Last
week I found myself on an emotional roller coaster, as I followed the news. The
week started on a high. On Monday, in the State of Washington, Governor Chris
Gregoire signed into law a marriage equality bill, making Washington the 7th
State in the nation to affirm gay marriage. Other States to legalize gay
marriage are New York, Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont
and the District of Columbia (Washington DC). And over 3000 miles away on the
very same day, the New Jersey legislature passed a similar bill.
Then came the low. New Jersey would
have become the 8th State in the nation to legalize gay marriage.
Unfortunately, on Friday of last week, Gov. Chris Christie placed personal
biases and political aspirations before the people of New Jersey. He vetoed the
bill. Well, why don’t we simply tell all gay, lesbian, bisexual and
transgendered folks to ‘sit at the back of the bus’? Well, like Rosa Parks, I’m
not willing to give up my seat at the front of the bus.
In response to the veto in New
Jersey I found myself feeling angry, frightened, beaten, disheartened, and
disenfranchised. Now, I could wallow in self-pity or I could evaluate the
situation and figure out what to do. As an aspiring member of the clergy, I
could not permit the former. So, I chose the latter. In assessing the
situation, I realized that the political games like that played in New Jersey
last week, with the vetoing of the gay marriage bill, are nothing more than
bullying. Then I thought, if we won’t tolerate bullying on our children’s
playgrounds, we most certainly should not tolerate bullying by politicians.
But, how can I address that?
I searched for biblical
guidance, thinking of those prophets who stood up for justice and righteousness
– Isaiah, Jeremiah, and John “the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: prepare
the way of the Lord”! (Lk 3:4b NRSV) Christ too stood up to bullies – “Let
anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone” (Jn 8:7b
NRSV). But who am I? What power do I possess to change things? The good news is
I am not alone. I am never alone, for God is with me always.
And there are Christians and others who
are willing to take on those bullies and promote justice. The United Church of
Christ (UCC)[1] is
one denomination, among others, willing to stand up to bullies, on behalf of
LGBT persons and others who are oppressed. The UCC advocates for LGBT rights.
“In order for universal human rights standards to be truly universal, every
person, whatever their sexual orientation, gender identity or gender
expression, is entitled to the full enjoyment of all human rights. …In
faithfulness to the biblical and historic mandate holds that, as a child of
God, every person is endowed by God with worth and dignity that human judgment
cannot set aside; and deplores the use of scripture to generate hatred and the
violation of human rights …”[2].
In secular society, organizations like the American Civil
Liberties Union (ACLU)[3]
and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC)[4]
support and advocate for LGBT rights. These are just a few organizations who
will stand with me and whose collective voices can effectively change things.
I realize that I must continue to
hope. I must continue to pray. I must fully trust in the merciful, loving and
just God who created me and calls me to ministry. “My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.” (Ps. 121:2) I realize that I must continue to
live my life in such a way that it is pleasing in God’s eyes, to change one
heart at a time. I must carefully and selectively support those organizations
that will advocate for justice and basic human rights for all persons. Then,
empowered by the Spirit, the groundswell for justice and righteousness will
overcome the discrimination, oppression and hatred. Trusting in God, I like
Rosa Parks will not give up my seat at the front of the bus. And I fully
believe that one day I, as others like me, will enjoy the freedom of marrying
the one I love. With the help of God, one day America will live its pledge – “one nation, under
God, with liberty and justice for all”. Thanks be to God. Amen.
[1]
www.ucc.org
[2]
http://www.ucc.org/synod/resolutions/gs28/Resolution-on-Sexual-Orientation-Rights.pdf
[3]
www.aclu.org/lgbt-rights
[4]
www.hrc.org
I, too, was disheartened by Gov. Christie's veto. It is absurd that the bill made it through the legislature (the representatives of the PEOPLE!) and then got the boot at the gubernatorial level.
ReplyDeleteWhen I take a step back though, I find myself elated that the legislature passed the bill. That is quite an achievement in and of itself.
I keep trying to remind myself that slow and steady wins the race. And that God is on the side of the marginalized.
In the meantime, I will stand with you against the bullies.
Keep your head up Dawn. As King once said, "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice." That is to say, the change we desire has not and will not happen over night; it is a long and arduous process with gains and losses. But with each new state that moves forward in this direction, a new ounce of hope should be injected into fighters for gay rights in the United States. As new generations emerge and we stop fearing the other and start accepting the diversity of humanity; we will continue to make gains. DuBois didn't see his dream realized; neither did King; but we are moving toward greater racial justice; but as we know, there still remains great work to do. And the same will be true for marriage equality!
ReplyDeleteThanks,
William Godwin