Fight for Your Right

I should have started a while ago. I should have taken action much sooner. I didn't think it would get so close. I was so caught up in school, work, my relationship, I just didn't really think about it. When same-sex marriage was legalized in California, I was excited and knew it was a big deal, but I didn't really think about it. This isn't to say that I wasn't relieved, shocked, ecstatic, and empowered to know that I now had one more constitutional right bestowed to me like my fellow Americans, but my emotions were somewhat put on the back burner.
That was until recently; the past two weeks have really just hit me. Proposition 8 will strip me of one of my rights. One of my rights as an American. People came to this country for equality, for freedom, for fear of persecution. America is about all these things. And more importantly, Prop 8 will change history, but not in the good way. It will amend our state constitution, that granted equality to all of its citizens and make millions of people second class citizens.
Prop 8 doesn't just affect the gay and lesbian couples. It affects the parents, friends, siblings, and loved ones of those gay and lesbian couples. I think of my parents, who have worked so hard all their lives for their children to have every opportunity granted to them as possible. My parents love their children unconditionally, and would do anything for them. Anytime someone or something has gotten in the way or taken something away from one of their children, it affects them, it hurts them. My parents can only do so much for us, sometimes things just aren't in their hands. If Prop 8 passes, it won't just ban me from getting married. It will hurt my mother and father, it will crush them. It will crush them, because even after all they have done for me and my siblings, a basic human right was stripped from one of their children.
Marriage is about love. It is often referred to as a marriage of equals; a partnership; a bond. Nothing bad has happened since same-sex marriage was legalized. If anything, they economy has grown.
The supporters of Prop 8 argue its for the children. Well, I have a 6 year old niece. I wouldn't let anyone tell her she can't do something because she's a Latina, or a brunette, or likes horses, or has a blended family, or that she doesn't like green vegetables.
I guess my emotions were put on the back burner because when I came out (and even before that) I didn't technically by law have the right to get married in the first place, and you can't miss something you never had. But when the Supreme Court overturned that law this year, things changed. My parents were going to be able to see me do the same thing that my brother and sister could do. Their job would be complete, see all their kids have the same opportunities.
Pro 8 isn't about pro-gay or anti-gay. It isn't about pro-family or anything. It's about civil rights. It's about equality. Whether you like gay people or don't, you like freedom, and freedom isn't negotiable. It's universal. You can't choose or select a few people to be equal. We are all equal. We all deserve to have our rights. Because if we don't, I am going to have to do a lot of ass kicking for the pain inflicted on my parents. And I can guarantee, no one will be beaten more heavily or lightly than someone else, after all I believe in equality.

PS Everyday until the election, I will be bulletin-ing a No on 8 advertisement, if you agree with it, repost it, if you are not sure, think about what you're not sure about, and if you're disagree with it, think, what exactly are you against?

Don't worry, the funny blogs will be back, it's just sometimes you've got to fight for your right, or in this case, write for your right.

:)
-D