Growing up, it never occurred to me that others may not have the same rights that I have. For that matter, it never occurred to me that I would, as a woman, not have the same rights as anyone around me. Working in a non-traditional job for a female has been a slap in the face in that regard but that is for another post.
Today, I want to focus on my role as ally. I absolutely believe that anyone, regardless of orientation, should have equal rights under the law. This is a civil rights issue. Tax paying citizens of the United States of America are treated as second class citizens every day when they are denied the same rights afforded to their straight peers. I currently serve on the board of PFLAG of Danville, VA. This is a local chapter of the national organization which provides support to the parents, friends and family of the LGBT community.
This is a cause I am passionate about. What right does anyone have to tell someone else that love is wrong, just because it doesn't look like your version of love? I am 35 years old and divorced. I got married because "I had to," which is not true but how it is viewed in the south (again, another post). I don't know that in my 35 years I have ever truly been loved, that someone has ever truly wanted to marry me and share a life with me. I do not say this to belittle my marriage or my ex because we cared for each other and do to this day. I say it to say... why should anyone else be denied the right to find true love, to marry their soul mate and live happily ever after with full protection and rights under the law? For that matter, why should anyone be denied the right to marry the wrong person, totally screw things up and find themselves back at square one, divorced and starting over?
Love is love.
NEVER turn your back on it, regardless of what it looks like. My happily ever after is without a doubt different than anyone else's, even though I am a straight, white female. Should it be illegal for that reason?
This is the big debate now. Marriage. It goes deeper than that. I can't lose my job for being straight. I can't be denied renting an apartment because I'm straight. I can't be denied adopting a child simply because I'm straight. I cannot be denied medical treatment for being straight. Do you see how ridiculous this sounds?
Your friends, your neighbors, members of your family are all being denied basic civil rights. To borrow an oft quoted phrase... If you aren't pissed off, you aren't paying attention.
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