sound strange to many, but before Rock Hudson died of AIDS, I remember many people who died suddenly "after an illness" and no one would dare speak the name of the illness. It may have been Magic Johnson who made it okay to LIVE with AIDS in America, but Rock Hudson taught America to accept AIDS as something we didn't have to speak of in mere whispers.

Perhaps the marriage of likeable (and "safe-seeming to the average American") George Takei and his parnter of 21 years (longer term than the vast majority of "traditional" marriages) can break down barriers better than the marriage of someone like Ellen DeGeneres could.

Congratulations to George and Brad.

Congrats indeed. They're going early, but many are following.

Comments

[Kiko Jones]

"Perhaps the marriage of likeable (and "safe-seeming to the average American") George Takei and his parnter of 21 years (longer term than the vast majority of "traditional" marriages) can break down barriers better than the marriage of someone like Ellen DeGeneres could."

Aside from her well-known sexual orientation, you don't get any more white bread-mainstream-unthreatening-lowest common denominator than DeGeneres. Which begs the question, how exactly is she more controversial than George Takei? Or is the average American more threatened/disgusted/repulsed/less sympathetic (take your pick) to lesbians than gay men? Bad example...

[Caro]

Not quite sure what your point is, Kiko. Yeah, Ellen is extremely non-threatening. And she's marrying a hottie! It's not a contest of who's less threatening and more likely to "normalize" gay marriage. Just that Sulu is a pretty good'un to do that. And yes, there are differences between men and women. Most of the more virulent opposition to gay marriage has been around images of two men together.

[Kiko Jones]

Well, just off the top of my head, if non-celebrity gay couples that people in every day life could relate to, that weren't from cities where gays are routinely accepted were to tie that knot, then that could demonstrate and provoke a new attitude. But celebrity couples from LA, SF, NY etc? That's expected.

As for "the more virulent opposition to gay marriage has been around images of two men together", that may be the case. But I'd bet very good money those people are really not cool about lesbians getting married, either.