Coughing Up To The Cop Out

I saw the movie Lincoln recently starring Daniel Day Lewis. It's a great film about Abraham Lincoln and the reason he pushed through the 13th Amendment to the United States constitution. Perhaps I am being arrogant (and it wouldn't be the first time I was being so) but it made me think that my fight for marriage equality is more important than ever.

I truly am tired of the complacent people who are fine with being friends with homosexuals, but show zero initiative in helping to fight for their rights.Simply saying that it should be left up to the states or that it will happen eventually is a cop out. That's right. A BIG, HUGE, CRAP LOAD OF COP OUT!

You see, that is their excuse that allows them to support candidates or bills that do not help their LGBT pals. It's what they tell themselves in order to get to sleep at night, I suppose. Being their pal is fine, I am sure. But how would they feel if their spouse was dying in the hospital and the law didn't allow them to be by his or her side? How would they feel if they spent most of their life dedicated to a spouse, and when that spouse died, they had zero say in funeral arrangements or assets or possessions or anything really?

But don't let me try to convince you. Let's hear the voices of a few of my LGBT friends who were kind enough to give their two cents about people who are happy to be their friends, but are complacent about their rights. And as you read these stories, keep in mind, they just might be people you know and love.

LGBT Pal #1:

 I am always taken aback by that because it clearly demonstrates that they don't take me--or our friendship--seriously. It also prompts me to tell them the story of losing my home and livelihood five years after my partner died because his cold-hearted bitch of a mother sued me for his half of everything. And with the lack of laws that would protect my interests, I had to sell our home and most of the stuff in it in order to pay her. As a result, my memories of him are forever clouded by his inaction and refusal to see his family for what they are: prejudiced and bigoted.

I firmly believe that if people who purport to care about me hear that story, they will understand why rights for people in same-sex relationships are essential and examples of basic human rights.

LGBT Pal #2:

I have friends who support candidates who go against gay rights and when I ask them about that, they often say something to the effect of, "Well, it's not that we don't support you, but we have to look out for our own best interests, and the Republican party aligns with our way of being fiscally conservative." I think that's a total cop out and speak up about it. I point out that by supporting Republican candidates, they're supporting people who are against equal rights. I don't want special rights, just equal rights. I want to be able to visit my partner in the hospital, I want the same tax rights, social security rights, the right to be legally married, and the list goes on and on. They often try to argue about Biblical principles, which is an even bigger cop out. I'm very spiritual, and there are hundreds of passages in the Bible that our society no longer lives by, but the right wing likes to pick and choose the scriptures that seem to condemn gays. It makes my blood boil. I have no patience with it, but I think many right wingers have formed opinions based on fear and ignorance. It's often a pointless cause to try and educate them because fear and ignorance build a wall around them.

LGBT Pal #3:

I think it’s easier for someone to say “Well I love YOU, but…” and then proceed to contradict that statement. This is because most people who believe this way have been taught that it’s okay to be homophobic or anti-gay....just don’t ever say it out loud.

How can you say you love and support me in one breath, and then tell me you don’t believe I deserve equal rights or treatment under the law? It’s a huge slap in the face. Most of them don’t get it.

I used this example with a friend not too long ago. She lives with diabetes, but at one point said to me that most people will never even give it a second thought. I turned this around and said “Okay. You know how you live with diabetes every day? That’s how it is for me. You might think about gay rights once in a blue moon, but I live it every single day.” While it’s not the best example, she finally began to understand that it’s not just something I choose to be a part of... it’s a fight every day for my life.

I have found myself in tears many times over the last two elections because of people in my life who, in my mind, just don’t get it. These are people who aren’t even vocalizing their opinions about gay marriage, but chose a side with their vote. While I know that the economy is important, I just don’t see how it can take precedent over the basic civil rights of the people in this country.

However, I think many people in the majority are hung up on the idea that gay people are somehow second-class citizens and thus deserve to be treated as such. It’s the very childish ideal of “We have these rights and privileges but we don’t want to share them with YOU because you’re icky.” It’s human nature to love power and control…and to me this is all just one big power play.

The biggest disappointment is comes from within my family. This is a group of people who have two openly gay relatives (myself and my aunt) and yet still do not believe that we deserve equal rights or protection under that law. Why? Because God says it’s wrong. That’s it. That’s the only reason anyone ever wants to give me.

What it really comes down to in this instance is the need for separation of church and state to be a REAL thing. Don’t get me wrong, I am Christian and I do believe in God, but I refuse to believe a book written by man thousands of years ago should be the social standard of what’s best for the people of this country in 2012. It’s an archaic, backwards way of thinking. If you want to live by Old Testament rules, go back to Old Testament times. The rest of us will continue evolving just fine without you.

LGBT Pal #4:

People who think "progress is just gonna happen eventually" while voting for candidates who want nothing but societal digression, are morons. Regardless of one's way of thinking. There's no such thing as a progressive conservative. The longer this country stays still, the more potential for growth it loses and the more it comes off as a cultural and intellectual wasteland. I'm sorry, but it's true.

And NOTHING regarding even the most basic rights of people should be left up to states. State governments are decided and controlled by the sheep. And yes, there are, and unfortunately always will be sheep. Sheep cannot make good decisions. Sheep cannot think outside themselves and their own interests. And allowing every slack-jawed hick and elementary school drop out to decide the rights of OTHER people is nothing short of criminal. The best example of this: the death penalty in Texas. Texas is the jewel on the Republican crown. Heaps of people are put down without any decent reason. Why? Because the hick dickfucks who are in charge and the oilmen who wanna play God make the decisions.

A BIG THANK YOU TO MY FRIENDS FOR SPEAKING OUT!

These are just the words of four fellow Americans who want equal rights. If you still want to deny these people their rights, then find another reason because the excuses are growing old and illogical. Showing your lack of concern by throwing out evasive diarrhea no longer holds water. Admit you care more for a political party than the rights of your friends and family. Thanks.