I'm Tired Of Hearing It!

Cincinnati's favorite son George Clooney had some interesting things to say about California's passing of Proposition 8:

"At some point in our lifetime, gay marriage won't be an issue, and everyone who stood against this civil right will look as outdated as George Wallace standing on the school steps keeping James Hood from entering the University of Alabama because he was black."

Hmmm. Well, I have a few opinions here.

First, thank's for the support George. Seriously, we need all the allies we can get, and someone as well known as yourself can truly help to change the minds and hearts of some people out there.

With that said, my second opinion is this is a lotta too late. George, I really appreciate your support, but where were you prior to November 4? A lot of those older voters that adore your mother and respected your father may have listened to what you had to say. An ally with a fan base like yours and a family tree like yours could have seriously helped out.

Third, and this isn't so much George, but everyone really: We need to stop assuming our rights will come to us in time. Wake up everyone! 30 states have stripped LGBT persons of their right to marriage and many others have deemed us unworthy to adopt children by no other consideration than who we love. Every election cycle, more Christian-backed Conservative groups stage marriage initiatives in more states and win. The only eventuality I can see is the complete reduction of my rights as an American simply because I love another man.

If we want marriage equality, if we want to have the same rights as everyone else, if we want to be able to live not as second-class citizens but as rightful Americans, we need to stand up and fight for it. No one sat back and said:

"Ya know, I think those Red Coats will leave eventually, it's just a matter of time. Let's just sit back and have some tea until then"

Or:

"I think us black people will be able to finally fulfill our dreams in this country and have an equal voice at some point, but until then we're just going to keep going to our segregated schools and not try and organize any sort of movement to get our rights. It'll come to us in time, don't you worry."

Those things were never said, because they would be just as untrue about American Independence and African-American Civil Rights as they are about LGBT Equality. We cannot sit idly by hoping someone else will make our dreams come true for us in the future. If we want equality, we need to fight for it, and we need ALL our allies to join us. Don't be content with the potential of hope, realize it.

DO SOMETHING!