What next?

The last few days I have been reading a lot of articles, trying to understand how I feel about what is going on. I think that the best way for the gay community to express our anger is to mobilize and take some tangible action.

A lot of criticism has come from targeting the mormon church in particular for playing such a large role in the passing of this proposition. Personal feelings about their religion aside, I think that I would have to agree with an argument I saw recently: The LDS actively mobilized for the cause to eliminate rights, and they cannot expect to throw a punch and then "hide in the bushes" and not expect to be hit back. Their church actively lobbied for the passing of proposition 8, and they can't run away from what they did, and claim that we are threatening their religious freedom. In any case, I think that they are getting the scrutiny that they deserve.

Another argument that is flying around a lot is the one that the "majority" has spoken. "We voted on it, so deal with it" is something that I have been seeing a lot. I would ask these same people if it would be "fair" to put slavery back on the ballot. The bible says slavery is ok, so why not have a vote on that? What about women's rights? Or the right to marry whomever you choose (regardless of race)? These were all decided by the courts. Why all of a sudden is it ok to put a vulnerable minorities' rights on the ballot? The straight answer is that it is not. The California constitution clearly states that "A citizen or class of citizens may not be granted privileges or immunities not granted on the same terms to all citizens."

Other ballot measures, particularly the ban on adoption in Arkansas by non married couples (targeting gay couples) which was passed by such a strong majority. The reasoning behind this certainly eludes me, although it can be nothing more than homophobia.

As I have previously mentioned. The LGBT community has finally woken up, and now it is time to channel our anger into educating people who do not understand why all we are looking for is recognition that our love is just as good as theirs.

I will be attending the rally in downtown Los Angeles this Saturday.

Here is a link to rallies being held around the country, and the world:

http://jointheimpact.wetpaint.com/?t=anon