New to the Gay Community: The Unspoken Responsibility

As a member of a minority group we have to stick up together to get through everything. Minorities unite in the time of activism but then the connection is lost again until they have to unite to fight for the same cause. Like the saying "the enemy of my enemy is my friend," but these connects shouldn't break down; "two heads are better than one," so why can't that apply here?

On March 24 and 25 the U.S. Supreme Court will act upon the D.O.M.A. (aka defense on marriage act), and Prop. 8 (aka propitiation 8). Most people don't know what these things represent or that they even ecicited. It was surprising to me that so many LGBT teens didn't know or even sorta understand what these things mean.

DOMA and Prop. 8

DOMA is the Defense of Marriage Act that was signed by President Clinton in 1996, that basically say that a same-sex marriage isn't equal to that of a heterosexual couple. DOMA allows the government to have no recognition of same-sex marriage and take away rights from these marriages "like Social Security benefits or the ability to file joint tax returns." In some states and regions DOMA is unconstitutional and that's why the Supreme Court is looking into it.

Propasition 8 was passed as soon as gay marriage was legalized and banneded gay marriage from happening in California. Proposition 8 was named unconstitutional but was all the drama that it caused it stoped gay marriage from happening in Califonia until the Supreme Court rules. 

Our Responsibility

Thanks to the 1960's and people like Mike we have such a push for gay rights movement now but what will happen in 50 years from now will thinks return to how they were? Teens back then were active in the gay rights movement and every thing that happpened, but todays teens don't even know about commonly spoken topics like Prob. 8 nor DOMA. 

I understand that "oh, they are just teens" but this shouldn't be an ecuse for not keeping up with the news that will change not only his/her furture but also the lives of millions around the country and the world. Every thing that is done today makes a brighter of darker tomorrow and we should think about what we want our tomorrow to be like. 

And remember "No matter how in or out of the closet you may be you still have a next step."

This idea are thanks to: