The last few Prides I have been to were awfully short on half-naked queers but had a lot of gay parents marching with their children, a lot of corporations that believe developing a diverse workforce is good for their company as well as gaining loyalty from gay consumers. I saw a lot of strollers with children who have only one legal parent even though they were being raised by two loving parents. I saw children at risk because our laws will not allow those children the same protections such as survivor's benefits when their breadwinner parent dies if that breadwinner parent is gay. I saw a lot of very happy gay couples that do not have access to the same rights as straight couples--the right to inherit property without paying tax, the right to survivor's pension benefits, the rights to transfer property to their loved one without paying a gift tax, the right to be with their loved one in an emergency room and to make crucial medical decisions when that loved one cannot. I saw good, intelligent, educated and qualified people that could be fired from their job simply for their sexual orientation, or denied from an apartment rental application or even have their rental agreements legally terminated because they were gay. I saw some that had gained relative financial success that had become complacent thinking that their economic stability insulated them from the hatred and bigotry that is surging around us.
What did I do? I personally visit my congressman and [try] visit my senator every year and tell them that I am a gay consitituent that lives, works, plays and votes in their district. I do not let them think homos are just nameless faceless sex addicts that emerge from under bushes in California, that we have families and feelings and needs. When someone asks me if I am married I tell them I am not because I am gay and can't get married. I am out and open so that those that don't think they have ever met a gay person don't get their only images from the few second news clips of gay pride parades. Most people have a hard time hating gay people once they finally get to know a few.
I donate money and time to groups that lobby for recognition of gay rights [equal rights are not special rights!].
I am a gay laywer from Iowa, and that only begins to describe who I am. Being gay is only a part of me, but I will not let myself feel marginalized because that part of me is not in lockstep with what other people think I should be.
Most of all, I refuse to be ashamed of who I am.
