By: Ariel Brittain
From the Civil Rights Movement to the recent LGBT movement, history seems to be repeating itself. We have split this country in two as we did during Martin Luther King Jr.’s time, but instead of by race we have separated by religion. The two fighters consist of the religious population that’s against the LGBT community and those who support it. Now I, being a Christian myself, understand where the anti-gay population gets its views. Then again, I don’t see a reason for openly walking up to a gay, lesbian, transgender or bisexual person and treating him or her wrongly because of that viewpoint. If a country full of immigrants and peace-seekers really wants tranquility, then stop making the ordeal such an ordeal. Aren’t we America, home of the free?
In Virginia, lawmakers were discussing a new law that would protect the religious liberties of business owners. That sounds amazing, but when the law is actually read, the meaning points to a totally different agenda. After the story of a religious woman who denied floral service to a gay couple blew up the internet, these lawmakers saw it fit to add to that discussion. They wanted to make a law that gave store owners permission to deny, remove or prohibit services to any individual that would violate the store owner’s religious values. In shorter terms, if a gay man or a lesbian woman wanted a cupcake from the local bakery and the store owner denied it, it would be legal. Thankfully, this law was shot down because it violated the First Amendment, the same amendment which they were using to back their cause.
Legislators wanted to make a person’s sexual preferences a disgrace, a shame even. It feels as if we are back in the 50’s-60’s again in terms of prevalent prejudices. In the same way African Americans were fighting to use the same bathrooms as whites, today the LGBT community and many more are fighting to use the same stores, restaurants and gas stations as straight couples. If we can learn to accept someone’s skin color, why can’t we accept what’s under it? Each one of us is a human with feelings, emotions, views and dreams. Those thoughts differ among all of us, but that’s the beautiful thing in life. What I’ve come to realize is that no matter your skin tone, or religion or beliefs, underneath those is a person; a person who has an entire life ahead of him or her, a life filled with ups and downs or switching lanes, but it’s a life that would be a lot simpler if we all learned to accept each other. To accept our flaws and the people we choose to love wouldn’t be so hard if America put down the wall it has created and let in the light. I’m not at all saying we should retaliate against those with differing religions, but instead we should respect their choice and move forward. Like Abraham Lincoln said, “A House divided cannot stand.” Even though it was meant to reference political parties, it speaks loudly to America as a whole. If we divide ourselves and clash ideals, we’ll spend so much time fighting that we come to forget the poverty, the homelessness, the crime and the real threats America is home to. We forget ourselves as well as our country, so America, open your heart and unplug your ears. A new day is coming, and we all had better prepare for it.
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