I don't want to write an article endorsing monogamous gay
relationships. That is a private matter for each of us to decide
for ourselves. I would say though, that it's probably best to be
completely honest with yourself and others in which way you
want to go. Do you want to make love to a variety of people
without commitment, or just one other person with a commitment?
If you are practicing completely safe sex, it's not really a major
health issue, but it sure can be an emotionally involving decision
for some. Or, you may find yourself very much in love with just
the right other person, and there is no other decision to make.

    To be technical, the words monogamy, polygamy, and bigamy
don't really mean anything in terms of gay culture. These words
only apply to marital customs with regard to mating. Since gay
recognition has only been able to flourish in the last few decades,
we don't have age old words to describe many things that are
really quite unique to our culture. In a lot of cases, we bend the
meanings of straight culture's words. Think of all the people who
are up-in-arms over the "Gay Marriage" thing. Many of them
don't like the idea that we equate the type of relationship that they
have with what we have. They say that a marriage is for a man and
a woman to build a family. I guess some people don't like the idea
that we have sex just to express our love for each other. To them,
sex is meant for reproduction. So I say fine! Let's not call it
marriage! Lets dream up a different title for this type of legal
gay-life-partner contract. As long as it grants us all of the same
rights and privileges as a straight marriage contract, you can call
it "Salami" for all I care!

    And here's another idea that I can't believe we've never gone
for....... The US Government makes all kinds of legal recognition
of religions. Why not say that being gay is our religious right? If
it means equal protection under the law and a legitimate same-sex
partnership amendment, I'm ready to testify that I thank God I'm
Gay! Oh think of it..... The Gay version of Jim and Tammy Faye
bringing you the gospel according to Queers! We'd need our own
religious knickknacks too --probably lots of pretty, flashy colors,
nothing gory or depressing. I wonder if gay bars could register as
temples of gayness and go tax free. Look out girls, here comes the
collection plate!

    Anyway, it seems like more than ever we're on the verge of
winning some major human rights issues, but we are always in the
court of public opinion and we are often outnumbered. Some things
simply can not be decided by majority rules. There are some
aspects of the law that are just right or wrong, even if 90% of the
country would disagree with it. Freedom of religion also means
freedom from religion. Our law makers need to stop enforcing
Judeo-Christian ethics on us and start looking at the reality of
modern times. It will most likely take some odd-ball reasoning to
convince some key judges to enact laws that will finally serve us and
allow us to have our dignity as Americans.                             JL :o)