We’re almost there!?!? I’m hoping that Prop 8 was the necessary catalyst to anger, energize, compel, and inspire the gay community and it’s supporters to demand equality.
When it comes to rights, I don’t understand how people can expect one to settle for anything less than equal. Opponents of gay marriage love to spout the “you have civil unions” line as if they’re the ones whom have compromised. Quite frankly it reminds me of the “separate but equal” premise. The day that civil unions become a viable argument is the day that ALL couples have to accept civil unions! (A notion that I’m fine with as it better defines the line between Church and State.)
Some argue that we’re whiners and sore losers as if rights we equivalent to a sporting event; “the majority has spoke, now sit quietly and accept it!” (in my best Bill O’Reilly voice). Well… sorry Bill, not this time, not when we’re talking about civil rights. As I see it, now is the precise time to stand-up and start yelling! Throughout our history minorities have and are still proudly fighting for equality, this is just a progression of that effort!
That said, I’ll end my rant and leave you with a few quotes from others and photos from myself.
“Individual rights are not subject to a public vote; a majority has no right to vote away the rights of a minority; the political function of rights is precisely to protect minorities from oppression by majorities.”
- Ayn Rand
“It does not take a majority to prevail… but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men.”
- Samuel Adams
“The restriction of religion to private life therefore does not necessarily threaten the vital interests of the majority religion, if there is one, and it protects minority religions from tyranny of the majority.”
- Phillip E. Johnson
“The test of courage comes when we are in the minority. The test of tolerance comes when we are in the majority.”
- Ralph W. Sockman
“That the desires of the majority of the people are often for injustice and inhumanity against the minority, is demonstrated by every page of the history of the whole world”
- John Adams
