Another brick in the wall crumbles.
Yesterday, Congress voted to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", a policy that has been in effect since I was twelve years of age. Another brick in the artificial wall that divides us--crumbles away.
The LGBT community has consistently been told they have no future for far longer than my short number of years.
We are not allowed to marry. Political and religious leaders tell us we are incapable of loving someone of the same sex; that it is not within human capacity. That we cannot adopt children with equal custodial rights and duties--that we cannot be a family. We have no provision for health benefits. We are refused access to dying loved ones, and rendered irrelevant in decisions concerning their well-being. We are told that we do not have the right to protect the ones we love because, in fact, we have no right to love them at all!
From early on we are taught those that "choose" this particular path are somehow less than human.
And what are we to make of this? The LGBT community, especially our youth, are at extremely high risk for drug and alcohol abuse, indiscriminate unprotected sex, other self-destructive behaviors and even suicide. Anything to distract from, lessen or simply obliterate the crushing pain of that blindside. Without a future, what does the damage matter?
I have to believe "that all men are created equal"; and that we will continue to forge a more perfect union. I have to hope that just maybe in my lifetime, I will witness the first LGBT generation to emerge in these United States of America that is not at a marked deficit before they even begin their lives.
One enormous step closer to removing the obstacle of serving openly in the military has been made. And making available the things that come with that: pension, healthcare, scholarships, teaching positions. Opportunity without fear of reprisal. This is a big deal on the list of inequalities that currently exist.
This did not happen on its own. Countless individuals have worked to make this change materialize. The American public has been made aware of our plight. Apathy, fear and ignorance have ever-so-slowly been replaced with understanding and reason. The understanding that united, we stand; and the reason that divided, we fall. I sincerely hope this is the sign of a sea-change in our culture. An unstoppable force that crashes through the barriers that have fractured our country for so long.
Thank you to each and every one of the servicemen and women that have been discharged under DADT, and to each and every one of those still fortunate enough to serve under the act. Thank you for defending your country even while its social and political policies would not defend you. Thank you for refusing to simply go away.
Thank you to everyone who has ever spoken out for any minority, especially when you knew it might cost something of your own. That those minorities may have hope and promise, not as a mechanism of survival in the face of adversity, but from the basis that they are, indeed, equal. Every American is charged with holding "these truths to be self-evident", and should want nothing less for each and every one of their fellow countrymen and women...
"Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness".
The LGBT community has consistently been told they have no future for far longer than my short number of years.
We are not allowed to marry. Political and religious leaders tell us we are incapable of loving someone of the same sex; that it is not within human capacity. That we cannot adopt children with equal custodial rights and duties--that we cannot be a family. We have no provision for health benefits. We are refused access to dying loved ones, and rendered irrelevant in decisions concerning their well-being. We are told that we do not have the right to protect the ones we love because, in fact, we have no right to love them at all!
From early on we are taught those that "choose" this particular path are somehow less than human.
And what are we to make of this? The LGBT community, especially our youth, are at extremely high risk for drug and alcohol abuse, indiscriminate unprotected sex, other self-destructive behaviors and even suicide. Anything to distract from, lessen or simply obliterate the crushing pain of that blindside. Without a future, what does the damage matter?
I have to believe "that all men are created equal"; and that we will continue to forge a more perfect union. I have to hope that just maybe in my lifetime, I will witness the first LGBT generation to emerge in these United States of America that is not at a marked deficit before they even begin their lives.
One enormous step closer to removing the obstacle of serving openly in the military has been made. And making available the things that come with that: pension, healthcare, scholarships, teaching positions. Opportunity without fear of reprisal. This is a big deal on the list of inequalities that currently exist.
This did not happen on its own. Countless individuals have worked to make this change materialize. The American public has been made aware of our plight. Apathy, fear and ignorance have ever-so-slowly been replaced with understanding and reason. The understanding that united, we stand; and the reason that divided, we fall. I sincerely hope this is the sign of a sea-change in our culture. An unstoppable force that crashes through the barriers that have fractured our country for so long.
Thank you to each and every one of the servicemen and women that have been discharged under DADT, and to each and every one of those still fortunate enough to serve under the act. Thank you for defending your country even while its social and political policies would not defend you. Thank you for refusing to simply go away.
Thank you to everyone who has ever spoken out for any minority, especially when you knew it might cost something of your own. That those minorities may have hope and promise, not as a mechanism of survival in the face of adversity, but from the basis that they are, indeed, equal. Every American is charged with holding "these truths to be self-evident", and should want nothing less for each and every one of their fellow countrymen and women...
"Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness".