Separate is Not Equal

Saturday was a day of protest across the nation and Hannah and I joined thousands in front of City Hall in San Francisco. I had taken for granted that Prop 8 would not pass and that my neighbors agreed with me that civil rights are birth rights. I won't take it for granted again and I have promised myself to be much more outspoken on the issue so that those I come into contact with will know how I feel and why.
Hannah and I were both brought to tears by an amazing speaker named Amos Brown. He was one of six students taught by Martin Luther King and I have never been in the presence of anyone with a voice of such authority and power. He is an African-American Baptist and he says that he "stands alone" in support of equal rights for gay people. He said that he will stand up for equality and justice whenever the need arises even if he stands apart from his community to do so. My favorite thing he said, in his metered booming voice was, "I am a Baptist, but I am not a bigot!"



As the temperature rose into the eighties, the mood grew more demanding. Several speakers reminded everyone how recently it was that interracial couples could marry in this country.


They reminded us just how recently women fought for the right to be viewed as individuals, not as property, and how recently our schools were integrated.

It's important that we see this not as a gay issue, but as a human issue. I would like to see all heterosexual marriages stopped, in protest, until equal rights are granted for the gay community.
I'll share this viewpoint with everyone I speak with now, but I thought I'd start here - with you!

I know that rallies happened in many cities across the US on Saturday, but I really appreciate being in San Francisco. We can protest and look good doing it!

Shalom in your home! Libby