About this user
I am a late blooming activist. For years I selfishly sat back on my anger at what was going on in the GLBT community and depended on others to voice my message. Things don't change that way. We can't fall back on others to do our bidding. If I wanted a change to happen, I had to do my part to make it happen.
I was angry at Sally Kern. So angry, I fired off e-mails, drafted a petition, e-mailed everyone I knew, did the hokey pokey and turned myself about. When I sat back, I realized that I had to take a deep breath and face the ugly truth that she did and still does enjoy the same freedom of speech as I do. That's quite a jagged little pill to swallow. I hate what she said. I hate that my life and everything I stand for is being compared to terrorism. I hate that all of the work to teach love and acceptance for those who may be different, is being minimalized as a "homosexual agenda". I hate that in 2008, I still feel unsafe to walk down a street with my partner holding hands. I hate that people are still being brutalized and murdered for being GLBT. I hate that people wield religion and "family values" like a weapon to beat others down instead of using it for their own beliefs and moral code within their own walls. Although I am not a member of organized religion, I hate that through no fault of my own; I am told continually I am going to Hell. I hate all of those who claim to have once been gay, but have since been "shown the way" to abandoning that sinful lifestyle. It is a slap in the face to all of us who know that it is NOT a choice and you can't turn it on and off like a radio. I hate that we have elected officials who can't seem to check their Bible at the front door. Mostly I hate that we are one nation, UNDER GOD, indivisible, with liberty and justice...for some. That is a lot of hate. It's a lot of energy.
It is hypocritical for me to try and take away Sally Kerns freedom of speech no matter how putrid and ignorant the speech is. I don't respect her. I have a hard time with anyone who consistently votes against abortion, yet votes FOR capital punishment. Comedienne Elayne Boosler summed that up brilliantly saying "spoken like a true fisherman. Throw 'em back, kill 'em when they're bigger." I guess some sins are worse than others. I want us to continue to fight for our rights, but I would like to see us take the high ground. If we lash out at the Sally Kerns of the world with hate speech of our own, we go nowhere. Let's start practicing what we preach. I forgive Sally Kern for her words. I have compassion for her for the narrow view of the world she lives in. The biggest enemy we face right now is fear. Sally Kern is afraid of what she doesn't understand so she fights against it. Some people scoop up spiders and put them outside to live another day. My first instinct is to step on it. THAT is fear.
There was a moment, an all too brief moment, if you blinked, you would have missed it where in the face of great tragedy came an odd sense of peace. On September 11, 2001, the world watched in horror as planes flew into buildings, thousands of people lost their lives, and skyscrapers crumbled to the ground. For just a second we weren't gay, straight, religious, agnostic, atheist, black, white, male, female. We were one mighty nation devastated at the atrocities committed on our homeland. We banded together, we donated, we gave blood, we raised money, we held hands and sang, we planted flags, and we made it known that we, as a nation, would stand mightier than ever in the face of this catastrophe. It was the only time in my life that I didn't feel like I was a separate unit. I was part of the team. With every piece of debris that was cleared, so went that feeling, and here we are today.
It is my pledge to continue to fight for the rights of the GLBT community. My tactics however will change. I will debate earnestly, I will try to educate, I will sing the songs of love and acceptance. I will not lash out. I will not fight hate with hate. I will not use disrespect to combat disrespect. I will value others opinions, and work hard to prevent those opinions from becoming hate speech and hate crimes.
