Yesterday was International Human Rights Day, focusing this year’s polite protest on human rights for gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender people worldwide- also known as A Day without Gay (http://daywithoutgay.org/).People were encouraged to call into work “gay” (my roommate didn’t understand this – I had to explain that people via being gay as a sickness; you call into work sick, why not call into work gay – to make a statement. I’m not sure my explanation opened her eyes) and to boycott from spending money for 24 hours, as the GLBT community contributes $700 billion dollars to the economy each year. What do they buy? Some might say they buy drugs, hot fashion accessories, sex. I believe they buy morning lattes and newspapers, lunch for high-powered business associates and dog food – just like you. You see that’s the point people – they are just like you. Not second class citizens without lifeboats on a sinking Titanic; not less deserving of basic human rights, like the right to marry. You have the freedom to fall in love, have a wedding, create a family, build a life – why shouldn’t they?
The state of Arkansas recently passed a law prohibiting unwed couples and single people from adopting or foster parenting a child. What’s the reason a child is up for adoption or in foster care? Neglect… abuse… unwanted… abandoned… Why can’t an unwed lesbian couple foster parent and later adopt one of those children, into a loving, caring and safe home? What makes a straight, married couple more suitable parents for a neglected, unwanted, abused and abandoned child? That is something I will never understand. Was Arkansas the trail-blazing state for such legislation in other states? Or will Arkansas stand alone? Maybe a few years ago you would have thought that Arkansas’ decision would leave them without a date for prom and I would have agreed. But California’s statewide vote on November 4th (the same day the United States of America elected our first African-American President) proved the spirit and belief of the GLBT community as second-class citizens is still very much a reality in this country. It’s a share that such a historical day for one community is also such a sorrowful day for another.
The Advocate (www.advocate.com) published not only a story comparing Gay Rights to Civil Rights, but designed a groundbreaking cover – Gay is the new Black. It’s a powerful story, not in any way indicating that gay rights will replace, surpass or override the struggle of African-Americans in this country; but the civil rights movement was a war won by African-Americans when the Civil Rights Bill was signed into law in 1964. Where is the Gay Rights Bill? That is the point of the Advocate message. The time has come for members of the GLBT community to receive the same basic human and civil rights as others; black, white, male, female, Asian, Latino (my apologies for not including everyone, but you’d be reading for days).
Bottom Line – Since they are just like you, how come the laws, the morals, the churches, the judges and the employers don’t recognize it?
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