It is town meeting season here in New Hampshire, and many smaller towns have an article up for consideration by petition to ask for a state-wide vote on a constitutional amendment to define “marriage” in a way that negates the decision of the legislature last year. Some towns have passed this non-binding resolution; others have discarded it. I am happy to say that my town did the latter. Here is what I had to say to the meeting.
Mr. Moderator and citizens of Hollis. Thank you for the opportunity to speak to this issue.
On the day that the governor signed the gay marriage bill into law, I was proud to live in New Hampshire. Proud that our state chose to do the right thing using the legislative process and taking action through our elected representatives. No one can dismiss this change by claiming it is just judges exceeding their authority.
I believe that, in passing this legislation, the legislature was acting in the best traditions of New Hampshire where the rights of the individual are held in high esteem and we go the extra mile to be sure our citizens have the freedom to live their lives as they wish without unnecessary interference from government or other narrow interests.
I was proud again in January that the first gay marriage under the new law was celebrated at my church a few minutes after midnight of the New Year. I emphasize the word “celebrated”. It was indeed a joyous occasion, just as many weddings have been here and worldwide throughout history. Many members of the congregation attended, regardless of their own sexual preference or relationship status.
It pains me to think that there is the slightest possibility that the joy and fulfillment of marriage could again be denied to good citizens who, in this regard, wish for nothing more than most everyone here believes they are entitled to. It troubles me to think that there are those who would have us step backwards on the long road that we have been traveling as a nation toward true equality for all people.
I am confident that the judgment of history will say that we did the right thing in legislating marriage equality. I believe that 20, 30, 50 years from now, it will be unthinkable to outlaw gay marriage, just as we now find it unthinkable to outlaw interracial marriage or reinstate segregation.
As Martin Luther King Jr. said, “The arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice.” I ask that we all stand on the side of justice, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, and the right of all of our citizens to be treated equally and with respect under the law.
I oppose this resolution.
Thank you.
#1 by Sara Murphy on March 12, 2010 - 3:44 am
The following is what I said at the same town meeting:
_______________________________
I oppose the proposed warrant article to hold a statewide referendum on gay marriage. A referendum process is not appropriate for an issue of social justice and fundamental rights of the individual.
New Hampshire is the “Live Free or Die” state. We respect the rights of the individual as long as they do not infringe in any way on the rights of others. Who my neighbor choses to marry is their decision – it does not affect me in any way. It certainly does not in any way diminish my own marriage – of 42 years and going strong.
I’ve lived in Hollis for over 23 years. I love our beautiful town.
One of the things that I appreciate about Hollis is that we treat our neighbors with dignity and respect. Subjecting their right to marry to a popular vote would not be treating them with dignity and respect.
Please vote against this warrant article – in the interest of individual freedom, social justice, and treating our friends and neighbors with dignity and respect.
Thank You.
#2 by Louise on March 14, 2010 - 12:59 am
In Va with an Attorny General who has ruled that banning discrimination of gays and lesbians can’t be done by the state colleges because there is nothing in state law says so
On the other hand up the road in evil DC gays this week began celebrating weddings and guess what it’s economics because people having weddings spend oodles of money so it provides jobs!!
Congradulations to New Hamshire for continuing to practice true democracy through town meetings
#3 by Sterling Eanes on March 14, 2010 - 1:59 am
This is what I said at the Hollis town meeting about the attempt to vote on the definition of marriage:
I am Sterling Eanes and I live at 207 Depot Road in Hollis. I oppose this article for some very fundamental reasons.
Our Declaration of Independence lists among the “self-evident”, “unalienable” rights of all people, the right to the “Pursuit of Happiness”.
What constitutes happiness is a highly individual thing. For many of us, an important part of our Pursuit of Happiness includes marriage with a partner of our choice – finding someone to live with, to love, and to share joys and sorrows. My choice of partner is intensely personal depending on factors that only I can judge. My choice of partner doesn’t hurt anyone else or constrain anyone else’s choice of partner.
And since I’m not hurting anyone else, it is simply not ok for someone to demand a vote to define who I can marry. That amounts to imposing limits on my self-evident, unalienable right to my individual Pursuit of Happiness.
If rights were decided by popular vote there would likely be places in this country where some people would still be told to “sit in the back of the bus”.
I strongly believe that the people of the town of Hollis should vote against this article and its attempt to call for a popular vote to impose limits on some individuals’ Pursuit of Happiness. Let’s stay with the motto on our license plates and let all our citizens “Live Free” to pursue their happiness in their own way.
#4 by Dean Stevens on April 5, 2010 - 4:19 pm
Dan,
“The arc of the moral universe”….quote is actually much older than MLK. It’s from Theodore Parker, UU minister and abolitionist. I used it several times before realizing I was misattributing it to MLK. Best to you and your work, Dean
#5 by Dan Murphy on April 5, 2010 - 4:32 pm
Dean, Thanks for the info. I thought that was the case, but a bit of searching before I posted the piece didn’t turn up the previous attribution.