On October 12th 1998, a young man named Matthew Shepard died as the result of a hate crime. He was killed for being gay. This was an act of human hatred and intolerance.
October 12th 2003 marks the begininng of the Bush administration's "Marriage Protection Week". The Bush administration has clearly spoken out against the calls for the right to gay marriage. Their choice of this date to mark their campaign for the protection of their value set is no coincidence. This is also an act of intolerance.
We have to hold on to each other to make it through life. The woods are dark and frightening, and there are terrible powers out there. Sometimes those in charge will sacrifice the weakest among us, or the ones who are different, and say it is for the common good. Sometimes the person you love is not the person your family or your friends want you to love. Sometimes you find love in places you didn't expect, with someone you did not expect.
If you find you are more yourself after a transformation or two, or if you find that the person you love is more than what they look like on the outside, and if you find that what you want most is to hold on to someone else no matter what curses the society around you throws at you as a result, this website will understand.
The bedrock of human civilization is not heterosexual marriage; it is humans behaving in a civilized manner. We need to treat each other with respect. We need children to grow up in a world where they understand tolerance and compassion, where they can love as they choose to love without condemnation, and where the defining aspect of a family is the commitment to every member of that family, regardless of gender or sexual orientation.
The issue raised by the second version of Tam Lin, that of immigration and sexual orientation, is also serious. As noted by the author of the piece, the INS treats same-sex binational couples quite differently than it does those of different genders. We hope thatincluding this filk on the website will help raise awareness of this issue.
If you or someone you know is gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender, please take time this week to mark the progress that has been made and the distance we still have to travel.
The versions of Tam Lin used on the website front page for anti-marriage protection week were as follows:
* * *
The last thing that they turned him to
was to a woman's shape.
She held him fast and held on tight
he was her worldly mate.
Janet threw her mantle over her
crying "Oh Tam Lin!
The shape you have is a surprise
but you are the same within."
The Queen of faeries, she spoke up
and condemning was her tone
"You are a woman, and so a man
is all you can take home."
"You are a woman and may not love
one who is same as you
To love one who is of your own sex
is a forbidden thing to do."
Janet shook her head and cried
"My love I have won free
and be she woman or be he man
she is the same to me."
"I have faced the trial you set
and I have risked my life
to win free the one I love
and she shall be my wife."
And along the same lines...
The Rocky Road of Tam Lin
(to the tune of The Rocky Road to Dublin)
written by Tony Delgado. Presented with permission.
In the merry month of May
Janet went a touring
Through a wide array
Of foreign parts alluring.
Left Los Angeles,
Drank in bars Sicilian
Wandered through the trees
Of rain forests Brazilian.
Traveled o'er the earth,
Spent some time in Perth,
Got to Solway Firth
By plane and boat and cam'l an'
Then she met a smart
Lass who stole her heart.
That was just the start
On the rocky road of Tam Lin.
Chorus:
One, two, three, four, five.
Fight for love and freedom
Down the rocky road
And all the way to Tam Lin,
Whack-fol-lol-de-ra.
There in Carterhaugh,
Tam Lin sold her flowers
(Plus she studied law
In her extra hours.)
Janet picked a rose,
Found it rather thorny.
"Why do you suppose
A girl has made me horny?
Up till now I've thought:
'Lesbian, I'm not!'
Still, I'm getting hot
From this sexy mamm'l." An'
Tam Lin too was fond
Of the Yankee blonde.
Soon a flame was spawned
On the rocky road of Tam Lin.
Quite a pair were they,
Deep in love. However,
Janet couldn't stay
With Tam Lin forever.
Flying 'cross the foam,
Janet started weepin'.
In her LA home,
Tears she couldn't keep in.
Tam was far away,
Much to her dismay,
Standing in her way:
Rats like those from Ham'lin.
'Twas the INS
Who, as you can guess,
Added lots of stress
To the rocky road of Tam Lin.
Head of visas there,
Lady named Regina,
Said, "A legal pair
Has but one vagina.
So your entry form
Always will be pending.
Learn to meet the norm;
Marriage I'm defending."
Tam got really pissed,
'Cause her love she missed,
Vainly tried to twist,
The rules and laws a-tramm'lin'.
Since their love was banned,
Janet left her land,
Took her lady's hand
On the rocky road to Tam Lin.
Versions of Tam Lin
Exploring the Ballad of Tam Lin
The Music of Tam Lin
Comparing Tam Lin to Other Tales
Communicating at Tam Lin
Scotland and Tam Lin
Tam Lin Oddities
Search Tam Lin