rainhopperroo ([info]rainhopperroo) wrote,
@ 2009-05-27 02:17:00
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Current mood: angry
Current music:Depeche Mode - People Are People

Roo is hurt
The decision to uphold gay marriage has hit me hard. This comes near the anniversary of the passing of Pouchhopper and for me it strikes a personal note.

As many of you know throughout my short time with pouch I fought hard for him. I pushed hard to find a lawyer who would handle his case, I fought with everyone that I could to make sure that he got to see a doctor every day of my life with him I spent fighting and every day I heard the term "Immediate family or spouse only" and it hurt me. I had to accept it because it was a gay relationship and we were subhuman in the eyes of humanity but I did not care.

When pouch died I was left with nothing but memories. Some of you do not know how he died. He was misdiagnosed by a doctor. And it wasn’t something complex it was diabetes... fucking diabetes... They told him he was diabetic... then pulled the diagnosis back stating that it must have been a mistake. He died shortly after of a diabetic coma.

My world and his life was undone because a) a doctor made a wrong choice and b) I could not access his medical information or question ANY of the diagnosis (I tried) because we were not legally married.

I tried talking to a lawyer, I wanted this doctor to have his license stripped, and how could someone be that careless. I was told by several attorneys that because my relationship with him was not legally binding, there was nothing I could do. Even in the case of a civil union only the family members had the ability to bring a lawsuit against the doctor.

I made a promise to that roo that his ashes would not end up in California if he ever died and again I could not keep this promise. The decisions were made for me by bullshit politics and laws which no one truly understands the meaning of.

Yesterday, the same thing happened. People who do not understand what the meaning of love, marriage and commitment decided that because I am sub-human I do not deserve the rights afforded to "normal" couples because a fictional book written by someone with too much time on his hands said so thousands of years ago.

This isn’t about benefits or a title for me, it’s about rights. It’s about someone else telling me that because I was born a certain way I can’t do the same things everyone else on this planet takes for granted. Its discrimination and I have suffered because of it. The pain that I hold because of this bickering and bullshit is going to stay with me for the rest of my life. I have pain in my heart because a book says that I should be ashamed for who I am. I should be out repenting for this to every religion on the planet because I was born different.

For some this is about getting the same privileges that others enjoy, being married is a special thing. But for me it’s a chance to close a chapter in my life that is filled with so much hurt it’s indescribable. It’s a chance to save someone from experiencing the same pain that I have felt. For me this is personal.

I just... I can’t even describe how I feel.

I am ashamed to be a human at this point. How we can treat each other in this manner is beyond me. I watch humanity as it strolls through life shitting on everything around it and I wonder why. How can we look at the planet and thrash it, how can we look at each other and discriminate, how can we torture animals for fun? Why do we do this?

I have a few theories but no answers.

What went wrong in our heads? We will do everything we can to hold ourselves above all others at the expense of everything around us. There are people out there who would slit their children’s throats for 10 bucks and these are the same jerks who are telling me that I am immoral for loving another man.

I am sick of the excuses. Saying that the world is following fictional gods rules does not make it right or ok. It’s not going to take away the pain that I and others like me feel every day. This is wrong and only a handful of us are stepping up and saying that it’s wrong and if you look it’s usually the ones who have already felt the pain of discrimination.

If you have not had to deal with this, feel lucky. You cannot comprehend how simple words can ruin another person’s life. If I had been allowed to talk to pouch’s doctor and say "hey, don’t you think it’s a little strange for diabetes to just be there then not?" he might still be alive.

I am told that its just marriage and I've even tried to convince myself that it’s just some religious ceremony and I am better off without it. It’s not that simple for me anymore. The consequences of being different became very real a few years ago for me.

I am ashamed of my species. Every day we allow this to go on, we sit at our computers and think that fighting for the rights of human beings is a novel idea and hope that it goes well is another day that I hang my head in shame for what we are and what I am.




(38 comments) - (Post a new comment)


[info]marko_the_rat
2009-05-27 10:59 am UTC (link)
I wish there was something I could say, something I do to make it better.

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[info]rainhopperroo
2009-05-27 11:58 am UTC (link)
this is out of the hands of one person , This is a complete moral shift in society that needs to occur.

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[info]darkone238
2009-05-27 02:00 pm UTC (link)
Do you mind if I forward your story to people?

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[info]rainhopperroo
2009-05-27 02:03 pm UTC (link)
I wouldnt mind at all.

