Two years ago today I woke early, grabbed my phone and sobbed as I read the Supreme Court decision to uphold Marriage Equality. My wife of 11 months was sleeping next to me. I wrapped my entire being around her and whispered, "it passed."
I had no idea, in that moment, the profundity that marriage and marriage equality would have in my life. I had no idea that I had carried so much shame, from age 15, about my sexuality. I had no idea how much I would love being married and how hard it is to stay in a strong, healthy, committed, communicative relationship.
I had no idea that oppression lifted is freedom and that freedom creates infinite possibilities.
I woke this morning and felt sickened when reading about the Supreme Court upholding elements of the Muslim Ban. Every piece of news, every executive order, every element of the so called healthcare bill is crushing. Crushing as the inhumanity is mind boggling, the cruelty is so extreme and my inability to make it change makes me feel entirely out of control.
I, once again, feel the weight of oppression.
The remarkable thing about the LGBTQ community is that Gay crosses every line - race, religion, gender, economics. We represent every demographic that has been and is ~ism'd. We see oppression as we know oppression. We, while still human and still limited in recognizing every injustice, believe that all are welcome and all people deserve equality.
If you have never been to a Pride parade or celebration, I encourage you to go next year as every color in our rainbow is represented and we are adding more colors.
Until every person is free from being oppressed for their authenticity, for the color of their skin, for the amount of money in their bank account (if they have one), for their gender and gender orientation, for their religion or place of birth, I will fight.
On June 27, 1969 a group of fed up dykes, fags and drag queens (exactly as they were identified and as we co-opted the ~ism) fought back. They fought the police for days in the streets. They fought because they could know longer tolerate being oppressed for who and how they loved. They fought because they loved themselves and each other enough to risk it all to be free.
Tomorrow it will be 48 years to the day since the Stonewall Uprising. In my lifetime LGBTQ people have risen, have fought back, and have invited the world to see that we are everywhere, we are loving and we are loved.
With love in my heart, I invite you to do Today's Easy Activism tonight or tomorrow. Tonight you'll get voicemail. Tomorrow perhaps a person, probably not. We are still fighting for our lives and even if the life isn't mine, I'm going to fight until there is no more reason to fight.
TODAY'S EASY ACTIVISM -
1. Call Republican Senators and tell them to vote NO on the HEALTHCARE bill. These Senators are a great place to start as they either oppose or are on the fence. Call again, if you've already called. Keep calling. We are what democracy looks like.
THE VOTE IS ON THURSDAY!!!!
PLEASE CALL
- Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) - (202) 224-4343
- Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) - (202) 224-5922
- Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) - (202) 224-5444
- Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) - (202) 224-5323
- Sen. Dean Heller (R-NV) - (202) 224-6244
- Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) - (202) 224-2523
- Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) - (202) 224-6665
- Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) - (202) 224-6472
- Bill Cassidy (R-LA) - (202) 224-5824
- Rob Portman (R-OH) - (202) 224-3353
2. Read this Tweet thread from Cody Keenan, a speechwriter for Obama. It is a remarkable reminder of the strength and perseverance of our democracy. We will rise again.
Love and gratitude -
:: genessa