The Logic of Failure

I am calling this article the Logic of Failure, because I do believe we will succeed and that we are on the right side of history.  I believe their logic is one of failure and I hope you join with me to learn the truth and fight against hatred.

What am I talking about?  I’m talking about a civil rights movement to further the rights of a minority.   You probably think most minorities have their rights in this country with discrimination laws and legal protections.  You are correct, and President Elect Obama shows how far America has come but even this election shows how much further we must go.

In fact over half of the states in the union have laws or amendments that directly limit our rights.  Three additional amendments were voted in on Election Day.  The Fourth which really mattered to us is looking like it will pass.  It was the first time lies, hatred, and deceit had been used to take away something a court looked at and said that for equality to exist we must have Marriage Equality.

We are not like the other civil rights movements, not like some blacks would argue in that we aren’t born the way we are and we are just hijacking the movement.  No, the real difference is that we don’t have equal protection under the law.  In some states it’s legal to fire us or evict us because of who we are.  We have the right to marry in only three states, one of which looks likely to be taken away.

That’s unlike black people, they have all their rights.  They have the opportunity to work hard and achieve something in America.  We have to work around the laws, protect ourselves from those that try to harm us, and look at over 20,000 binational couples that can’t immigrate and are stuck in limbo.  I’m happy that Obama won, but I’m sad that his black supporters voted 70% against us and for discrimination.  Shame on them.  I hope we can reach out to them and show them what discrimination is and what it feels like.  Its hurts, no matter if you’re Jewish, black, or gay.

But even more shame on those that spread the logic of failure, a web of lies and hatred.  They twist their words and won’t be satisfied with anything less that a religious state, but they will take what they can get.

 In fact Election Day was a perfect example.  Proposition 8 in California was written to define marriage as between one man and one woman.  After all the Mormon Church, a huge financer didn’t want to take away rights and protections from gay couples thru civil unions or domestic partnership.   But Florida Amendment 2 will make both gay marriages any similar union such as civil unions illegal.  This perfectly shows how they twist their words and will take what they think they can get and do not believe in justice or liberty for homosexuals.  They do not believe in our human right to determine our destiny.  Last election the Arizona Proposition was worded more like the current Florida Amendment but failed so they weakend it to be like California’s and it passed.  Apparently some of you have qualms about the word Marriage, more on this later.

Further they claim giving us rights will take away their rights.  Nonsense, they are not required to change their religion.  In fact Marriage Equality has never been used against anyone in the six countries that have legalized it.  The Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Canada, South Africa, Norway have all legalized gay marriage, most thru the legislative process.  They were listed in the order they legalized it and are all considered strong allies of The United States.

The United States Constitution couldn’t be clearer about the fact that all human are created equal and that we should have liberty and justice for all.  The separation of church and state is also required.  The logic of failure doesn’t grasp this and no matter what you believe it shouldn’t be used to force others to follow your beliefs.  Many churches including the Metropolitan Community Church and The United Church of Christ believe in and officiate at Gay Marriages.

Furthermore, the majority shouldn’t tell the minority what it believes or what rights exist for them.  Should we have allowed other Civil Rights questions to be sent to the majority, absolutely not.  In fact in California, if the results are confirmed, it seems that 52% will tell 48% what the definition of marriage is.  Doesn’t sound fair does it?

But why is marriage so important, because separate like civil unions are not equal.  It tells me that I’m not worthy of your marriage, something many kids before they realize their identity dream about.  Rosa Parks didn’t sit at the back of the bus regardless of the fact that any seat would take her there at the same time.  Why, because all humans deserve equality.  Vote to protect our freedoms.

So join with me against the logic of failure.  Support marriage equality.  Give us some hope because we aren’t quitting until we are all free!  Support Lambda Legal as they consider lawsuits and other options to further equality, because it really shouldn’t be up to 52% to tell 48% what marriage is and I think the courts will agree.  Also support the Human Rights Campaign.  And support Hope Wall at stophatred.org as I continue to write articles, make videos, and push for equality.

This article written for stophatred.org.