Getting Involved: Gay Rights Activism, as Sparked by Seeing the Movie “Milk”

Last week, I saw the movie “Milk” and it ignited my inner activist. The movie is about Harvey Milk, the first openly gay person to be elected to public office in 1978 in San Francisco. He, along with then mayor George Moscone, were murdered by former city supervisor, Dan White. Not only was the verdict controversial (manslaughter as opposed to murder), but White only served five years of his sentence before being released.

What really opened my eyes as I watched the movie was the horrendous actual footage of police brutality that took place in San Francisco in the 70’s. Back then, it wasn’t uncommon (and still may be) for police to raid suspected gay bars and mercilessly beat and arrest patrons for being homosexual. A person could be arrested on the street, for heaven’s sake, and charged (or physically subdued) under a bogus allegation such as blocking the sidewalk, when in fact the real reason was because they were gay.

Absolutely disgusting, in my opinion.

I realize I was raised in liberal New York, and maybe that’s why it’s so hard for me to fathom how anyone could discriminate based on sexual orientation or anything else remotely similar, for that matter. My brother once had a conversation with me about homosexuality and made a point that I still perpetuate to this day. He said, “It’s not like homosexuality is a choice. People don’t wake up and decide to be gay any more than you and I woke up this morning and decided to be straight.” I couldn’t argue with that.

I was also deeply moved when I listened to Hillary Clinton last year as she recounted the story of one of her closest friends. When his lifelong partner ended up seriously ill in the hospital, he wasn’t allowed to visit him. After all, in most hospitals visitation is only for families. I’d never considered that aspect of gay rights before. Why would I? After all, I’m straight and it doesn’t directly affect me.

Or does it?

I decided it does since I’m an American and feel that the rights I enjoy should be enjoyed by everyone. We’re not talking about giving away random licenses to practice medicine, or any other life and death scenario. We’re talking about the right to love. Gracious, it’s such a basic and beautiful freedom. How on earth is it ok to revoke something like that simply because how one person does it is different than how another person does it? None of it makes sense to me. What’s more, I’ve been saying for a few years now that I don’t want to get married until it’s legal for everyone. Rather than just say that, though, I think it’s time to start acting in the direction of what I believe. And not just because I know as many gays and lesbians as I do straights, or because I’m in-love with the most incredible man right now and the day might come when I’d like to marry him. Instead, it’s because, in my opinion, the minute we start revoking such fundamental rights as marriage based on something a person doesn’t even choose (sexual orientation), well, that’s the day America has lost its greatness and I’d rather not be part of it.

So, how does someone get involved? Education is a first powerful step, and the Freedom to Marry web site has a lot of valuable information in it, including why marriage equality is important. Additionally, the site lists ways to get involved, including a marriage freedom petition that you can sign online.
I can’t wait to become more involved in this issue, and moreover, can’t wait until the right to marry is granted universally to gays and straights alike.

Please take a minute and visit www.freedomtomarry.org for more information.

Comments

[Sue]

It's unfortunate that everyone can't understand how unreasonable and downright oppressive this prejudice is. It is everyone's right to be loved and appreciated no matter what their sexual orientation may be. I'm glad you wrote on this topic.

[Megan Bord]

Thanks for your comment! This is something I feel strongly about, and agree that it's unfortunate others can't be more accepting. In time...