WRIT 101.28: Sustainability: Op-Ed Final Draft

Annaleigh Newall

Op-Ed essay

Mackenzie Cole

Spring 2012, Writ 101

Since as long as I can remember, my aunts and uncles have been there for me every step of my life. When I was 7, my aunt’s partner was diagnosed with lung cancer. As you can imagine, this was a long, painful process for everyone involved. My aunt Carolyn was denied her partner’s life insurance because they were not recognized as a legal couple. The cost of a funeral fell on my aunt, to be paid out of pocket. When I broke my arm, I wanted Carolyn to be at my surgery the next day, and she was there.

Imagine having a family member in the hospital. They are on their death bed and the end is near. This person is the love of your life. But, you aren’t allowed to visit them, because you are a homosexual couple. Why is it that with all the problems going on in the world; rape, murder, poverty, and more, all we can think of is not allowing gay people basic rights? We want to take away those rights and deny them what they deserve just because they are different? Montana is one of many states where gay marriage is not legal and I believe that this is a necessary change that needs to be made. I am originally from Washington where I am proud to say that gay marriage is now legalized. I couldn’t be happier for the state as a whole, but more importantly, my family members and friends that are gay can now legally be recognized as a married couple.

When I was a baby, the only person I would go to besides my parents was my uncle David. Since day one I had a special connection with him. My uncle Mark visits from Pittsburgh every year, and my brother, sister, and I wait anxiously for the week he spends with us. We get to go to dinner and catch up on about half a year of happenings, and hear what’s new with him. I’ve never been ashamed or embarrassed to be with any of my family. Having gay couples around me was something that I have become accustomed to. I look forward to the opportunities to learn from somebody different then myself. I understand and am proud that my family has gay members in it. I wouldn’t want my family to be constructed any other way. I have been taught that although somebody may be different from the standard cookie cutter mold that society accepts, it doesn’t make someone any less of a person. Many anti-gay individuals are opposed to gays because they are afraid that having young children exposed to gays will make those children become deviant. I believe I am a perfect example of defying this ignorant statement. I graduated high school in the top 75 of my class with a 3.67 GPA. I was very active in my church in high school, including attending many mission trips to places like Mexico and San Francisco and countless hours of volunteer work. I like to say I’m a pretty good person. I have also been exposed to gay people since the day I was born. I’m not any less of a person because of it. I believe it makes me a better-rounded person and accepting of everyone regardless of their backgrounds, sexual orientation or religion. I couldn’t ask for any better relatives who I know will always be there for me when I need them most, as they have for 18 years. Being different isn’t a bad thing, and I am glad I have been taught to realize this.

In Montana, when a man or woman loves somebody of the same sex, they are denied the same rights as heterosexual couples. Love is an emotion, why should the law prohibit emotions? In a survey published in December 2011, it was found that even in a state that is against gay marriage, 51% are okay with civil unions. 62% want same-sex couples to have legal equality. In the same survey, 37% of people polled said same-sex marriage should be legal. (Public Policy Polling) In 1979 in Bozeman, my uncle David and a group of his friends were trying to organize a gay night at a local bar and grill. As they were enjoying their meals, they were attacked with knives (Anderson). Luckily, everybody walked out unharmed. They were attacked for being different. Many places have a singles night for heterosexual people, why should homosexual people be excluded?

When I decided my topic for this paper, I was flooded with emotions. I felt I owed it to my family that has gone through heartache about discrimination about being homosexual, other family’s that have homosexual members in them, and my homosexual friends. As I was reading articles about homosexuals I started to cry realizing everything people have gone through. The people who commit suicide because they are teased so much for being gay, the teenagers in high school who are on anti-depression medicine because of the constant harassment, the fact that people won’t even give someone the time of day to even simply smile because they are known to be gay, it all breaks my heart. Who likes conformity anyways? I don’t think that it’s fair for people to be discriminated against for being in love. The biggest thing we can do to prevent this awful discrimination is to be educated and accepting of everybody, no matter their orientation, race, or religion. We need to make our communities, state and nation aware of the problems and oppression that homosexual people are facing. People need to become educated on the issues in this country. Why should somebody not be granted basic rights? Write letters to your congressmen and inform people about the issues if they don’t already know. Be aware of the bills that are going through congress in your state and approve them so everybody can have equal rights. Sign petitions, do everything you possibly can to show people that you want equality. Don’t judge a book by its cover. All lessons that we have been taught since kindergarten, right? So how come as a society we aren’t able to implement these basic life lessons that we have been taught since we were five years old?