BISEXUALS OVERLOOKED IN THE DEBATE OVER EQUAL MARRIAGE RIGHTS: From OutInToronto.com

[Oh, you think? --E]

In the hundreds of stories written about 'gay marriage' in recent months, one group of people deeply affected by the issue has been left out: bisexuals. According to the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, this omission has not only made the record factually incomplete, but has helped contribute to an oversimplification of an emotional-laden and complex issue.

For example, when the Washington Post wrote about the first same-sex couple to marry in Massachusetts on May 17, 2004, its front-page headline read, "A Carefully Considered Rush to the Altar; Lesbian Pair Wed After 7 Years Together," referring to Robyn Ochs and Peg Preble, but the headline was wrong. One of the two, Robyn Ochs, is not only bisexual but a co- founder of the Bisexuality Resource Center and one of the nation's most prominent bisexual leaders for more than 20 years. ...

"Same-sex marriage is more than a lesbian or gay issue. The marriage issue is a big deal for bisexuals who haven't found their life partner yet," said Toby Adams, Chair of the Placer County Chapter of Marriage Equality California. "On a first date, with everything else going through your mind, who wants to be thinking, 'So if this is The One, I get to look forward to either (a) A life of wedded bliss, or (b) A life of second-class citizenship, depending on what the sex that date happens to be.'" ...

"The opponents of marriage equality consistently seek to reduce this emotional and complex issue to straight versus gay, good versus evil, religiously-blessed love versus mere sex," said Matt Foreman, Task Force Executive Director. "In reality, marriage is about much more than gender and sexual orientation, it is much more than a package of civil rights and responsibilities, and it is about much more than sex. Highlighting bisexuals in the debate underscores all of this and shows that love and commitment are wonderfully complex and multi-dimensional."

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posted by Eve at 8:46 PM | link

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