On March 15th, the California Supreme Court struck down the ban on same gender marriage. A lot of folks gathered at The LGBT Center to celebrate this historic decision. I shot some video and posted it on YouTube. Naturally, I got a comment right away but I couldn’t decide whether to approve (show) it or deny (delete) it. So, I sent out an email poll. Scrappy (or dramatic – take your pick) members advocated posting it. “We need to show people the discrimination and hatred we face”. More sensitive (or self-respecting) responded with the firm suggestion to delete. One friend stridently reminded me, “It’s YOUR Tube, not their tube”. I was still pondering, then I got an email from Mom.
“I watched your video, well done. The comment remindes me of a rapist who was active in the anti-abortion movement. All we can really do for these poor misguided souls is to love them and pray for them and respond with love and kindness, something they evidently don’t get much of on a regular basis.
Not that I’m that old, but I remember when there was segregation in this country. I lived through the assassinations of the Kennedys and Dr. Martin Luther King, the Watts riots, Ghandi, Archbishop Tutu, and the heartache of trying to get blacks registered to vote without being intimidated or losing their jobs when they did go to the polls. I’ve lived through Roe v Wade (still living through it). I’ve lived to see a woman, then another, on the Supreme Court and women in politics from local school boards (rather than just room mothers) to now a serious candidate for the Presidency. All of these had the negative comments like the one made to you.
Usually they are made by men raised in the belief that violence and hatred and having an enemy and fighting will bring ‘peace’ and keep the statues quo. They are afraid of change because they don’t see where they’ll fit in or what their role will be … they are frightened little boys. Sure some women support their cause because they follow their lead. They too are afraid of change and what their role will be.
We need to do as your video says Donate Get Involved Speak Up Volunteer. I don’t know if you remember marching with me in the streets of Palo Alto, San Francisco, and Berkeley protesting the war in Viet Nam. It was important for me to stand with others and be vocal and involve my kids because in a few short years they would have to make their own decisions about standing up and being counted.
Check out The Seattle Times front page article “Logging town welcomes transgender group”. I vote for posting the comment with a note to pray for his lost soul. He is living in fear and can only see the negative. I love you Ame and I will continue to work for peace in non-violent ways”.
Okay, aside from how cool it was that I was protesting Viet Nam when I was (hmm, 5?), I love her logic. Post it so we can PRAY for him! Ha ha!! I cannot resist … view it here with all it’s commented silliness or view a higher quality version at centeradvocacy.org. Thanks very much to all who responded and if you want to comment on his comment, I’d LOVE to see it.
