Aside from the Roman Catholic Church, the Church of Later Day Saints (Mormons) as well as a few other Protestant denominations, it seems as if many people who are against marriage equality for all Americans like to hide behind closed doors.  That is, in public they prefer to say and do one thing, however, when push comes to shove, they vote otherwise.

Such behavior reminds me of the racism that once plagued African-Americans who resided in the North prior to the Civil Rights Movement. Unlike the blatant and public racism found in the South, the dagger that often injured, if not killed, an individual of color who lived in the North, was frequently stashed in a coat pocket unseen by the unsuspecting African-American.

In short, when it was made known who supported racist laws in both the North and the South, many, if not all, African-Americans (as well as some white sympathizers) chose to boycott the goods and services of businesses and individuals who sought to oppress them.  The reverberations of this economic tsunami had significant consequences, and in the end, these boycotts were effective tools which helped the fight for equality and freedom of African-Americans.

In 2005, when same-gender marriage was challenged in Massachusetts, KnowTheyNeighbor.org was created.  This brainchild of Tom Lang, a gay married man, and Aaron Toleos, a straight married man, was created to expose individuals who actively fought to overturn marriage equality in the Commonwealth.  Another organization Whosigned.org,  in Washington State also emerged to turn some lights on in the bedroom closets of many Washingtonians. 

After Proposition 8 passed last year in California, repealing marriage equality, many gay rights activists organized boycotts of donors to the anti-marriage equalty bandwagon.  Of course such action prompted complaints by opponents of same-gender marriage.  I wonder why?

In a true democracy, nothing should be hidden and that includes the names of those who oppose marriage equality.  It will be interesting to see where all of this will go.  American consumerism has often trumped many things in our society--morality, race, religion, and politics--will it also trump sexual orientation?  I believe that it will have a significant impact, especially in this down market with the unemployment rate hovering around ten percent.
American businesses like making money, and alienating a group of Americans who have money does not help sales and buyer loyalty.

Do you know your neighbor?  Visit  www.knowthyneighbor.blogs.com and www.whosigned.org today.