Thoughts of a second class citizen

The passing of Proposition 8 in California has not really had that great of affect on me until the last couple of days. I guess I was still walking on air due to the elections and did not let it sink in that once again gay people are being classified as second class citizens. I can’t understand why the promise of unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness guaranteed in the Declaration of Independence does not include gay citizens of the United States.

Martin Luther King Jr. talked about his dream that his children would one day live in a nation where they would not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I too have a dream that my children would one day live in a nation where people would not be judged by their sexual orientation but by the content of their character.

I am planning on attending the March and rally this Saturday in protest of Prop 8 and want to take my children with me. This of course, is going to mean that I have to explain to my daughter why we are marching. She is almost 5 now and I am sure she will be able to understand the basics of it enough. I have put this conversation off for as long as I could but since we just had a discussion around the historical importance of Barak Obama’s election this seems like an appropriate time to broach this subject. It saddens me. I love my kids more than I ever imagined and I just want to spare them the hate that exists in this world. I also know that the realization that her family is different in a way that some people feel is wrong is going to make her sad too.

Of course a major reason that Prop 8 passed in California is due to religion and the belief that being gay is against God and a choice. This past year had brought so much healing in my heart, a reconciliation of sorts for me with my beliefs. Because of the intolerance in the church I gave up all beliefs in God and am just now (more than 15 years later) able to accept that I do still have faith in a Creator, and this just brings me back to a place of frustration. Why is so much hatred and intolerance spread in Christ’s name? I have several friends that are Christians and they are tolerant, loving individuals, concerned with social justice and the same problems in the world that Christ himself was concerned with; poverty, hatred, intolerance and injustice. They keep me safe from returning to that place where I judged all Christians by the acts of those whose message is so polluted with hate and intolerance.

I just want the same rights and privileges as everyone else…nothing more but nothing less!!!