Another Brick to be Laid with Calloused Hands

After months of campaigning, supporters for Senator Obama had tears in their eyes as their President-Elect stood before them, thanking them for their support and promising to unite this country, promising to work towards the vision that inspired a nation. On January 20, 2009, the nation will watch as the first black man is sworn in as the 44th President of the United States. For most of us, we are still pinching ourselves, scrolling through Facebook status updates, and reading global headlines about the road to victory. But this victory, while historic and a keystone for change, is only the first step. As Senator Obama promised, there are many more bricks to be laid on this path toward change. Yesterday, I wrote how the nation needs to come together, work together to solidify its greatness. Today, let us take the steps to have real discussion about immigration, same-sex marriage, abortion, taxation, and the War in Iraq. If we keep the lines of communication open and build trust, we can find common ground. Specifically, today, I want to speak about same-sex marriage. With 95 percent of the precincts reporting, it looks as if Proposition 8 will pass in California which would restrict marriages to one man and one woman. Since the California Supreme Court overturned the law in May of 2008, LGBT couples have been able to enjoy the same rights as heterosexual couples, applying for marriage licenses, exchanging vows, and having their commitments recognized by the state. And thought this race is still too close to officially call, similar initiatives passed in both Florida (which restricted the rights of heterosexual domestic partners) and Arizona. Why are we as a nation, founded on the premise of minority rights, so willing to restrict the rights of its minority citizens? Is it because people don’t understand it or believe being gay is a choice? SO I ask, who in their right mind would, “choose,” to come out to a society that will deny them equal treatment and equal protection under the law? A society that would judge them, persecute them, deny them jobs, and spousal benefits. Is it because a lot of Christian denominations preach that same-sex relationships are sinful and immoral? Not that I agree with this interpretation of the Bible, but correct me if I’m wrong, aren’t we all sinners under that text? Jesus never preached hate; he preached love, acceptance, and not judging your neighbor. However, biblical teachings aside, our Constitution clearly states in the First Amendment that the government shall not establish religion. Therefore, state and federal law should not be defined by religious doctrine. My freedoms should not be limited by another citizen’s faith. Further, if the word, “marriage,” has religious overtones due to its historical connotation, then why is it used in our laws? Again, invoking the First Amendment, and using the religious activists argument here, the word should therefore be removed from the government’s vocabulary and instead substitute the word, “union.” Everyone could enter into a legal union without violating the sanctity of marriage as seen by the church. However, this argument still doesn’t satisfy those against same-sex marriage on the basis of protecting their religious beliefs. Another popular argument against same-sex marriage is in regards to if children were brought in the picture. Could a child be raised by a same-sex couple and in turn be straight? Be healthy? Function in society? What about the other children raised in non-traditional families—single mothers or fathers, grandparents, or even aunts and uncles. Having been raised in a non-traditional family, I firmly believe that it’s not the number of people in the household or their genders, but instead whether the child was loved, provided for, supported, and encouraged to succeed. Also, plenty of gay children are raised by opposite-sex couples. Social justice for LGBT citizens in America is going to be an uphill battle. The opposition is strong and that was proven during the campaign to toward the election. But nothing worthwhile is ever easy. Equality is an American value that I’m not willing to live without. As we continue to celebrate our victory, let us also begin the discussion; let’s open up the dialogue to see if we can lay another brick for LGBT rights.