This I Believe

I am never shy to share my opinion, and for many things, especially the important things, there is a great deal of passion behind the things I believe. For awhile, NPR ran a series called This I Believe, where people from all walks of life from top politicians to grade school teachers wrote essays and read them on the air--their own voice deftly expressing the core beliefs that defined their lives. A website is in place to archive the essays, and continue the unity that was felt in hearing those testimonials. In the wake of Prop 8 being upheld, I have examined a little more closely what I believe, and how important I think it is to share this openly. So, I give you my essay.

This I Believe

by Kim Salyer

There is a life and a world I wish for, and the one I am living now. But the things I believe are the same in both places. Somehow, even though at times I have been given all evidence to the contrary, I believe in the goodness of a group of us that witnesses something wrong. I revel in a group of strangers seeing one person struggling and then uniting to help, and then finding bonds with one another as that happens.

As much as I strongly disagree with other's politics and their beliefs, I believe that we all have a right to say and feel what we believe, to live in the comfort of knowing that in this country, souls who came long before us gathered, debated, fought, drew weapons, and lost lives for that very right. I believe to the core of my being that no matter how outdated the language, or the literal placement of words on parchment, that the spirit of our beginnings was about freedom more than anything else. And though that sounds obvious as I type, I think of how freedom has been lost in a cloud of judgment, religion, division, left or right and red or blue. One side is all wrong and the other is completely right according to whomever is speaking.

However, the men who gathered and wrote and passionately started this country were all flawed, as we now are all flawed. But there is a beauty in that. It is the beauty of a man placing pen to paper and declaring rights for everyone when his life was a contradiction to that statement. But yet, the ink flowed, because even he knew, though he might be steps behind these words in his own life, that they were the right words at the right time. The words were there as a challenge, as a testament, as the country they imagined would be made possible after the last letter of the last name of the last man to sign was written.

I believe history does repeat itself in deceptively different disguises of the very same lessons over and over. We read our history books, biographies, and newspaper articles and shake our heads with disbelief over the acts of groups of people, judging others and doing horrible things to repress them. How far we've come, we think. But it is happening again right now, in a thousand ways, here in America and around the world.

I believe that we are born with the very kernel and core of who we are tightly sewn into our DNA. Some outside forces, whether it is upbringing, calamity and chaos, or the extraordinary luck that can attach itself to a person or family, may affect the outcomes somewhat. But, the very bits of our being- the person we speak to in our own quiet moments and know as ourselves- is there from the onset.

I believe that no judgment or quotation of scripture can change whom a person loves. In a life of abuse and violence, global warming, and news broadcasts that cause most of us to turn off the television before the second story is told--- love IS the one last pure hope. It is still the thing that mysteriously changes our lives without warning, that brings about new life, that gathers a group of strangers together on the internet to help one soul mend a broken heart because we all have the capacity to love.

I believe that all of us should have the right to find and nurture that love without hiding, without fear of judgment or rejection, or worse, violence and hatred. And although some would call my religious beliefs (and struggles) into question, I believe that anyone who thinks that the very savior they believe in would have judged people the way that some do are missing the point so badly that it is painful to watch.

I believe that in time, there will be new ink on paper, the words flashing from a glowing screen as they are created instead of drying on parchment, but a group of men and women will sign. And those who craft those words will be flawed, and may not be living up to those words yet, but they will know it is the right time and the right place. And as the last letter of the last name of the last person is written, it will be another beginning.

This, I believe.

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Harvey Milk Day and The Fight for Gay Marriage

Excerpt from a speech made by Harvey Milk in 1978

Today was Harvey Milk Day. And how fitting that the decision on Prop 8 will be announced in the upcoming week. I am so hoping that the court rejects Prop 8, and that California is added to the list of states legalizing gay marriage.
It pains me to think that tomorrow I could go and get married while some of the most beautiful people I know don't have that right. It is in fact ILLEGAL for them to do so. I can't wrap my mind around it.
I was listening to a book review on NPR the other day, and the book's author was talking about the main subjects of his biography- a couple in an interracial marriage in a time when this was more than frowned upon. As the author continued to talk, he touched on a time not so long ago when it was a FELONY to be married to someone of another race or ethnicity. I suppose I knew this on some level, but I still was in shock for a moment. How judgmental this country has been and continues to be at times still levels me.
When I hear people ranting in hate about this issue, when I hear people involving the church and quoting the bible for support, I am sickened. We need only take a look in our country's past to all the things that we read in history books with disgust--wondering how in the world this happened or that happened. I honestly believe that generations from now, people will look back on this struggle as asinine.
This isn't about religion or politics. It isn't about morals or sin. It is about every person's right to be treated fairly and equally. And speaking of history, do these words ring a bell?: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

