Even before I came to the United States, I got the impression that the quest for equality is a recurring theme in this country’s historical narrative. As an adolescent, I read and marveled at the women who marched for their right to vote and at African-Americans who bravely defied racism and demanded they be treated as human beings. Back then I never imagined I would be in America to see the next chapter in the fight for civil rights, and that this new struggle would ultimately affect me. But this is where the country is right now, and this past year we’ve seen significant gains on gay rights.
It’s happening just as I have come to realize I am a second-class citizen in this country. People like me cannot marry the ones we love, serve as our honest selves in the military, and in some places, lose our jobs. I began to notice that I don’t have access to things my straight friends and neighbors have, and I realized that I am treated differently when I know I shouldn’t be.
The overturning of Proposition 8 was this year’s first big gain for civil rights: on Aug. 4, 2010 Federal Judge Vaughn Walker ruled that the ban on gay marriage in California is unconstitutional. The language of his ruling is as deadpan as any, but it was one of the most beautiful speeches I have ever read. It effectively debunked every claim and argument against gay marriage through logic and superb legal knowledge of the Constitution. The ruling showed that opposition to marriage equality has no legal standing. In the eyes of the law, no one gets to vote on the rights of others.
The study conducted by the Pentagon about allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military is another shining example of intelligence finally being exhibited in our biggest institution. It was a blow to all the idiotic justifications for keeping “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” But aside from showing the plain truth on what our men and women in uniform feel about serving alongside homosexuals, what moved me was seeing the Secretary of Defense and the Chief of Joint Staff show their support on behalf of the thousands of gay men and women who serve in silence as they risk their lives for this country. As someone who is entering the military, it feels like they have my back.
These past couple of months I’ve also seen the gay community come together in solidarity when the alarmingly high suicide rate of gay youth was no longer bearable. With the “It Gets Better Project” on YouTube, hundreds of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people from different walks of life reached out to teens who were being bullied or tormented because of their sexuality. Their message was simple: hang on; life gets better. But the project expanded to include not just people who survived their years as LGBT youth, but also celebrities, high-ranking government officials, politicians and even the President. Making videos on YouTube is a simple feat, but the sense of urgency to save the lives of teens at risk is hard to miss.
As with every civil rights story, it’s not a right easily handed down. Judge Walker’s ruling was stayed and is currently awaiting review by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, paving the way for the case to reach the Supreme Court. The repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is up for vote in the Senate, and it faces strong opposition from conservative politicians despite the military telling them that DADT must go. Yet, all across America many gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered teens still see death as the only means of escaping their tough lives.
But this is why it’s a fight for civil rights. It’s because people like me are no longer willing to live in our current conditions and we’re tired of the unjust laws and attitudes that keep us less than equal. This time the momentum for change is on our side, and the support we have garnered from the public is strong, vocal and visible. These are exciting times to be gay in America, and I imagine that decades from now I will look back in this moment in history and remember how I saw the country once again become a land of equality for all people. Maybe, I’ll get to use my real name next time.
