NO EXCUSES

Whatever your plans for Saturday, November 15, 2008 are, cancel them.  I don't care what they are, how long they have been planned, you NEED to reschedule or cancel.  No excuses.  There is a nationwide protest being held throughout the country to protest the passing of Proposition 8 of California, Amendment 2 of Florida and Amendment 102 of Arizona.  Here is the link to find your protest location http://www.jointheimpact.com .  If you think this doesn't affect you because you don't live in one of those three states, think again.  Why will other states try to fight for equal rights for all people when the "popular" vote states otherwise?  (I put popular in quotes because Prop.8 only passed by 400,000 votes...again another case where your vote actually does matter.)  

If you fall anywhere in the queer spectrum you HAVE to be at a protest, you just have to.  It's not an issue, it's the issue.  It's bigger than marriage, it's bigger than California, it's bigger than religion...it's openly allowing the majority to determine the civil liberties of the minority, and it's wrong.  

If you are a straight ally, you HAVE to be a protest.  We need you, we need your visibility, we need your solidarity to our community, we need you to speak to other straight people about how me gaining the same rights doesn't somehow negate your rights.  We need the community to come together across the nation, stop being okay with being tolerated, and demand to be respected as equals.  We're not asking to be treated special, we're demanding to be treated the same.  

You have one week to reschedule your plans for Saturday and drive your gay ass to a protest.  No excuses.  It's my nephew's first birthday.  Trust me, he won't remember you weren't there.  It's my best friend's baby shower.  Send a second gift.  It's my parents' 50th wedding anniversary, we've been planning it for 2 years.  Well, if they don't understand why you aren't there then they probably don't understand you.  It's a 3 1/2 hour drive, have you seen the cost of gas lately?  If that's your excuse you must be content being a second class citizen...and don't even think of bitching when you have no legal grounds with the person you love.  

Tell everyone you know, be there, be proud, stand your ground and don't act a damn fool.  We need to be seen and heard, and we need to do it with decorum, because if we don't the media will have a hay-day and we will not get anywhere.  Take pictures, take video, upload and show your solidarity to the community.

I leave you with Declaration of Guilt by Pastor Martin Niemoller (October 1945):

In Germany, the Nazis first came for the Communists,

And I did not speak up

Because I was not a Communist.

Then they came for the Jews,

And I did not speak up

because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists,

And I did not speak up

Because I was not a Trade Unionists.

Then they came for the Catholics,

And I was a Protestant

So I did not speak up.

Then they came for ME...

By that time

There was no one to speak up for anyone.

To make sure this doesn't happen again, the injustice

To anyone

Anywhere

Must be the concern of

Everyone

Everywhere.

There.  I am off of my soapbox...but I'm carrying it with me on Saturday.

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."--Edmund Burke.