“Restlessness and discontent are the first necessities of progress” - Thomas Edison
I begin with this quote by Thomas Edison today because I think it explains what is going on this week in California with Proposition 8. For those of you who do not keep up with GLBT news, Prop. 8 is a ballot measure introduced by the conservative christian right which will revoke the constitutional marriage rights given to the GLBT community in the state of California back in June. Basically, we had the right to marry, over 16,000 couples married between June and yesterday and now because it conflicts with the religious rights of the conservatives, they collected signatures and spent over 75million dollars campaigning to take back the rights that were give to those couples to marry. Now, they are in jeopardy of having the state revoke their marriage rights. This includes Ellen and Portia. Ellen’s quoted as saying, “This morning, when it was clear that Proposition 8 had passed in California, I can’t explain the feeling I had. I was saddened beyond belief. Here we just had a giant step toward equality and then on the very next day, we took a giant step away. I believe one day a ban on gay marriage will sound totally ridiculous. In the meantime, I will continue to speak out for equality for all of us.”
You might be wondering why I haven’t written anything about the wonderful victory we all saw on Tuesday night when Barack Obama was elected President. I still haven’t wrapped my head around that yet. However, I haven’t written anything on it because I’ve been filled with mixed emotion. How can I celebrate Obama’s victory when our community, our friends, our brothers, our sisters, our mothers and fathers are out there fighting for their right to marry and love who they want to love? It doesn’t seem right to celebrate. The media hasn’t really covered much of this story as usual. Most of the time when it comes to stories related to our community it is overlooked. Ever notice that. How much news coverage did you see when Lawrence King, 15 was murdered by a fellow student for being gay? Doesn’t that make you angry? It makes me angry. I can’t just sit here and say “Well, that’s just how it is.” NO! It doesn’t have to be this way and in order to change it, it must be left up to us.
I’ve talked to you before about Harvey Milk and all the others who have fought over the years for gay rights. I’ve talked about getting out there, volunteering, making a difference in an attempt to make sure that we, this generation, does not become so complacent that we just sit and watch as the government makes decisions for our lives. There were people that have died in order for us to have the rights we have today. Don’t let their deaths be in vain.
There is still a gay rights movement out there people! Remember Stonewall (if you don’t, then you need to look it up)…Mark my words, if the Supreme Court of California doesn’t overturn this vote, I can only hope that we will begin to fight all over the country. If you are in a state that allows marriage, then do what you can to support the ones whose state doesn’t. If you’re in a state that made it a Constitutional Amendment to ban equal marriage rights, like Ohio where I am, then stand up and fight! If you love your partner then this movement should mean something to you, whether you live in California or not. And if you’re single, don’t you want to have the right to marry when you do find someone?
Just because this isn’t happening to your state, doesn’t mean it isn’t happening to you. This affects all of us. We need to help support those in California. Do what you can…whether its volunteering for organizations like HRC or NCLR, do something! Know whats going on in our community. Stay informed. And in the words of the lovely God-dess and She “Don’t just talk revolution, act revolution. Stand up.”
Now is the time.
Here are some photos from last nights protest in West Hollywood:
Photo Sources: www.abc.com; www.latimes.com
Here is a look into what we are fighting against….these are the ones who want the ban….
Juliet
