by Jericho Garrett

Created on: November 07, 2008

When I saw the final result for Proposition 8 in California, I was shocked and disheartened that this level of prejudice is still so prevelant in our society. When I look at a bill like this, along with the Arkansas bill that effectively banned gay people from adopting or acting as foster parents, I wonder how we can consider ourselves a progressive society, when such action is regressive.

I have long been confused about the misgivings surrounding gay people. The gay community is not some secret society where all members must learn a special handshake in order to enter; far from it. They are simply human beings wishing to live their lives just as those of us in the straight community - they want the same rights and opportunities as we enjoy, without being subjected to prejudice for no other reason than they have partners of the same sex.

The funny thing is that from the way some act, one would expect homosexuality is a totally new phenomonon that suddenly appeared during the last 30 years; yet it has been around since time began. Surprisingly, the world is still turning, not yet destroyed by fire or flood as those in the conservative community are so fond of predicting. And, as they are now, they have always been productive members of our society, contributing greatly to art and literature that is still enjoyed today. So why now do we feel the need to condemn them?

I once heard something that I really believe is true, that it isn't the thought of a gay person that gets so many so riled, but the thought of gay sex; too many people still have overly puritanical notions about sex, and consider the very subject taboo. However, it's time for people to look past the sexual aspect of it and look at the personal aspect; after all, a gay relationship is really no different than a straight relationship. They love, they fight, they compromise and they deal. They go to work every day, pay bills, and raise families. And there are plenty of straight people who engage in "deviant" sexual behavior, but when was the last time you saw a sign that said "God hates the Sadomasochist!" or "A blow job is a snow job against God!"?

The reason I know that gay people can make good, solid, loving parents is because my "father" is gay. I was born to a drug addict and horribly abused; not just by her, but by many so called "Christians" who thought I was worthless and would never amount to anything more than a drug addicted welfare queen. Yet, when these people turned away from me and shunned me, he took me in, adopted me, and raised me as his own. He helped me realize my worth, and gave me the strength to grow and achieve. As a result, I never fulfilled their prophesies, although many of their own children did.

And yet, because society is still so focused on what it considers "moral", others like him, who could provide more children like me with loving and stable environments, aren't being allowed to do so. This isn't just and it isn't right; it is hatred, ignorance and prejudice at its very worst. The irony is that, according to the Bible, which these moralists are claiming to uphold, this type of judgment against another person is an immorality in itself; but, as with so many others little "details", this particular detail is conveniently ignored.

As a society, it is time we realize that sexuality is not immoral, and biology is not a sin. We are all people, regardless of gender, color, and sexuality, and the very Declaration of Independence states that all men are created equal; we need to recognize that this applies to gay people as well.

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