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[info]darkone238
2009-05-27 03:05 pm UTC (link)
Cool. I think it's important to show the real consequences of our actions as a state. To show that real people are hurt and in some cases real people die. It's not about a word, it's about our livelihood and being treated as humans.

If your story can change even one mind...

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[info]expandranon
2009-05-27 08:16 pm UTC (link)
I'll post it to my journal, too. It'll be mostly preaching to the choir, but ya never know. *big hugs for da roo* You've spoken with passion and eloquence. It makes me proud to know you.

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[info]rainhopperroo
2009-05-27 08:20 pm UTC (link)
hugs very tightly. Thanks Expy

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[info]lironess
2009-05-27 04:02 pm UTC (link)
I am depressed today about this, and other things, too. *Hugs*

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[info]rainhopperroo
2009-05-27 08:20 pm UTC (link)
hugs tightly

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[info]huepow00
2009-05-27 06:08 pm UTC (link)
*simply hugs a roo*

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[info]rainhopperroo
2009-05-28 10:48 am UTC (link)
hugs a bunny back

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[info]baddays
2009-05-27 06:22 pm UTC (link)
Sometimes a brush fire does sound like a great opportunity for smores. This is one of those times.

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[info]rainhopperroo
2009-05-27 08:42 pm UTC (link)
I would love to see a movement that gathers not just to fight for the rights of those that society casts a downward gaze upon, but a whole movement to change the majority that does not stop. a group of people that break off from the human race and say "screw you and your hate, we are going to go and evolve without you."

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[info]nerdlover
2009-05-27 07:10 pm UTC (link)
Found this from Dark Im sharing it as well. Hopefully someday we will all be equal.

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[info]rainhopperroo
2009-05-27 08:12 pm UTC (link)
thank you. Honestly this is something I hope for one day as well.

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[info]otaku_freak
2009-05-27 07:17 pm UTC (link)
Hey you don't know me but I'm Joes sister... and I read your story and I want you to know how much that whole situation angers me. I think that everyone has the same right to be as miserable as the rest of us... but I want you to know your story touched someone you don't even know and it shall be passed and it shall be remembered. I am so sorry for you loss. My heart aches for you...

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[info]rainhopperroo
2009-05-27 08:11 pm UTC (link)
hugs tightly. That means alot to me.

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[info]jup_reindeer
2009-05-27 07:17 pm UTC (link)
Humanity. The dream of it is to create a world better then that of Mother Nature. The reality is that it's a club/fraternity/close minded group/what-cha-ma-call-it. Each grouping lives by it's own set of rules and ways to see "life". As in a better life for those "Human" is the vast majority. Our Western Culture has fought and morphed hard throughout time to become the reining superiority force that restricts you.

In some respects, just be glad that you are a) Human and b) male and c) white. These three things, this Western Culture Club considers worthy of membership. Past that are demerits; restrictions towards the freedoms that this WCC has created. Want "their" help? Got to play by "their" rules.

Don't like "their" rules? Then, you've got to find loopholes, create a massive force that can yet morph the club's way of thinking yet more or find a whole 'nother club that has rules friendlier to your cause. Remember that this society used to see the mere fact of being born female to be reason enough for a demerit to sub-class. And, if your skin wasn't as white as could be...

And, in that, lay the problem. You might wind up with something far worse in the attempt.

Looking at history, it's sometimes for the best to forget looking and form a whole new club, altogether. That takes building things up from scratch. Indeed, no easy road. Take the medical practice. You wished for a medical firm that wouldn't deny you entry to see and speak for your mate. While seeking a rural doctor's practice might have been the answer, you could have also tried to build a doctor's office by finding a doctor that saw things your way. Not sure which, but I see this as being a very tall hill to hurdle over...or climbing Mt. Everest. And, that one's far easier then trying to legalize marriage.

There is hope. There is always hope that things will change. As long as there's always the division of Church and State, there is hope. But, that hope requires a will and a force, driving for change. A change to drive something considered sub-class today into freedoms, tomorrow. Else, women would still be unable to vote for anything and African-American would only live on American soil as an animal that looks like a Human.

The majority rules. If the majority rules wrong, change the majority.

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[info]jup_reindeer
2009-05-27 07:18 pm UTC (link)
Problem with that is like saying, "If you are poor, change your status to rich." Easy to say. Extremely tough to turn into reality.

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[info]rainhopperroo
2009-05-27 08:22 pm UTC (link)
thats just it. I dont want to thank the deity or scientific principle of whoever the hell or whatever the hell made us what we are. I dont want to embrace being white male and human...

