The Vote Is In: Terrorism, Oppression, Anti-American Ideals

Proposition 8 in California. Amendment 2 in Florida. Proposition 102 in Arizona. Act 1 in Arkansas.

These are unacceptable developments.

However different religious denominations decide to determine what constitutes a “marriage” or a “family,” however different some people’s levels of acceptance, tolerance, or understanding about homosexuality or bisexuality may be, none of that matters in the context of civil liberties, of human rights, of the freedom that this country stands for.

The forces pushing the aforementioned hateful legislature are agents of bigotry. Theirs is a domestic brand of terrorism against the American people, using fear and ignorance to justify the oppression of fellow Americans.

Both Obama and McCain’s election night speeches endorsed bipartisanship, and the electoral results have helped combat the idea of a red state/blue state divide. But equal rights for gay Americans have never been a Republican/Democrat, conservative/liberal issue. This struggle transcends party lines.

History is full of injustice. Countries have declared independence over these issues, and war has been waged between those who would let others be seen and treated as less, and those standing up for equality. African-Americans were once slaves, and now a black man is President. Women couldn’t vote, and now they are governors of states and members of Congress.

Society evolves. Freedom reigns. Americans do what is right.

Now, more than ever, we must take a stand. There is no logical reason that marriage between same-sex partners, or adoption by gay couples, or equal health insurance benefits, or right to visit one’s partner in a hospital, or right to inherit an estate from one’s spouse, or anything else that is legally bestowed upon the rest of American citizens, should be denied. There may be objections by some based on their personal beliefs, their distaste for homosexuality in general, or something resulting from their interpretation of religious texts. But there are churches that preach white supremacy, men who loathe all women and consider them beneath them, and we do not let that dictate the laws of our nation.

This is the time to fight. Whether it’s on the state level or the federal level. Whether it’s addressing a crowd or having a conversation with a relative or friend. Whether it’s writing your representatives or volunteering your time, money, and energy to local gay/lesbian/straight alliance groups.

You may be straight. You may have a gay parent, sibling, or other relative. You may have a gay friend or neighbor. Or you may not associate with anyone gay, consider it “a lifestyle choice,” and condemn it as “a sin.” Whatever the case may be, if you are an American, it is your patriotic duty to defend your freedom and that of your fellow Americans, whatever gender they may have relationships with.

We need to unite and get these propositions and amendments thrown out. Their proponents will call their passage “the will of the people,” but we have fought before against institutional racism and sexism. Now, we must overturn institutional homophobia. Just as we achieved women’s suffrage and the end of slavery, we must achieve not just civil unions, but equal marriage and adoption rights for lesbians, gays, bisexual, and transgendered Americans. Whatever your faith, whatever sex you’re attracted to, whatever your views on sexuality, do not let your fellow Americans suffer prejudice, bigotry, mistreatment, and injustice. Do not let hatemongers use scare tactics and lies about your children and the school system to obstruct the rights of any American citizen.

Freedom, justice, and equality are more important than any objection to this progress, and any attempt to stand in the way of it is not only hateful and ignorant, but terrorism and treason against the American way of life.