A Post About Gay Stuff

I have recently had a series of thought provoking conversations, thinking sessions, and short documentary viewings that have changed my mindset about something.

My former mentality was something along the lines of, " I believe in GLBT rights, marriage and adoption, but as a straight man, don't really think it is my fight to fight."

My realization, largely aided by a good gay friend of mine, is that for GLBT rights to be recognized by people outside the GLBT community, those people have to see people within their community fighting for it as well.

We live in such retrospective times in such a retro-romantic nation that often our current situation is not taken as seriously. We look back at the 60's and think, "if only today were as radical as then," or look at great changers like MLK Jr. and think, "if only people like him existed today." I watched a show about an extremist spy infiltrating the U.S. Military last night and thought about how amazing that was, and then realized, "you know, I am sure that exact same thing is going on now but just hasn't been uncovered yet." Our problem is we cannot realize the magnitude of events until they are fully played out and can look back on them. I don't want to look back on these today, and then 10 years from now realize that I was not part of the biggest Equal Rights movement of our time.

So here's what I think now. If I had been alive during the bulk of the Women's Suffrage movement would I have marched with them? Would I have stood up when Black people were doing the bulk of their fighting for equal rights? Hell yes I would. Would I have thought to myself in the 1800s, "Well I don't agree with slavery, but since I am not a slave it's not my place to fight for them." Hell no.

GLBT people around the US and world are not given equal rights to straight people, and as a straight man I will not stand for that. This is my declaration of allegiance in the GLBT rights movement and belief in constructive, productive and non-hateful activism. It is also my invitation for other straight people not aiding the movement to join me.