I want to embrace being alive, and shareing that life with all of its diversity. There is this dividing line that must stop.

If you want me to point at a group and wish to be above them, I want to point at biggots and hate groups adn say "you are the minority, and you need to be like us"

And forced conformism isnt going to work either, people need to see that words have meaning. This is not a sticks and stones thing anymore.

The majority CAN be changed. If they cannot be changed then we need to make our own majority.

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[info]pixie_wyld
2009-05-27 08:24 pm UTC (link)
I found your story through a link on facebook from nerdlover.

This issue has been one that has driven me crazy since I was old enough to understand what being gay,lesbian, bi or transgendered was.

People are people, and separete but equal is nothing but words to try to convince people that is okay to treat someone differently. It is bullshit.

I have heard to many stories like yours, and it breaks my heart every single time. The protection that does exist, is not good enough. The fact that everything done can be so easily undone is plan wrong.

Marriage left the realm of being a religious institution when the government began giving those who were married rights and privileges that others did not have. The fact that a religious argument is still being used to defend marriage is preposterous and insulting.

I can't imagine the pain and suffering that you have gone through, so I wont say that I understand, because there is no way that I could.

What I will say is that I am outraged that situations like this exist at all. It shouldn't matter the gender of the person you love. What matters is that you love them and want to be with them and share your lives.

Everyone should have those rights, everyone should be able to love and be with who they want and to have their rights protected.

To be in a loving relationship and to have to live with the fear that if one is sick or dies the other could lose everything is downright cruel.

I hope each and everyday that every story like yours, is the last. That things will change and gays, lesbians, transgenders, non-genders, both gendered. Whatever you define yourself as, will have the rights that they Deserve as people.

You are not subhuman, and you deserve everything you wish and to share your life with your loves.

I am with you.

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[info]rainhopperroo
2009-05-27 08:34 pm UTC (link)
I hope one day we can say that the biggest threat to our society is a closed mind and a closed heart.

*hugs you and everyone who has been crossposting this tightly*

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[info]skanrashke
2009-05-28 01:15 am UTC (link)
That is absolutely ghastly. I'm sorry you had to break your posthumous promise to him because of legal bullshit. But as much of an outrage as it is, know that with the slow changing of viewpoints in this country(Hell look at Idaho. IDAHO for christ's sake! They grow potatoes and are as redneck as can be)- that the California decision is purely a political move. Once the judges realise that(Fairly soon) then all will be set right. It's too late for you to save him, or even claim his ashes- but find some small comfort that things will be set to right soon.
Also, please know that those who do not understand some things will always manufacture evidence to go against it. Right now the only thing they've got is "Well in the Old Testament(Which doesn't apply to Christians except as morality lessons) it says not to!". If that weren't in there, they'd find some idiotic backwashed law in subtext 1,000048484 of the penal code somewhere which would vaguely hint against it. Or bring up the founding father's sexualities or something. They're just suffering the injustices of their fathers and taking it out on people who don't deserve it. There's a great handful of us fiction-lovers ;p who are rooting for equal rights.

Anyways, this Bible thumping idiot will keep you in her prayers and hope your road will be smooth and your life fulfilling. Losing someone so close is very, very, very hard, and I'm sending you ALL my hugs.

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[info]rainhopperroo
2009-05-28 07:32 am UTC (link)
your hugs are well recieved.

and many roo hugs to you as well. Seeing the reaction of everyone who has read this post really made me smile when I needed it most.

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[info]skanrashke
2009-05-28 09:55 am UTC (link)
I am glad to hear it. That's one nice thing about furries- even though we fume and argue and tussel like mad during peacetime, when someone's hurting there's always a number of friendly arms and ears for them.
Let me know if you need an ear in future :)

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[info]rainhopperroo
2009-05-28 10:36 am UTC (link)
We are a family. We fight and squabble but we are there for eachother. Even if someone I absolutely cannot be around asks me for help I will drop everything and rush over to help.

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[info]mcmajik
2009-05-28 10:07 pm UTC (link)
Sir, you have captured exactly how I see humanity, and put it into better words than I could ever hope to, and I'm terribly sorry that you suffered at the hypocrisy and bigotry driven mass it has become.

Unfortunately, the majority of the worlds population believe this 2000 year old piece of fiction that prevents gay marriage. Someone once said to me "Man created god in his own image - arrogent, sexist, homophobic and violent."

