Post-Election Soapboxy Pep Talk

[triedunture]

I'm up way early because I couldn't sleep.

Last night we finally elected a new president. And it felt great. I screamed with my neighbors and hugged my roommates and made frantic fist-pumping calls to my friends and family. Many of us never thought we'd live to see this day, when we finally get a black president. When we finally get a new Democrat for president. When we finally get rid of Bush as president.

But there's a dark cloud. It looks like Prop 8 banning gay marriage in California is going to go through by a narrow margin. Likewise the even more strict Amendment 2 in Florida, and whatever the name of the one in Arizona is. Gays have lost the right to adopt in some states now; they've lost their marriage licenses in others. In every state that a "homosexual issue" was on the ballot (sarcastic air quotes b/c Amendment 2 also affects heterosexual civil unions; bans them, in fact) we have lost.

Having Barack Obama in the White House is going to change a lot of things. But some things won't change unless do it ourselves. I refuse to believe I won't live to see the day when my kids will be able to marry whomever they love. I was scared I'd never see the day a black man with a funny name became president; now I'm looking forward to the day when we elect our first homosexual president.

The last 8 years have been hard on everyone, the gay community especially. The last two terms have given the GOP and Republican Un-Think Tanks the microphone, and they've used it to spout a message of fear and intolerance. We have already made terrific gains under an almost impossible regime. The time is right to start winning again.

This morning we all inherit a country that's been ravaged by the last presidency. There are so many things that must be put right. One thing we can all promise each other is: Never Again. Never again can we blindly hand powers to those who would abuse them. I think back to how violently those who opposed the war in Iraq were silenced, and how we allowed it. Bush gave us one good thing: he proved to us, without a doubt, that the power of our many voices, however dissenting amongst themselves, is greater than a single voice whispering a lie.

I feel confident in an Obama presidency, not because I'm convinced he will fix all the damage that's been done, but because I believe in the million voices. As a young gay, I might feel abandoned by my home state, I might despair at what's happening in California, but I see places like Massachusetts and Connecticut and New Jersey and in some ways New York opening their arms to people like me, and I have to have faith. We are not going away. We can only work to make it better for ourselves.

I'm rapidly coming to my point, I swear.

I am going to make a pledge: when Obama enters the White House in early 2009, I'm not going to be idle. I'm going to be working in my community, helping people, helping myself, working for the causes I believe in. We're not powerless anymore. Now we have a chance for real change, and we have to take it.

Some quirk of fate showed me a subway poster yesterday for SAGE: Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders. For me, this is the perfect way to volunteer my time. My greatest personal fear is dying alone, with no wife or children, either because I wasn't legally able to have them in my life, or because I was too fearful to ask them to join me in my life. I don't want that to happen to anyone. I don't want it to happen to me. Everyone deserves the dignity of living out their twilight years like a real, loved person.

There are other things I want to do too! I've gone from lazy fat American to super-charged Captain America American in one night. I want to help kids learn to read and let them love books the way I do. I want to guerrilla garden in my neighborhood because I'm sick of people saying we don't take care of our streets. I want to clean rivers and help people find the right subway line and hold doors for women with strollers.

I want to be good. I need to be good.

We all need to be, if we ever want to heal from the past. I don't want to be bitter, I don't want to slink over to Canada in defeat. I feel torn between joy in the presidential election and complete, side-swiped despair in the way the issue of gay rights was treated. I'll hopefully live a long life, and I want to see change by the end of it.

It's up to me to change things now.

Do we all remember how to say that?

Comments

[narfistic.livejournal.com]

Truth is, today is the day I don't mind the domino effect that much. Everyone I know is ridiculously happy with your election result.

And yay for soapboxy pep talk. You're being inspiring all the way over here.

[starpanties.livejournal.com]

A great post, totally inspiring for anyone to read.

I also don't mind the domino effect either. It's wonderful to be a part of, to read and see everyone's reaction. It's truly an epic time for America.

<3

[brewsternorth.livejournal.com]

*fistbumps* Preach it.

