I am gay. I worked to defeat Prop 8. I mourned on election night when we lost, but now I am upset, embarrassed, and ashamed that I am reading that we are doing to bully and harass. We are now no better than the other side, and that makes me cry even more.
I love elections. I believe that when honestly done Democracy brings out the best in us when we bring as many people to the table as possible. That is also why I love the Democratic party and loathe Republicans because we work to encourage more people to vote and take part in the Democratic process while Republicans use horrible tactics to decrease voter participation.
I disagreed vehemently with the Yes on 8 Campaign, but I will fight with every bit of my ability to defend those who participated on the Yes on 8's right to take part in the political process freely without fear of retribution. If the Mormon Church broke the law, then they should face the consequences. But individuals who legally particpated in the Democratic process should never be made the victims of a witch hunt.
We, as progressives, need to stand up and defend everyone's right to participate in the political process. We should not just talk with those people who agree with us, but we need to listen to all voices--as our president elect reminded us--especially when they disagree with us.
Our movement is founded that we will prevail when we encourage more people to get involved. We win when instead of attacking, we sit down and discuss issues like adults. First we must listen to understand where people are at, next we educate and work to change minds.
If this action served a strategic advantage then I might be open to continuing. However, we know in the course of human history that attacking people only turns them into martyrs. Great leaders, such as Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. succeeded in their struggle because they never stooped to their opposition's level. Barack Obama won the Presidency because he appealed to our better angels. When the Jeremiah Wright tapes surfaced he did not attack or bully. He confronted the issue of race head on, gave one of the best speeches of a generation on race, and gained the respect of millions of voters. Let him be our inspiration.
We need to be better. Every attack, every martyr, every victim that we provide the other side only plays into their play book. It proves to the public that the gay and lesbian community should be feared. I simply cannot support that.
We should embrace all ideas, not attack them. Every time we choose the other path then it only sets us back. Wednesday morning we had the compassion of millions of people with us as so many Californians were truly sorry. Today, I am not so sure. And that is why I continue to mourn