Injustices- Persevere with Me

I have been putting off writing this blog for as long as i could. Not because i am tired of the subject, but because it is one of the utmost importance that calls upon all of my passion leaves me breathing heavier with anger at the injustices still seen in this country.

November fourth was a historic day. I will be the first person to tell you that i did not vote for Barack Obama because he was black, or because he was a minority. But we must step back and look at how much we have gained through commitment, dedication, blood, tears, and sweat in this country. For too long have we had people in office that do not understand what it is like to be an American Citizen. Typical Americans are not wealthy, if we are it is through the enrichment we have in our lives to persevere towards that next paycheck. Our families do not pretend to be perfect, every person i know has had a somewhat broken family. A typical american knows what it is like to be surrounded with minorities or to be a minority themselves. So we must look upon President Obama as he is- a hope to every person who does not fit the imaginary American dream (no one fits this mold) and inspires us to see that over the last hundred years we can in fact, make progress. That there is in fact hope. And things can, in fact, change.

November 5th was a bittersweet day. We made a significant stride in equality of the color of our skins, but instead another minority group has been targeted. Gay rights is the civil rights movement of the 21st century. And i ask of you, from one friend to another. From a concerned citizen to another. And from a patriotic American to another to never cease and never tire when fighting for equality. Now is the time where the election is over, many are sick of hearing Yes and NO on prop eight. But this must not be the case for us. I demand that each of you care. That if you cared even a little through this election, to hold onto that passion, to hold onto that purpose and to espouse it in every facet of your lives. This question "the marriage question" is not going anywhere. When times were hard, they were persecuted and maimed and called inferior, African Americans did not suffice themselves, they fought continuously and they have reached a point where it does not matter how much blood of one ethnicity you have in you- you CAN become the President of the United States.

When women were powerless, counted on to be the property of ones father or husband, with no rights over their own children- to divorce- to vote- with no voice in politics or government or the direction their life went. They fought until where we are now- there are more women in higher education than there are men. We still make seventy cents to every mans dollar and the fight is not over but we have made such strides as to call equality a goal that is in sight. We live in a world where a woman can call the presidency or vice presidency an achievable GOAL.
This is where we are now. In a world in which EVERY nationality and EVERY minority group has gone through the motions and realized the goal of equality EXCEPT for the gay minority in this country. THe majority is still not with us, the majority still believes that gay people should suffice themselves with the rights they have now. But the fight is not OVER. and it will never be over until there is no differentiation between black and white, gay or straight, female or male or whatever you choose to identify yourself as, as guaranteed in the constitution of our great nation. EVERY single on of use despite our statistic, has the undeniable right liberty and JUSTICE for ALL. Take religion out of it- as religions vary and religion cannot dictate government! Take the deviance out of it- so what if its a minority of the population just because it is different does not mean it is WRONG. Take education out of it- the education code would not change.

This is all i ask. And this is what i promise. Change the hearts and minds of those around you. This is not an easy feat and as you have seen, equal rights never has been. But we have justice on our side. When one side is fighting to have the rights of the other, and the other side is trying to keep rights away from equal citizens, the choice is easy. WE must side with progress, with equality. Too long have gay individuals been discriminated against through hatred, through religion, through the screen of what many call God, and through false logic of where will we draw the line?

The election is over. but this has just begun. I hate to be such an extremist, but in reality the fight was lost, but the war has just begun. Do not put down your voices, your signs, your purpose because of these results. We must work towards changing the hearts and minds of our peers. And we must never forget how we as individuals got to where we are now, and where as individuals gay citizens must be tomorrow.

I cried my eyes out on November fifth. Standing in a hotel in Las Vegas Nevada. I cried because of happiness for the President Elect, and i cried out of mourning for the loss and persecution my gay friends and family must have felt when 52% of California decided that Gay people were not people enough to have the same rights as them. They say its just a term, but that term represents everything.

Jessica Rey