On the Road to Equality: We've Come a Long Way, But We Have a Long Way to Go

Barack Obama's victory over John McCain was a defining moment in US history. Indeed, it was a long and rocky path through history to that point, and a long time in the making. From the days when slavery existed, through the Civil Rights movement and long existing biases and predjudices, it took a common hope for our country and a united goal for change to lead up to the unforgettable sights witnessed when Obama was announced as the next President of the United States.

The phrase "Yes We Can" means more than the promise of change and betterment for our great nation. It also is a lesson to all children and indeed, all people, that anyone can be anything that they want in this land of ours. Hope is restored, not only for the United States and the new direction it may take, but also that anyone truly has a mutitude of opportunity in the U.S. to be who they are and still succeed here. Race no longer is a barrier or an issue.

The Constitution guarantees equality and the same rights for all of the citizens of the US. The Presidential election would indicate that we are well on our way to attaining that promise.

However, outside of the shining light of hope provided by the Presidential election, ballot measures across the country would indicate that perhaps we, as citizens, are not as open to equality for all as initially indicated.

Four states had ballot measures that included rights for homosexuals in our country. Arizona, California, and Florida all proposed a ban on gay marriages, and were approved in all states. In Arkansas, a measure was approved which banned gay and lesbian couples from adopting or becoming foster parents.

The message sent out by the election results? Race no longer matters, but who you love does. In essence, people are trying to tell their friends and neighbors who they can and cannot fall in love with and who to spend their lives with. Gays and lesbians across the country are now the citizens of this country who do not have the same civil liberties as all other citizens. It was wrong when it was done to African Americans, and it is still wrong now. No one should be given less rights or be considered less of a citizen because of who they love. It is not OK to tell someone to "hide it" or "keep it to themselves". These are your neighbors, co-workers, friends (even if you don't know it). Gays and lesbians pay taxes and participate in all other government regulations, and subjected to all of the laws of this nation. How is it then, that they are not afforded the same rights and liberties as all other citizens?

The argument has been made that open homosexuality will 'demoralize' our children and 'destroy the family'. Similar arguments were made during the Civil Rights movement. They didn't hold true then, nor do they now. Many homosexual couples live in life-long, monogamous relationships that outlive many of their straight counterparts.

Religion also plays no part in this, though a common argument. This is about goverment, in which there is a seperation of church and state. This is not up for religious debate about morality and sin, this is about all citizens of the US having equal rights, no matter who they are.

Gays and lesbians no more make a choice to be homosexual than a person chooses their skin color. In a world so full of pain and hate, denying someone the right to love seems absurd. Everyone deserves to partake of the promise and hope that we offer the world and be allowed the same rights and priveleges that our forefathers fought for and set before us.

In a nation such as this, no one should be a second class citizen. Yes, the 2008 election will make history and shows how far we've come on the road to equality, but the passing of those ballot measures throws into sharp contrast how much farther we need to go.