The Queer Question

Justice and equality rang loudly in the state of California yesterday after Judge Walker announced that Proposition 8 was unconstitutional and thus overturned the legislation that defined marriage as being between only one man and one woman.

LGBTQs and their allies celebrated across the country, taking their joy to the streets to proclaim loudly that every person deserves the right to marry. It was a great day, not only to be a California, but definitely a great day to be queer. I definitely celebrated from my new home in Massachusetts, but as a Californian, I was more than excited and proud to be a part of the Golden State.

However the fight for marriage equality is not over. Not even in the state of California. Proponents of the marriage ban already filed an appeal and they will continue to work towards stripping same-sex couples of their right to marry one another. The fact that every Californian now has the right to marry is not good enough for Prop. 8 supporters. Therefore, they have to do whatever they can to ensure that every Californian is not treated equally.

I was taken back when I came to the realization that I stand there and celebrate Judge Walker's decision, but that decision isn't good enough. My right to be treated equally under the law is still threatened. By the mere fact that we are queer, our citizenship is called into question; thus raising "The Queer Question."


I raise the concept of "The Queer Question" after thinking about "The Jewish Question," which essentially asked whether or not Jews should be emancipated and be recognized and treated as full-citizens.  We are all aware of Hitler's solution and answer to "The Jewish Question;" not only should Jews not be full-citizens, they shouldn't even exist. I am not suggesting that a new Holocaust is brewing that will exterminate all the homosexuals (lets pray that we're a society that's more civil and loving than that), but what I am positing is that a similar question is now raised: Should lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, etc., individuals be recognized and treated as full-citizens?

"The Jewish Question" started as a question of citizenship and resulted in a question of humanness. At the rate that I witness fundamentalist Christian groups and homophobic institutions reacting to the LGBTQ community, I pray that our humanness is never called into question. I know that each of us are  fearfully and wonderfully made. If we're able to recognize the human-worth of each and every individual, we should be willing to treat everyone equally and fairly.

Legislation like California's Proposition 8 is a blatant response of "NO!" to the "The Queer Question". The Question will be the heart of the Prop. 8 case as it is taken to the court of appeals. I just ask that we, as LGBTQ individuals, be seen as real people, with real emotions, and with real families.

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