The nation-wide protest against California's Prop 8 is underway. In case you don't know, Prop 8 was a measure placed on the ballot to ban same-sex marriage, and unfortunately, the measure passed. Just as similar measures passed in Arizona, Florida and Arkansas (the one in Arkansas also banning same-sex couples the right to adopt children). I had originally chosen not to talk about the passing of Prop 8 because it angered and disappointed me in such a way that my thoughts about those who have been rallying to treat a portion of the population as second class citizens is a bit irrational. I didn't want to offend those who may have supported Prop 8 and other measures like it, however, at the end of the day, I have to take a page from the book of the Immoral Matriarch and remember that this here is my space to discuss whatever I feel like discussing and that those who do not agree or feel offended have the choice not to read it.

I am a PROUD supporter of gay marriage and an ally to the Queer community. I do not believe that anyone should be denied their civil rights. This is clearly a civil rights/human rights issue and people seem to see it as solely a religious one. I thought there was suppose to be a separation between church and state, but obviously not, since in order for one to even be eligible to lead this country one has to be a Christian and not a Muslim. Its just all really ridiculous to me. The ways in which history works in a circular motion; repeating itself. As the story goes, in this country, there was once a time when blacks could not marry other blacks and people of color could not marry whites. Now that these rights have been granted to these groups, the nation has a new minority to oppress under the law. That is why we have to stand up and fight for equality. Barack may have made history and a progressive step toward the possibility of positive race relations, but the truth is, we still have a hell of a long way to go before this will truly be one nation under all.

If you'd like to dig out your inner activist and take to the streets in support of the rights of our fellow brothers and sisters I encourage you to check out Join the Impact for more information AND to find out when and where the fight is taking place in your state/city. Remember, the banning of same-sex marriage isn't really about morality, keeping with traditions and preserving the word "marriage", its about exclusion and keeping a divide between "us" and "them". THIS IS NOT RIGHT!!! We must all do our parts if we really want to see change. We must recognize that as Eva of SASSY Women Online has pointed out, "civil rights is an EVERYONE'S issue."