At the Dietrich by Hildy Morgan
So. Founders Day was surely a disappointment for so many who had worked so hard. As with any weather-dependent event, this one really really depends on folks coming out to spend their time in the sunshine, eat lots of goodies and just have fun. But when it’s not just rain, but a cold, windy, miserable rain, well what a difference that makes. Where the streets are normally so packed that it’s actually hard to move, they were a lonesome sight in the driving rain. We did pretty well at the strawberry shortcake booth, with a steady stream of customers coming all day. Many, many thanks to Linda Sherman, who organized the event and to Nancy Aiello who helped. And many more special thanks to those who donated baskets, and to Linda Harvey who organized them. And to all those who helped cut the strawberries and dish them out, bless your hearts! We are ever grateful!
Ok. So, usually I don’t talk much about current events or Supreme Court decisions or anything that might offend some folks. If I can help it. Although, sometimes that happens. But I so want to spend time in this column talking about the Supremes decision to make gay marriage the law of the land.
Since we opened this theater fifteen years ago we have had many gay kids who came to work for us. They were pretty much happy, well-adjusted kids, focused on their schoolwork and the college they were prepping to attend. They were at ease with their sexuality as were their peers. The only time these teens had troubles was if their parents treated them as if they were doomed to burn in hell. Think about it. Is that the message that you would really, really want to send your kids? That they are evil and God hates them? Nah. I didn’t think so.
The idea that marriage should be denied an entire segment of the population because their marriage is considered by some to be “not biblical” is kind of bizarre if you think about it. (The same words were used, as you know, to make interracial marriage a crime back a few decades ago.) But if you want to get all biblical, then if a woman commits adultery, we need to start stoning her. And I think they also killed the man (well…maybe, maybe not…) or they didn’t but the little woman had to go. And, of course, divorce really has to go, too. Because if marriage is so “sacred” then you can’t divorce. Since we marry and divorce with impunity, it is very hard to make the case for “sacred.” Of course, the case isn’t really about sacred, is it? It’s really about exclusive. And our country doesn’t operate on exclusive. Every man, woman and child has the right to the pursuit of happiness.
I wish my friend Russ, who died in the first wave of AIDS deaths were here to see this day. I wish he could have known acceptance and respect in ways denied to gay men in the 1980. I will always feel sad about that.
But I rejoice for our darling Ronnie Harvey, because now it is no different for him than it is for anyone else. He can think, if he so chooses, of getting married to someone he wants to spend forever with. He can know that that marriage is valid in every state in the union. And he will know that his love, his dreams, his promise for the future have been sanctified by the highest court in the land. He is one of the dearest souls I know. And we old ladies hope so much that when he meets the man of his dreams, he will get married right here at the Dietrich, where he is so very loved. Isn’t that just the best thought ever?
Love. Now that’s the real message of the Bible. The most lasting. The one that faith is based on. It is amazing grace. Amazing and wondrous and true. Amen!
See you at the Dietrich.
