This is the poster being used in protests demanding marriage equality across the nation. Pretty powerful imagery here – reminds me of the iconic “black power” symbols and images from the 60′s and 70′s. Six months ago, that imagery might have troubled me. Today, it really doesn’t bother me like it used to.
In the last 5 years, I really thought we were getting through to people. It seemed that barriers were slowly dropping. Maybe we lost some fights, yeah, but those were in strongholds of bigotry like the Deep South or the Bible Belt. The rest of the time, it seemed that people were finally beginning to understand that all the LGBT community wants is to live our lives like everyone else – all we want is the freedom to make our own choices, unhindered by the religious, political, and sociological ideologies of "the majority".
California’s vote for Prop 8 really changed how I – and I’m guessing a lot of other LGBT people – view our struggle for equality. It has become obvious that using The System to bring about change in itself simply isn’t working. The System and – let’s face it – The People themselves, are far too vulnerable to manipulation by the powerful few. It’s time to stand up for what we want in ways that make people uncomfortable. It’s time to make people understand that withholding rights from us is not going to be easy, quiet or comfortable. It’s going to be messy; there are going to be casualties.
Withhold our right to marry? Lose your tax breaks.
Donate money to hate speech organizations? Take a hit in revenue.
Spout lies and disinformation about us? Expect us to broadcast the truth about you.
Get ready. The real fight is just starting. That last match was just the handshake before the whistle.