Failing to Compromise

I do refrain from making this too much of an opinionated opinion column. Mainly to avoid alienating readers, but also because I’d rather be pleasant than preachy.  Today I go out on a limb. I am voicing my opinion on an issue. I am doing so not to ruffle feathers or elicit retaliatory comments, but because this is something worth taking a stand over.

            I fully support the legalization of same sex marriage.

As some of you probably read here, .

A step forward in the struggle for equal rights, but not a victory. Victory will only come when the same rights and privileges afforded to Heterosexuals are extended to everyone. Currently in this country we have institutionalized discrimination woven into our military and our marriage laws. Civil Unions are a compromise designed to placate and quell a minority group.

My reason for being so up in arms over this issue is simple. It’s not personal. I am not gay. I have no gay family members (to the best of my knowledge), nor were any of my childhood friends gay. For me it is simply a matter of right and wrong, and knowing our nation’s history.

New Trier excels at a good many things, but perhaps no field is as comprehensive and focused as diversity training and political correctness education. Freshmen may not know the Bill of Rights, but I bet each one knows what Title IX is.

As a Trevian I was taught the facts and stories of the 1960’s civil rights movement.  The movement is remembered as history. Something that happened once and is now gone and has to be remember. Past. It wasn’t until I got to college that I realized that the fight for equality never ceased.

Freshman year of college I experienced my first real glimpse at the ongoing battle between those looking for acceptance and their opposition. In the fall the LGBT community holds an event called National Coming Out Day. The event draws attention to the damaging effects of living a life in denial of one’s sexual identity and celebrates those who choose to be honest and out.  At the time I didn’t know any of this, I just knew there were rainbow sidewalk chalkings for an event going on by the great hall.  Back at the dorm I was approached by a guy, I wouldn’t call him a friend, named Mike.  Mike wanted to know if I would join him at a National Coming Out Day protest.

“In favor or against?” I asked him.

“Come on.  Like, write Fags are Bad on poster board and just hold them up while their talking.”  He told me with a smile on his face.  He thought this sounded like a really funny idea.

I looked at him opened jawed, shocked. This was the kind of thing I had seen in grainy B&W news footage in New Trier history classes. I couldn’t believe that a contemporary peer was suggesting that we actually construct hateful signs and try to belittle a group’s peaceful demonstration.

I told him I wasn’t interested and walked away.

The next year I began attending LGBT Alliance meetings on a weekly basis. The year after that I was their secretary in charge of taking notes at meetings and helping out with event planning and publicizing. Senior year I was the president.

In my time with Alliance I met some of the funniest, kindest, strongest young men and women I have ever known. I learned what it meant to have a group, institution, religion, or a nation discriminate against you for being you. I met adults who had lived most of their lives in agonizing denial of their true selves out of fear of persecution.

Mike was arrested a couple of times freshman year for underage intoxication and public indecency and transferred to Alabama.  (Hand to God, no joke)

I learned through experience that Homosexuals are in no way shape or form deserving of the second-class citizen treatment that have endured for generations.  I have never heard a worthy argument against extending the definition of marriage to include same sex couples. Bearing in mind that your religious beliefs are yours to have, but they should not dictate my nation’s policies.

Congratulations to all the happy couples who were issued Civil Union licenses this week. I wish you many years of happiness and love, but I also hope for a day when you can trade in that Civil Union license for an Illinois state marriage license.

Here’s hoping that day arrives sooner rather than later.

Cheers,

 James