Because "yes we can" was never just about winning an election.

[lessofmyhead.livejournal.com]

THIS POST IS SSSSSSSSSSEEEEEXXXXXYY!Y!Y!YY!Y!Y!Y!Y!

[bullet2.livejournal.com]

I'm mostly a lurker, but now I wanted to tell you how pleased and proud I am that Obama was elected president. I think he can really change things for the better and give people hope for the future.
And don't despair, 8 years ago gay and lesbian couples couldn't marry or adopt in my country, now they can do both. A lot can change in a couple of years. Never give up.

[triedunture.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Foreign Lurker! I promise we will keep it up. Eventually, people will have to realize how silly it is to get riled up over gays marrying when we got much bigger problems to worry about, and then we can all talk it out, drink some juice, and hug.

Also, you're welcome. I've already taken credit for getting Obama elected, and I'll do it again. That's right, it was all me. :)

[lady529.livejournal.com]

Even though everything's not bright as could be at the moment, trust me, the day will come. I never thought it'd happen here, but lo and behold, all of a sudden the bill got passed, and now anyone can marry their boyfriend or girlfriend. It doesn't matter what sex they are. Just that they want to.

Congratulations on your new president, I was most pleased when I read the news : D

Like I said, it'll happen. Even in your country. Even if it's not today.

The Lady 529

[ceruleanshipper.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I needed that.

Dammit, California, I thought you weren't assholes. Eh.

Now we wait for Ellen to cry on her show. Those of you in California, it's time to make "Why did you destroy my marriage?" banners and bring them to the local LDS Church. It's time to bring out the legal argument that since Prop 8 never addressed the equal protection clause, ALL marriages in California are now going to be "domestic partnerships".

It's time to make the forces of hate realize what they've done. And it's time to shame some of them into doing the right thing.

[bernie-laraemie.livejournal.com]

Now, now, there's nothing wrong with slinking over to Canada ; )

Good on you, TJ. Keep up the spirit : )

[triedunture.livejournal.com]

Thanks, foreign friends! I promise we won't invade y'all no more.

[triedunture.livejournal.com]

We are being quite epic at the moment. You're welcome. :D

[triedunture.livejournal.com]

I know, right? Let's get in there and fix this jalopy!

[triedunture.livejournal.com]

CHANGE IS SEXY.

[triedunture.livejournal.com]

Exactly! Maybe it'll have to wait for another bill, or another law, or another court case. But we'll get it done someday!

[triedunture.livejournal.com]

There's a lot wrong with these new amendments. Florida's now takes away my unmarried parents' right to see each other in the hospital. WTF, Florida? All it will take is one lawsuit that someone takes all the way to the state supreme court.

[triedunture.livejournal.com]

Sorry, Canada! But I'm gonna be awesome over here for a while yet.

[blackletter]

Dammit, California, I thought you weren't assholes.

Apparently, 52% of us are. *disappointed sigh*

But, as a fellow Californian pointed out, in 2000, the Anti-Gay marriage Prop 22 won with 61.4% vs. 38.6%. There the difference was 22.8%.

This year, Prop 8 won with 52.1% vs. 47.9%. The difference is 4.2%.

Next time...next time...

[ceruleanshipper.livejournal.com]

Okay, I meant, "Dammit, California, I thought at least more than half of your voting population** wasn't comprised of assholes."

**that didn't vote absentee or with provisional ballots... wait a minute...

[blackletter]

Yeah, I'm really hoping that the absentee voters whose ballots have yet to be counted are non-asshole Californians. Because right now I'm deeply ashamed of my state.

It just...it shouldn't have even been close. We should have blown Prop 8 out of the water and obliterated it.

(As yet another Californian put it, "What the hell? We gave rights to farm animals (Prop 2) but took them away from people?)

[pinglederry.livejournal.com]

We gave rights to farm animals (Prop 2) but took them away from people?

EXACTLY. WTF, PPLZ? :(

[(Anonymous)]

It'll happen. Don't worry. And don't start believing it won't, that's what the bad people want you to think : )

The Lady 529