| From: | Erik Jameson <erikj@****.COM> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Re: Same-Sex Marriage in 205X (kinda rambles, sorry) |
| Date: | Wed, 13 May 1998 13:24:19 -0400 |
>I'd considered posting to the list about this a while ago,
>sexual attitudes (of any type) are a fascinating topic, if
>a somewhat dangerous one in some respects. (It is far too
>easy to upset people with stuff like this).
True. Which is why I really hope that we can keep this clean and
flame-free. Like I said before, I'm checking my own prejudices at the
electronic door and I expect everyone else can also.
>I'm of the opinion that legally, same-sex marriage will
>probably become a reality - at least in some states <here
>in Springfield, MO, heart of the bible belt, I really
>doubt it would happen quickly>. European countries other
>than Britain tend to be moving that way as well (I'm
>English, so its okay for me to UK-bash. <grin>). If
>nothing else, I hope they sort out the current legal
>quagmire whereby you can get married in Hawaii (same-sex
>marriage is legal there, IIRC - New Jersey
>has also considered it, I don't know the result, its been
>2 years since I studied this type of law) - go to another
>state, and not be legally married. (Applies to some other
>countries, too).
But you also have states and local governments banning same-sex marriage,
Colorado being one of them as I recall.
I'm afraid that Shadowrun
>would feature homophobia. I also tend to suspect that the
>usual suspects would proflagate it - Alamos 2K spring to
>mind, along with the other unsavoury racist groups <who,
>in the words of one of my players, "probably want to make
>anything more advanced than the Missionary position
>illegal!">. (I'm not saying these are the only people who
>hold prejudices; they are just the most obvious. It never
>ceases to amaze me how often people turn out to have
>little prejudices, no matter how decent they seem).
True, all of that. I think it's quite amusing that the majority of US
states that describe as illegal things like anal sex (sodomy) and even oral
sex. It's extremely rare that they are ever enforced, but no one has
bothered to remove those laws.
> I also suspect that there won't be laws passed
>making homophobia illegal in the same way that there have
>been for certain racial issues (I don't think they apply
>to the Shadowrun world, though). I just can't see UCAS/CAS
>seeing this as an issue in the complex/depressing world
>of the 2050s - and definitely not during the chaos of the
>previous 50 years.
Well, it would be impossible to make homophobia illegal. Can't effectively
legislate attitudes and thoughts. But I don't think things would have
changed terribly much. Too many other, more important things, have popped
up in the world of SR. But it would be a movement, and probably similar to
the movement in the US today, for gay-rights. There would probably be a
lot of "well, it's technically illegal but we won't actively pursue or
prosecute it." And probably in some places, perhaps the CAS, that might
actually have legislation specifically stating same-sex marriage is
illegal, or at least not considered a legal contract like "normal" marriage
is.
I imagine the Native American nations would probably be more tolerant, if
not permissive, of homosexuality considering that wasn't considered "bad"
in most of their cultures. Don't know about the Tir; possibly very
restrictive, but could be the exact opposite. Don't know.
> I like the idea of gay-rights policlubs. Think I'll
>introduce one. (As long as we avoid monty python esque
>"one legged, negro, lesbian orc" syndrome!!!!)
Hey, you got something against one-legged negro lesbian orcs!
;-)
But I think gay-rights policlubs would definitely be a part of the "real"
SR world. And they probably would hire shadowrunners on occassion, just
like anyone else would.
Erik J.
"Forgive me FASA for I have sinned. It has been 6 days since I last played
Shadowrun and 15 days since I last bought a SRTCG booster pack."
