Trevor's Box

There have been definite steps in the right direction in the last 10 years. Equal marriage is supported in six states. The media has started to portray gays and lesbians as real people, going beyond the stereotypes. The most popular daytime talk show is currently hosted by an out lesbian. Even this week, Hillary Clinton spoke at the United Nations’ human rights body in Geneva in support of LGBT people across the globe.

But while all these things are great, the struggle for true equal rights and fair treatment under the law is far from over.

It’s not over because 44 states do not allow equal marriage.

It’s not over when over half of our states allow the legal discrimination of LGBT people.

It’s not over as long as people hide behind religion as a justification to hurt their fellow citizens, even their families.

It’s not over because the Secretary of State needed to make that speech. ….

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There is this sense when discussing equal rights for LGBT people that both sides of the argument should be heard, and there should be debate. Well, I don’t agree. The freedom of religion is important to this country, and something I hold very dear. But this freedom does not give anyone the right to declare a portion of our population second-class citizens, guilty of nothing more than being born.

It is so frustrating when a “reputable” news source is having a conversation about equal rights and equal marriage, and people from groups like the Family Research Council or the American Family Association are invited into the conversation. What if they invited the Grand Dragon of the KKK to speak about the problems of racism in this country? People wouldn’t stand for it. So, why are these groups, which were designated hate groups by the Southern Poverty Law Center in 2010, treated as legitimate? (I expect it from Fox News, but CNN should know better.) ….

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