I found this from a friend, who found it from a friend of his LJ, would you mind if I forwarded this story to others?

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[info]rainhopperroo
2009-05-29 12:15 am UTC (link)
Hugs,

Certainly. Post it anywhere you like.

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Hope you feel better.
[info]pawsie
2009-05-29 12:45 am UTC (link)
I do believe they are going to over turn prop 8. It's going to take time, but it'll be a very bloody battle.

Personally, I don't think it reflects the inhumane side of our people.. but simply the unawareness and ignorance of common 'folks'. The majority of people don't simply scream out "Gays have no rights". Normal folks simply don't understand the definition of rights (Benefits by law the government can't take away). On a whim, they go against something due to misinformation "they're going to teach kids about gay sex in school, do you vote for that?"

Considering the irony how African Americans help push Prop eight (gay marriage was legalized using the exact same justification to legalize biracial marriage), it's all technical political bully-poo to grab at religious people's fears when none really exist.

Though.. if you have a civil union.. my understanding was it was suppose to have the same benefits.. if not.. that's something you can take to a news paper or tv network.

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Re: Hope you feel better.
[info]darkone238
2009-05-29 03:50 pm UTC (link)
Some differences (from wikipedia):
While domestic partners receive most of the benefits of marriage, several differences remain. These differences include, in part:

* Couples seeking domestic partnership must already share a residence, married couples may be married without living together.
* Couples seeking domestic partnership must be 18 or older, minors can be married before the age of 18 with the consent of their parents.
* California permits married couples the option of confidential marriage, there is no equivalent institution for domestic partnerships. In confidential marriages, no witnesses are required and the marriage license is not a matter of public record.
* Married partners of state employees are eligible for the CalPERS long-term care insurance plan, domestic partners are not.
* There is, at least according to one appellate ruling, no equivalent of the Putative Spouse Doctrine for domestic partnerships. [3]

In addition to these differences specific to state law, should the Defense of Marriage Act be found unconstitutional or repealed, married persons in California might enjoy all the federal benefits of marriage, including Constitutionally-required recognition of their relationships as marriages in the rest of the United States under the Full Faith and Credit Clause. [4][dubious – discuss]

In addition to these differences specific to the United States, some countries that recognize same-sex marriages performed in California as valid in their own country, (e.g., Israel [5]), do not recognize same-sex domestic partnerships performed in California.

Many supporters of same-sex marriage also argue that the use of the word marriage itself constitutes a significant social difference,[citation needed] and in the majority opinion of In Re Marriage Cases, the California Supreme Court agreed, [4] suggesting an analogy with a hypothetical that branded interracial marriages "transracial unions".


In the end, even a same sex marriage here isn't fully accepted due to DOMA, but at least if DOMA is repealed then marriages will gain rights while domestic partnerships will not.

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Re: Hope you feel better.
[info]rainhopperroo
2009-06-23 04:46 am UTC (link)
I wonder, if marriage is so sacred, and such a spiritual thing, should not divorce be illegal by these same rules?

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Re: Hope you feel better.
[info]darkone238
2009-06-23 04:55 am UTC (link)
Yes, it should be.

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[info]grygon
2009-05-29 04:37 am UTC (link)
I'll be passing this on as well. I'm not so good with words in situations like this... and whenever I think I am, I'm actually usually very disorganized and assuming, and just leave peoeple very confused.

So... *hug*

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[info]rainhopperroo
2009-05-29 02:09 pm UTC (link)
big hugs. I really appreciate it.

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[info]vampirelupus
2009-05-29 04:02 pm UTC (link)
I don't even know you, but I found this link through another LJ, and I am touched by your story.

It scares me to think about things like that because my gf and I are still in college and it's only a matter of time before we face the real world and may have to deal with something like this. I can only hope that the world will change so I don't have to hear another story like this from anyone. I'll be sharing this in my LJ as well.

I am sorry for your loss. *wolf hugs*

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[info]rainhopperroo
2009-06-23 04:44 am UTC (link)
there are alot of us who are going to fight so that the next generation does not have to go through what we went through.

one day soon, you will be able to enjoy the same rights and privilages as every other person on this planet

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[info]rickwoods
2009-05-29 04:19 pm UTC (link)
Yet another you don't know who saw this and will be passing the message.

*hugs*

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[info]rainhopperroo
2009-06-23 04:42 am UTC (link)
hugs tight.

(Reply to this) (Parent)


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