Gay Rights v. the United States: A Perspective from the Straight Side

Growing from the persistence of a few  into a movement of thousands, Gay rights has emerge in the fore front of the American struggle for equality and civil rights. Since the the May 1st 1965 march on Independence Hall in Philadelphia, The struggle for Gay rights has revolutionized into a Global Influence that will continue till all barriers and limits are surpassed and broken.

Living in a nation founded on independence, liberty, freedom, and justice, the history of America has been tarnished in contradiction of our founding principles. That contradiction is evident in the uprising for Women's rights of the early 20th century and Civil Rights for all minorities in the 50's and 60's. These battles for equality stand in testament to the American spirit that lies in all us shows our un-willingness to not pursuit happiness and freedom for all people. Our history will always continue to reflect our struggles to united the many nations that composes our great nation.Violence and discrimination is no stranger to the war for civil liberation, equality and social justice. As mankind we seem to resort to our animalistic instincts for violence when the unknown challenges our fears and disturbs the comfort levels of what we believe in. Whether it be our own individual ignorance, fears, or beliefs; we use our influence to deny those ideologies, race, sex, and lifestyles that differ from our own. Yet to our own dismay, we inadvertently jeopardize our own personally civil liberties and rights that we hold dear.

As a African American man in America, I myself am no stranger to the poisonous and empty ideologies of the divisive majorities that have shaped American culture and history. Living in the heartland of Southern-Conservative America, I am a witness to the divisive, intolerant, and sometimes extremist injustice of the past. Not to say that all of Southern U.S. is intolerant but that it is more apparent here than anywhere else in America. More now than in the past this attitude of  division lurks in the shadows between the ears of many Americans. I myself have flirted with intolerant words, unfounded stereotypes, and harsh injustices. As a progressive-liberal in Conservative America  I have too found myself to utter discriminative slurs that opens the doors into the psyche of intolerance in my own mind.  Through dedication of learning about people's whose lifestyles differ from my own, whether it be personal connections or through business associations I have been able to bridge the gap of intolerance within myself and those around me. Outside of their sexuality and lifestyle , You will discover that  Homosexual  Americans values and aspirations do not differ from any other American. Like myself they work hard, attend school, abide the law, and believe deeply in the American dream to strive hard to live peaceful respectful lives.

Our  fellow Christian citizens  seem to overlook some of the most profound text of the Holy Bible like "thou shall love thy neighbor" in the Ten Commandments or That only God and God alone can cast judgment upon others.  Those who are "devout" Christian seem to forget  that the message of the Christian religion is to promote and advocate peace, love, and harmony. Instead of living true to the word of Christ we seem to  dictate and judge our values of others. The Bible taught more than immoralities, sin, and hell........the Bible  taught  to forgive, to love, to cherish and to believe in hope. How far have we as Americans not only as Christians fallen.  The Constituion that protected those whose views are not only similar to our own but those who differ from ours. 

The Idea that the religious views of the majority, could ever allow us to deny any persons rights or the pursuit of happiness is a contradiction  to our faith and the American way. More than that it is a disrespectful insult  to those who have fought and died  for the very rights and happiness we pursue and enjoy every day. It tarnishes our legitimacy as a nation and threatens the very civil liberties that we hold dear; it pushes us backwards instead of forward. To do so would allow persons to deny women rights or civil rights of minorities and even our right to be Americans. Let us as a nation begin to tear down these selfish, divisive, and intolerant barriers and push the horizon of peace, liberty and justice for all….                                                                                                William Gilbert  Jr.