[Blog/Commentary] [Canada] Why Should People Be Allowed to Vote on Whether Others Can Have Equal Rights?

[Stephanie Stevens]

Montreal Gazette, Canada


TRANS TALK

Why Should People Be Allowed to Vote on Whether Others Can Have Equal Rights?

May 10, 2012. 10:52 pm • Section: Trans Talk

Posted by: Jillian Page


I must confess I am a little perplexed by the system in the United
States in which citizens can vote on whether other citizens can have
equal rights? What’s up with that? It seems discriminatory by its very
nature.

Please don’t think I am picking on the United States . . . but that
country has taken it upon itself to lecture other countries on LGB&T
rights, for which I applaud it. But it just seems sort of hypocritical
that some 36 states in the U.S. have allowed its citizens to vote on
the equal rights of others, and to oppress them. How can the United
States then criticize anti-LGB&T policies in countries like Russia,
Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran and African nations?

Meanwhile, President Obama and the White House are taking a stand. I
wonder if they might consider revising the whole referendum idea so
that it could never be used to oppress the rights of others.

To digress for a moment: Why haven’t the held referendums on whether
tobacco should be banned?

As for public votes on such things as same-sex marriages, 36 states
may have been opposed, but that by no way means the majority of
citizens in those states are against same-sex marriages. First, the
numbers only represent those who bothered to vote, and it seems likely
that those who are vehemently opposed would take the time to vote. I’m
betting the majority of those who didn’t vote — and I would think that
would be the majority of citizens in every one of those states — do
support same-sex marriage. Perhaps they are just insulted by the whole
process.

The whole idea of asking citizens to vote on whether someone else
should have equal rights is absurd. It’s discriminatory by its very
nature, and should be stopped.

Just my two cents worth.

I gotta tell you, though: despite the ice and snow we get up here in
Canada half the year, this is still one of the greatest countries in
the world. We may have our problems, but bigotry and discrimination
against gays and lesbians on the state (provincial) level is not one
of them. We have evolved, and I am so proud of Canada.

‘O Canada, glorious and free . . .

Jillian

P.S. Am just reading a report
<http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57432285/lesbian-seeking-marriage-license-arrested-in-nc/>
about a lesbian being arrested in North Carolina today after an act of
civil disobedience — i.e. she asked for a marriage licence, was turned
down, then was arrested for refusing to leave the government office.
So sad . . .

The world is watching.


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