Traditional marriage to many is, “between a man and a women”, and they want to protect the “sanctity” of this.

I will tell you the story of my parents traditional and sacred marriage.

I am a product of rape. My father raped my mother, he had his reason: becoming legal in the United States. My mother was raised in a traditional, catholic home and went to catholic school. She didn’t think abortion was a choice, therefore kept me and stayed with my father. When my mother told me this, eight years ago, the first thing out of my mouth was, “wow, now it all makes sense, I didn’t think I was his.” Why? He used to beat the crap out of me. I was physically abused by him for any little reason. Traffic was bad, my other sisters pissed him off, anything that I might have done and that he thought made me deserve a beating. I graduated from a leather belt to the belt buckle, from that point it would be the branch of a willow tree or a leather whip or a stick, anything he got a hold of. The last time I got hit by him, I was eighteen years old. Tradition. I have to hand it to my mother, she didn’t, and won’t, divorce him. They live in a loveless marriage. My mother despises him, but the bible says, no divorce. Some of you might say that this is an exception, really?

Let’s move on.

HBO has a show, Big Love it is about a Mormon and his three wives, in modern day times. Those from the Mormon faith, or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter -day Saints, still practice polygamy, even though they want many to think they don’t. Look up Warren Jeffs as an example. What happens throughout these “traditional” beliefs? They start marrying young women off to older men. We have all heard the stories, and it is still something that is practiced. There you go for traditional sacred marriage.

What about the tradition of getting money for your daughter? Is that Middle Eastern?

Look up this site: Marry Our Daughter. Make sure you take a look at the FAQ page. The site has a current copyright date of 2008. Tradition: Bible and dowry.

Keep your traditions. Keep believing that your sanctimonious beliefs are the right ones, but don’t involve that belief with our current government.

I refuse to accept the “protection of traditional marriage” as a valid reason. I come from that traditional marriage, and it wasn’t a healthy way to grow up. I am also positive that throughout Utah there are others that feel their upbringing hasn’t been healthy.

Tradition and religion haven’t always been right.

There are past traditions that many don’t like remembering or talking about, and that continues (let’s not forget the presidential “race” that just past). Let’s move society towards the progression for ALL and not just for some.

For the rest of us, let’s keep fighting and educating.

p.Johanna is a single lesbian who lives in Southern California. You can find out more about her and view her photos by visiting her page on MySpace.