Proposition 8 was passed on November 4th, 2008 in California suspending the recent right of gay marriage. From here on, all current wedding licenses for couples of the same gender are nullified and the right of gay marriage, given by the California Supreme Court in late May of 2008, has been stripped away by those who voted yes on 8. Those who voted yes on 8 have no relationship or anything to do with gay marriage other than to keep the definition of marriage what is it, which would never change. I think it was pointless for them to vote yes. I believe people should not take away a right that does not concern them.
Discrimination against many minority groups has always been around. I have been discriminated for being an Asian American every now and then and also for my sexuality, mostly on the latter. All these comments just piss me off and it makes me feel bad about the person I am, until I realize I have way more self-esteem, respect, and love for myself that is unbreakable and untouchable by inconsiderate bastards like those described. But then I imagine America and I see levels of discrimination far beyond the ones I receive multiplied by thousands. All through America, there are groups of people who can speak to crowds or just stand on street corners preaching that gays are an abomination, a failure, a twist in the way God made man and woman. Not only against gays, I’m sure there are other groups against races, religions, people who made certain choices, immigrants, everything. I believe America is a country full of discrimination and it needs to stop before it gets far out of hand and far beyond recovery and reach.
This proposition has started protests across the nation. Recently I was in Reno and a large, large group of people were along the roads of the casino/hotel area on Virginia Street protesting for gay marriage and nullifying proposition 8, which does not regard them since they were in Nevada. With all these pictures for and against gay marriage, it makes me question what our American system really is now. I see our American system as trying to take away a right of a minority group. I see single-sidedness and inconsideration towards situations that have no relation to those in question. It also makes me wonder and loudly think, “What can they do next? What right can they take away next?”
I, myself, am a Christian and I am taught that god and churches do not accept homosexuality. I am taught that gays will have to change or else they will not be allowed in Heaven and I’m supposed to follow and believe this stuff. However, personally I don’t believe that’s right and I have struggled for a long time between what I’m supposed to believe by my religion and what I personally and honestly believe is right. After a long time of thinking through and through, I have come to the conclusion that my own honest belief is more important than what I am supposed to believe. I believe a person’s honest opinion should never be taken away or altered with what they are supposed to believe.
At church, I sometimes feel a sense of shadiness from those around me. I know that this is not the way a church should be. I feel that in a church, around a bunch of Christians, there should be a sense of acceptance among brothers and sisters not to say there isn’t, because there are people who know and accept me. However, I feel that along with acceptance, there should still be more respect and a feeling of comfort in my own skin. I believe that no matter where anyone is, they should have a feeling of security and safety in their own skin.
I am a Christian, a son of god, a brother of Jesus, he is the one I follow and glorify in all I can. I am homosexual and I believe in the rights of gays. I am torn between two opposing sides, what I have to follow and what I personally believe. I believe if one is torn between their religion, morals, principles, or anything and their own personal beliefs, he or she should go with their own personal belief. (But if they coincide, then it’s all good)
A very good friend told me that “it is better to be hated for who they are than loved for what they are not” and day after day, I have followed this quote and have gone against the grain to stand up for who I am and do all I can to not live a lie, and I believe others should do the same. I believe to the highest degree that people, all people, man or woman, gay or straight, rich or poor, white, Asian, black, Latino, or Indian, Muslim, Christian, Jewish, or atheist should never live a lie and risk respect and love to be the person they are.