This spring break, it’d be surprising if you haven’t come across one of these red and pink icons yet, either through your friends’ Facebook profiles, Twitter streams, or somewhere else on the news and net. So what does this red equality sign mean, anyway?
For one thing, it’s a meme supporting gay rights and marriage equality that was created by the Human Rights Campaign (although their version of it was originally blue and yellow, but internet users changed it red and pink to emphasize its “love” factor and they have followed suit since). They even encourage those who have no social media presence to at least wear a red outfit to show support. However, it is critical to understand that this advocacy group for marriage equality has a history of excluding or otherwise discriminating against the transgender community.
That’s right, the ironic principles which their organization is built upon are tied to the discriminatory attitudes of prominent LGB leaders and activists such as Jim Fouratt of the Gay Liberation Front (infamous for booting out and barring transgenders from joining) as well as Janice Raymond. And to give you an idea of what HRC’s anti-transgender beliefs are, according to Fouratt, transpeople are “misguided gay men who’d undergone surgical mutilations.” Just last week, an HRC staff member was caught harassing a participant waving a transgender pride flag during a rally supporting marriage equality outside the U.S. Supreme Court.
In spite of their highly controversial background, majority of the public is sold on their “marriage equality” movement, oblivious to their hypocritical exclusivity. Even President Obama took to Twitter to voice his support (but no meme used, mind you) “Every single American deserves to be treated equally in the eyes of the law #MarriageEquality,” to which Oscar-winning director/actor Ben Affleck retweeted with a simple “I agree.” Beyonce’s handwritten Instagram reads: “If you like it, you should be able to put a ring on it #wewilluniteformarriageequality!” Additionally, two days after the Supreme Court’s hearing, 13 members of Congress have made the equality icon their social media avatar as well. From celebrities to high-standing political figures, almost everyone seems to want to be part of this viral campaign.
On the other hand, those who do not support the movement have posted the red signs with a man and woman on them, inferring their support for the traditional view of marriage.
In essence, thousands of Facebook and Twitter users felt prompted to use this as their profile pictures upon the Supreme Court’s first hearing of two cases concerning these controversial issues last Tuesday, March 26th. And to make things even simpler, here’s the breakdown of the cases:
Case #1: Hollingsworth V. Perry
Background: Dennis Hollingworth of ProtectMarriage.com advocates for the upholding of California’s contentious Proposition 8, while on the other side, Kristen Perry, was denied a marriage license to her partner, Sandra Stier, whom she has four children with.
Hollingsworth’s argument: Traditional marriage must be preserved so that children “will be born and raised in stable and enduring family units by their own mothers and fathers.”
Perry’s argument: Marriage is a fundamental right that has nothing to do with having children, and that the current system consequently creates a second-rate class of citizens.
So far: Rather than making a nation-wide applied decision, the nine justices may make a narrower judgment that concerns striking down or upholding California’s Prop 8 only.
Case #2: United States V. Windsor
Background: After her partner of 42 years died in 2009 (although they were able to get married in Canada, 2007), Edith Windsor, 83, sued to challenge the federal estate tax bill that only “traditional” marriages can avoid.
United State’s argument: Under the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) bill, federal marriage benefits are only available to spouses of opposite-sex marriages.
Windsor’s argument: DOMA’s refusal to recognize same-sex unions is unconstitutional.
So far: The Obama administration and the justices are skeptical about DOMA’s constitutionality as well, with the former having announced in 2011 that it would no longer defend DOMA and that it does indeed violate the Constitution’s equal protection clause, thereby supporting Windsor in not having to pay the taxes. In addition, DOMA fails to recognize same-sex unions in the nine states that already allow gay marriage.
The verdicts for both cases are expected to be made this June.
Despite this media-crazed movement, some are skeptical of its political impact, as shown with humorous but sarcastic tweets such as “hurry up and change your Facebook profile pictures for marriage equality! The Supreme Court Justices are tallying them up all right now,” wrote one unconvinced Twitter user, Molly Fitzpatrick.
Aside its secret anti-transgenderal partiality and questionable abililty to incite any political reshaping, none can deny that this viral campaign may shape the way the issue is handled in the future, as the ability to voice your own political and social opinions regardless of age (as most social media users have proven to be younger) has drastically changed in recent years.
Sources:
Marriage Equality Backed by Obama, Ben Affleck on Twitter
Red equal sign overtakes social media feeds
Red equal sign goes viral on Facebook but what does it mean?