At first I was drawn to this essay because of the format of the essay, I thought the way Hamilton had set up her questions where much more attractive then reading something that was straight text. Also, I thought Hamilton did an excellent job on getting her point across with dialogue. I think it takes a great writer to educate a person while writing in a conversation point of view, and on top of that, takes a talented writer to keep the reader engaged, and Hamilton definitely kept me engaged.
I learned lot of from this essay, I always knew that same sex marriages where controversial in the media and public, but I never gave a second though on how they actually felt. I mean, who says that sexual preference defines who we are? When I was reading the question “Is Queer Marriage Even Safe?” The second bride wanted a wedding outdoors, but her partner’s mother is scared that someone who is not accepting of gay marriages might come and riot. I mean, it just got me thinking, If I wanted to get married outdoors to my boyfriend, I would never have to think of anyone not accepting it, then why should they? The only difference between me and them is they are two girls, and us not? But our goal is the same isn’t it? To recognize the bond between two people, in a ceremony with our friends and family. Then why do they have to worry about if someone will come and protest against them? It saddens me. The rest of the questions were kind of humorous at times, such as wondering if they should carry flowers or not, one of the brides didn’t want to because it seemed like the “straight” thing to do. I think it was kind of ironic how gays and lesbians get mad at the fact that there are stereotypes about them, yet throughout this essay they seemed opposed to doing anything a straight women and man might do at their wedding, like walking down an aisle, holding bouquets, wearing a wedding dress or tuxedo. I feel that just as much people stereotype them, they also stereotype us. That just leaves us with the question, do two rights make a wrong? Do they think its okay to cast us with a stereotype just because we do it to them? I feel that’s another point Hamilton was trying to share with us, that straight people get cast too.
Overall, I thought this essay was a great read, and I suggest if you haven’t read it yet, to take a look at it, Hamilton has a great approach by mixing satire, humour, reality, and fantasy together in a dialogue between two lesbians trying to plan their wedding, and it keeps you intrigued throughout the essay. Just for your reading pleasure, they did get married, there were protesters, and one of them wore a dress while the other a tux J .. However troubles continued when they went on their honeymoon, and the lady at the desk gave them an awkward look while they checked into the Honeymoon Suite…I guess the judging doesn’t even stop after your married……..and the questions will never stop either.
