Gay marriage. Yes, we are discussing this again.
Most Americans are under the impression that Republicans are anti-homosexual rights. While this may be true in a large number of members of the Republican Party, it most certainly is not true for all of them.
When you think of an 83-year-old Republican man who once served as Wyoming’s senator, a man who supports homosexual marriage probably doesn’t come to mind.
You would be wrong.
Alan Simpson, former U.S. Sen., recently recorded a commercial for Freedom to Marry, the campaign to win marriage nationwide. According to the Freedom to Marry website, they are “Driving the Roadmap to Victory nation strategy…by creating the climate for a Supreme Court victory by working on three tracks: growing the national majority for marriage, winning the freedom to marry in more states, and ending federal marriage discrimination.”
Part of their work is the commercial featuring Sen. Simpson.
The television ad displays snow-capped mountains with luscious pines, downtown Cody, a statue of a rifle toting man on horseback and, of course, the American flag.
Next the camera focuses on Simpson.
“I’m a Republican and the party’s basic core is government out of your life and the right to be left alone,” he says. “Whether you’re gay or lesbian or straight, if you love someone and you want to marry them, marry them.”
The brief message here is clear, though some of you may want to sit down for this.
Western values should align with same-sex marriage. What? Yes, I know, shocking isn’t it? But it’s true.
Having Simpson in the ad makes it credible in a way not many other politicians or celebrities could have. Featuring a former Republican Senator from Wyoming in this commercial makes a statement – it says Wyoming is ready for this, or at least well on its way.
As the one of most “red” states in the union, it sends the message that if Wyoming is ready to support marriage equality, why wouldn’t the rest of the country be ready?
When it officially became a state in 1890, Wyoming also made history by allowing women the right to vote. While the state is not the first in this current matter of equality, it should be jumping on the equality bandwagon. And hopefully the rest of the country will take notice.
I can only hope it isn’t too far behind. Whether you support marriage equality or not, we could all stand to take heed of Simpson’s words: “Live and let live.” It’s not our place to judge what makes other people happy –we should just be happy they are happy.
If you haven’t seen the Freedom to Marry commercial featuring Al Simpson, check it out. It is a step in the right direction for the Equality State.
