Words Fail Me

I had hoped for a better today. I had hoped that doing what is right and what is just would prevail.

It did not.

Today a decision came down from the California Supreme Court regarding Proposition 8. They upheld it. Prop H8 stands, the proposition that bans gay people from getting married.

The proposition that denies equality. The proposition that stands for closed-minded and closed-hearted people.

The justices hide behind their robes. They could have made a statement. They could have upheld that all men (and women) are created equal.

They did not. They upheld that the people have the right to change the constitution through the ballotbox. I was not aware that it is copacetic to change the words of a nation.

We are not equal. We are not even close to equal. It has been handed down that a group of people are allowed to be spit on, stomped on, and otherwise outcasted.

I am not only disappointed in the justices. I find myself disappointed in my homestate's constituents. Those who voted yes stand behind their bibles and their families... they stand behind their fear and their hate. The Bible says a great many things and I could go to every person who quotes me the Bible and show them exactly how they are not living by every word of the Bible. It is a time of change, a time of technology, a time not like written in the Bible. It is not about every word, it is about the root, the lessons. What is at the root of every lesson? That's right - love. So those hiding behind their Bibles should stop. Those who claim they believe in family should go hug and kiss their spouses, look in on their children sleeping, and tell themselves they've ripped this dream that they live in away from thousands of people.

Stop being afraid. Stop being afraid of something different, stop being afraid of your own sexuality. I do not care if you are gay, straight, bi, confused, or anything else. I am straight. I am comfortable being straight. And because I am comfortable, I stand for my fellow man because I AM NOT AFRAID. I am not afraid of me, my sexuality, or my power. I will stand with the down-trodden, with the beaten, because they deserve every chance, every dream that I hold. I will stand, without fear, by my fellow person because we all deserve a chance to live. I have been censured by those close to me and I have every conviction that these very same people are rejoicing in their prejudice as we speak. I will continue to vote, to fight, to offer my voice. I will stand firm for those who need more people, more voices, more love.

Whatever state you are from, I beseech you. Look in your heart. Look in your heart past the politics, past simple words on a page, past fear. Look deep and remember what love means to you and then give somebody the chance to also share their own love. If this is not enough for you, then think about the struggles of our country. Through race and gender, we have become legally equal. This is no different. Continue this vein of equality. Do the right thing by giving every man and woman a chance to be equal.

Do you want to die knowing you hated or do you want to die knowing you loved?