CNN “A ‘Congressional Spouse’ Breaks Barriers”
This post is my (Daniel Gonzales’) opinion, not that of ELEMENT. However anyone who’s attended an ELEMENT event knows that we value diverse and unique ideas so here’s mine…
A few days ago I read an article on CNN.com about what life is like for Jared Polis (D-Boulder) and his partner in Congress. Polis’ spouse writes:
Rarely has anyone seen me for what I actually am. I don my “Congressional Spouse” lapel pin proudly and hope each time not to be questioned, yet I still receive sideways glances and orders to produce an official ID. It is as if my story is too unbelievable to be true, that I am an interloper, someone in a place I do not belong.
I believe the focus of the article is supposed to be about brave dear Polis is for shrugging off dirty looks and overcoming stereotypes. Yet, time after time the article mentions a spousal privilege that Polis should be denied because the Federal Defense of Marriage Act and how special exceptions have been made.
The stench of elitist privilege overwhelmed me by the end of this obnoxious article thinking about all the hassles “ordinary” gays get from their government every single day and how that same government pulls aside the velvet rope for Polis.
I don’t see how we can expect leaders, who aren’t subject to the same laws as the gay employees in their district, to be motivated to change them in a timely fashion.
(full disclosure, I have crossposted this post on BoxTurtleBulletin, another activist blog I contribute to)
