My friend from high school, who moved to New York for college (and after? I think), who is gay, wrote this:
Yes We Can. Yes We Will.
One Giant Leap for Mankind, One Small Slap in the Face for Homosexuals
11/5/08
By Michael LaMasa
Last night’s presidential election and all the amazing and wonderful emotions that came along with is were overshadowed by events in California that made it hard to celebrate for a few Americans that were also hoping for a piece of equality pie.
Shortly after my tears of joy for Barack Obama’s win for President of the United States of America, my tears turned to sadness for the loss of my civil rights in my home state of California. So much, in fact, that I had trouble remaining happy for my Obama supporting friends.
Listening to Barack talk about equality in the world was hard for me. I would listen to him speak about how finally, after all the years of struggle, we were all finally drinking from the same fountain, but couldn’t cheer with the rest of the world because I knew deep down that wasn’t true. It’s still acceptable to discriminate against me in this country and the fountain I’m drinking out of is separate and not equal.
Friends of mine who do not support Barack Obama brought up the fact that Barack believes that marriage is between a man and a woman and hold him accountable saying that he doesn’t support of believe that homosexuals are equal citizens. I have to say that I strongly disagree. Barack Obama knows what it is like to be treated like a secondary citizen, just like us. I guarantee you, Barack Obama would never pass the constitutional amendment that Bush or Sarah Palin wanted. The Christian Right is no longer in control in this country and that is something to be thankful for. Barack Obama may not be taking the steps forward that we want for Homosexual Americans, but I can tell you that he is not taking steps backwards, and by not taking steps backwards, he’s really taking a very small step forward. This needs to be about the baby steps. You have to be able to walk before you can run, and run before you can fly.
Barack Obama’s election does give me hope, as it should, and it gives me hope like it does for the rest of the world. I look at him and I can see how far the country has come and I know that it’s not over. This loss in California is just the start of this new, modern age, civil rights movement. Our civil rights movement.
Talking to my friends in California, I was getting a lot of the same response. People saying things like, “Fuck Prop. 8,” “Why did I even vote?” and “I’m leaving California.” All I have to say is this: What do you think would have happened if Black Americans would have given up their fight and left? Well, for starters, we wouldn’t have a multi-racial, half Black president. Civil Rights don’t just happen over night and they won’t be achieved without a fight. This is something to join together and fight for. And why did you vote? Do you think your vote didn’t count? Well, the last time the state of California voted and passed a gay marriage ban, it passed with a 60-something percent approval rate. Today, the vote was too close to call for a very long time. People’s minds are changing and we need to have faith in that and take small steps that will gradually grow and lead us towards the times of equal rights for all.
I have a good friend that I grew up with through high school and college that has a younger brother who has been deeply influenced by his older siblings and their friends. This past week, he’s been out on the streets protesting with large signs to vote No on Prop 8. I wrote him this message on his facebook wall this morning:
Dear Matthew,
I’m writing this on your wall so that everyone, and not just you, can see how proud of you I am. When I heard about your support for No on 8 from your mom, it brought chills to my arms and tears to my eyes. I don’t need to tell you this, but you are the face of a new generation for change in this country. I sleep better at night knowing that the man that I am sleeping next to will one day be my husband because people like you are on the streets fighting by our side.
I know we didn’t win this fight, but I know that it is just the beginning. This is our civil rights movement and it’s not something that’s going to be solved over night. If Black Americans had given up their fight and left then a Black man wouldn’t be our next president. That gives me hope. You can change this world, Matthew and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
You are so lucky to have such a wonderful family and such wonderful friends around you and believe me, they are better for having you in their lives. Your love means so much to me and it means so much for not just the gay and lesbian community, but to the world that you are changing.
Basically what I’m getting at here is, thank you.
Your friend in equality and love,
~Michael LaMasa
Today, I’m going to say the same thing to the people that voted No on Prop 8, both gay and straight alike. This isn’t the end, it’s just the beginning. However, we need not let our anger and bitter feelings towards California turn us away from our fight or deter us from what we believe in. This is not a reason to stop fighting or to think that a voice can’t be heard. This is a time to gather as one, because when a minority stands up and joins together with the help of others in the name of equality, we’re no longer a minority.
In the previews for the upcoming film, “Milk,” about the life and struggles of gay activist, Harvey Milk, we get to see a fantastic moment from the film that has inspired me these past few days. Sean Penn stands at a microphone as Harvey Milk and addresses the people of San Francisco in saying, “I know you’re angry. I’m angry!” He goes on to say words that have inspired me these past few days and will continue to inspire me my entire life…
“All men are created equal. No matter how hard you try, nothing can erase those words.”
Yes, the country has taken a giant leap forward, but homosexuals have been slapped down in places like California (not to mention Arizona and Florida). Throughout history, we’ve been slapped down and what do we do? We get up and we keep fighting. We’ve had our times of struggle. We were there in the concentration camps along side of the jews. We were there on the front lines in the battle against the AIDS epidemic. We know what it’s like to be hit and hit hard. We know what it’s like to be hit hard where it hurts the most. But that is not the time to stay down. That is the time to stand up.
…and this is our time to stand up.
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