“Things which are equal to the same things are equal to each
other. - We start with Equality.” Daniel Day Lewis Quoted in Lincoln.
It’s ironic isn’t it? As I sit on a plane somewhere across
the Atlantic Ocean en route to England; I watch a film based on the abolition
of slavery. It’s terrifying to think that in our very recent history… the
history of America the great, home of the brave, men and women, brothers and
sisters, children and more were beaten at the relentless hand of white powered
heartless superior-stated Americans. We the people of the United States of
America murdered… no… slaughtered innocent lives based on the color of their
skin. It sickens me. The hatred that must have seeped through the veins of both
parties is incomprehensible. The whites hating because of their self-initiated
supremacy; believing that only they reigned over high. The anger emitted by
African- Americans (please take note of that second word, for it is the MOST
IMPORTANT), rightfully so for the way they were treated; the fear that was
forced inside their souls for decades. I can’t even begin to imagine. I’ve
never faced anything to that extreme.
Think forward to the days where women fought to be
considered equal and to no longer be the property of their husbands and fathers.
The days where women protested for their own rights, despite the ridicule and
public defacing they experienced. Often I have asked myself what I would have
done had I been alive during these times. I believe I would have fought. I
believe that as a young woman in Tennessee I would have ran as quickly as
my shaking legs would have taken me North across the Mason Dixon line, to join
forces with the men in blue during the Civil War. I believe I would have
picketed side by side with the women who longed for their own equality,
fighting for the right to vote. I believe that as a young lesbian I would…
Oh. Wait.
That’s not the same is it? No one is beating me. No one owns
me. I am free to come and go as I please. Yet as a racially equal, gender equal
American Citizen I am denied the same rights of others of my same stature,
because I am gay.
Now, let’s talk about the elephant in the room here… or
shall I say on the plane. Most people who are “homophobic” – a word I hate and
I’ll explain why later – often feel that way because they fear the unknown.
They’ve either not met anyone who is gay, have met someone and had a poor
experience with it, or were taught to hate by their family or religion.
I’ve never met anyone with purple hair. Black, yes, red, of
course, even pink. I’ve known quite a few people with pink hair. But never
purple. You see, purple hair is unnatural. It is against what “God” intended.
If he wanted us to have purple hair, he would have created us that way. Now
some people will read this and nod their heads up and down thinking “exactly”.
Those are also probably the people fore mentioned as homophobics. The truth is,
according to the bible God made many miracles happen. Jesus Christ himself
healed the blind. Who is to say that never in his water to wine days did Jesus
ever turn someone’s hair color to neon purple? I didn’t write the bible so I
wouldn’t know. Then again, let’s think about who did. The Bible – the number
one selling book in the history of the world – was written by man. A few of
them actually. While I believe in a higher power and the faith of love and
kindness, I do not believe that disciples were consumed by God like Issac
Mendez on Heroes, eyes glazed over decoding and reporting word for word his
thoughts. Even if that were possible, the bible has been translated at least a
dozen times. One of the most well known translations is the King James Version.
This version, was taken from Hebrew to English, and picked apart by a King. It
is widely known that the King even “left out” parts of the bible in js own
interpretation. I’m sure when the “Word of God” reflects the way you want to
rule, it is much easier to keep your country in check.
I’m not saying I’m a history buff. I’m a twenty-four year
old woman who grew up in arguably the smallest town in Tennessee as a Southern
Baptist. I also happen to be a lesbian. I don’t know how much you know about
the bible belt, or how Southern Christianity views the gay and lesbian community, but I wasn’t exactly accepted
by the majority. In fact, standing in the middle of church one day I was called
out by a speaker who considered himself a prophet and was told that I was going
to hell. That me or one of my three closest friends would wind up in a pine box
for our sins. Now, I’ve read the bible and I distinctly remember a part where
it says that all sins are equal. If my being in love with a woman is a sin,
then does that not make it equivalent to any lie told no matter how big or
small, any adultery, or idolizing. Wouldn’t it be consider just as much of a
sin as what a politician does every day? And how about any time that the church
keeps secrets in order to protect it’s members. If you have ever coveted a
person, thing, or idea then you too are sinning equally to how a gay person
might be sinning.
You might not know me. You might not know anyone who is gay,
but what you can believe is that they are people just like you. Being gay
doesn’t make us monsters. It makes us the minority, who like many before us
have suffered at the hand of ignorance and hatred. We are equal. Our love, our
faith, our pride, our heart, our drive, our fear, even our sins are equal.
Now maybe you have met someone who is gay. It’s possible
that person was a jerk and that your experience wasn’t so great. Guess what? There
are straight people who suck too! People can be rude, obnoxious, inappropriate,
inconsiderate, awkward, as well as down-right mean. That is a show of
character, not their sexuality. They didn’t act out because they were gay. They
acted out because they were cruel and had poor intentions. That has nothing to
do with who they love. In fact it has more to do with whom they don’t love, and
trust me - it’s mainly their own self. It’s difficult to go through life
feeling unwanted, unaccepted and discarded. It is a tiresome fight to walk
every day with your head high just struggling to be yourself – and be accepted
for it.
Maybe neither of these are the case. In some instances
people hate gays simply because they are gay. Because their family taught them
to hate. Often Religion plays a strong part in this learned hatred. The
mistranslation of the bible and God’s message has taught us to trust words and
not our hearts. It’s taught us to believe in hatred and not kindness. To
discriminate and not accept. No one has asked you to be gay. No one expects you
to pick up, and rally at every event promoting Gay Marriage. All I ask is that
for a moment you think back to the history of our nation. At one point, there were strong
political leaders who still believed that slavery was acceptable. One by one,
people - AMERICANS -stood up and
fought this horrible misuse of power. Discrimination is the real abomination
here. Not love. It doesn’t matter which genders it is between.
Homophobia isn't a disease. It is a mental state of mind. The only cure for it is understanding. That is often followed by love. I have hope for our country and for our future. I have hope that we will have the equality we wish, but that will take time. Just like it took time before to solve all of the other pressing issues of discriminatory nature.
My heart is full of passion tonight. I might be on the other
side of the world, but my heart is in America. My faith is in our country and
in us.
I encourage everyone who reads this post to send it to five
other people. You can print it, read it out loud, tweet it, post it on
Facebook, etc. But if each person sends it to five other people, then maybe
three of those five will send it to another five as well. Every step towards
change is exactly that… a step. One foot at a time. One person at a time. It’s
our time to stand up and change history. To fight for what we believe in. It is
up to us to make the life we’ve always dreamed of. Free. Happy. Honest. Loved.
So… are you too embarrassed to stand up? Too scared? Or are
you taking the motion to feel alive in the freedom of speech that we have so
graciously – not without great pain – been blessed with? To stand up for your
brothers and sisters; fellow Americans. To support equality for all…
Now, I’m off to enjoy England. I’ll de-board the plan in
about three more hours; setting foot on another country’s soil. It will be
interesting to see what our history could have held. I’m excited. I’ll be in
touch!
Remember me,
I’m Tennessee
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