May 21, 2009

Tomorrow is Harvey Milk Day

Guest blog post from Senator Mark Leno, chair, California LGBT Legislative Caucus

Today is the 30th Anniversary of the White Night Riots, when the LGBT community and its allies rose up in anger after a lenient manslaughter sentence was handed down to Dan White, the man accused of murdering Harvey Milk and San Francisco Mayor George Moscone. This miscarriage of justice is still with us today as we grapple with homophobia, Proposition 8 and inequality in California.

Just yesterday I heard the discouraging story of a sixth grader in San Diego County whose A+ presentation about Harvey Milk’s life was censored by her school and labeled as inappropriate “sex education.” Her mother protested, and said "Harvey Milk was an elected official in this state and an important person in history. To say my daughter's presentation is 'sex education' because Harvey Milk happened to be gay is completely wrong."

The school’s action sends the wrong message to students — that being gay is shameful and that the contributions of LGBT Americans should be erased from our history books. Incidents like these are precisely why we need to honor figures like Harvey Milk and affirm our schools as safe places for ALL students to learn and grow.

Join me today in honoring Harvey Milk today, on what would have been his 79th birthday. Harvey was the first openly gay elected official in California and he gave his life for what he believed in. With courage and sacrifice he gave hope to an entire generation of gay and lesbian people whose basic humanity and freedom had been denied and dishonored.

Harvey’s leadership and inspiration brought LGBT people out of the closet and into civic life, but many people may forget that he also fought for important issues we still value today, including access to education, public transportation, affordable housing and protecting the environment.

I first introduced legislation to create Harvey Milk Day in California last year in the Assembly. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed the bill, arguing that Harvey should only be honored at the local level in San Francisco. Since then, Gus Van Sant’s Academy Award winning film, Milk, has introduced Harvey’s story to a new generation of Americans. His legacy and message of hope has now spread across the globe.

We need that message of hope now more than ever, which is why I reintroduced the Harvey Milk Day bill again this year. I urge you to tell the governor what Harvey Milk means to you, and sign EQCA’s petition. With your voice, we’ll get his signature this time around.

If you’re in the Sacramento area, help me and my fellow members of the LGBT Caucus celebrate what would be Harvey Milk’s 79th birthday on the North Lawn of the Capitol from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. If you cannot be there, please wish everyone you see a happy Harvey Milk Day and if they ask who he was, please share his courageous story of hope.

Sincerely,Senator Mark LenoSenator Mark Leno represents the 3rd Senate District, which includes Marin and portions of San Francisco and Sonoma Counties.

article courtesy of http://ca-ripple-effect.blogspot.com/2009/05/happy-harvey-milk-day.html

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The Big Picture

I am still on an Obama high, so thrilled with the election results. I have been so exhilerated to read the comments all over the internet on blogs and websites of Americans so full of hope and high expectations. The words they write are so different than I remember ever reading in my lifetime about the election of a president. I read them with such joy--I believe we are at a turning point.

I am saddened, however, that Prop 8 was not defeated in California. We are making steps in the right direction, I know. The election of an African American president, what a historic moment. But, rights for everyone, equality for everyone... it saddens me that there were still so many people in California that voted yes on Prop 8.

Now, the title of my post, The Big Picture, refers to a site I love visiting. It is on the Boston Globe's site, and features absoultely amazing photographs. They update it all the time. It is always timely, sometimes shocking, sometimes breathtakingly beautiful. Today's feature was, of course, our new president. Take a peek, and keep checking back. You won't be disappointed!

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