Obama won last night and America has changed for the better. We will be a more united and ambitious than even the landslide of the election shows. I have tremendous hope for our future… now more than ever.
But there was a setback for equality yesterday as well. Florida, Arizona, and even California voted to deny same-sex couples the right to get married… (but not Connecticut) and Arkansas even will deny gays the right to adopt children. Predictably, it was the bigoted Mormon church that funded Prop 8 in California and ironically it was the huge African American turnout that may have spelled its doom… but the battle has not been lost… just put off.
My favorite enigma, Andrew Sullivan, who is a conservative gay blogger supporting Obama, has has a great deal to say about this issue and no doubt will lead the fight in the future. But today, his sober thoughts:
But I realize I am not shattered. My own marriage exists and is real without the approval of others. One day soon, it will be accepted by a majority. And this initiative in California can and will be reversed, as California’s initiatives are much more fluid than those in other states; and the younger generation is overwhelmingly – 2 to 1 – in our favor. The tide of history is behind us; but we will have to work harder to educate people about our lives and loves and humanity.
To gay people across the nation, your separate but equal status will be shot down one day as it was for blacks in the 60′s. Have faith that Americans are inclusive and loving as a people… this election on a broader scale has proven that progress will come. You’re next.
justin
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I think this is also a result of gay rights being the next struggle for Civil movements. It is not acceptable to be racist and sexist, but it is still okay to be homophobic. As a queer woman I would fully agree with Justin that change and rights for the LGBT community is coming, but the rest of the world has yet to understand why it is necessary. One day it will happen, but the results of Prop 8 show us that we have a long way to go. Living in Georgia as a progressive, I am well aware of that fact.
It is unfortunate that Christians do not see how Jesus’s love was intended for everyone, and that spreading their message should not include hate. Last I checked the ‘chosen’ people are not Christians, although conservative Christians act like they are the only ones who deserve a fair shake. Spreading a message does not equal imposing on others.
I understand fully, with this election as a testament, why some Americans chose not to belong to any religion and instead, believe in spirituality without organization.
Kudos to my brother for fighting for the rights of people other than himself. The fight can only be won if we join together and fight for justice and civility. Straight people must be on board with queers if we are to make any progress.