Column:

Obama needs to fight for gay rights

By Trevor Turner

Published Nov. 13, 2008

Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008, was a historic day for America. We elected our first black president, but what should have been a monumental day for civil rights was tainted by new laws that took our country a few steps back in true equality.

Arizona and Florida formally banned gay marriages, even though they were never legal in the first place. Arkansas passed a law that banned unmarried people from adopting children, specifically targeting gay adoptions. Colorado made an interesting move by voting for Barack Obama while also voting against affirmative action. Finally, California proved it cared more about animal rights than gay rights by passing Propositions 2 and 8. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad we are treating animals better, but how can California grant a basic human right to homosexuals six months ago and then take it away?

I absolutely love this country and couldn't be more proud of it. However, it pains me to see how so many people can throw a whole group of fellow Americans under the bus. Sarah Palin and Joe Biden both did exactly that during their vice-presidential debate.

Homosexual teens have the highest suicide rate among teenagers because of harassment and lack of support. Chicago has to build a gay high school just so it can protect those students. Even Missouri's Democratic governor-elect, Jay Nixon, completely denounced gay rights.

I supported and voted for Barack Obama, but my main criticism of him is his weak support for gay rights. It is hard for me to fathom how a man whose presidency is thanks to the years of fighting for civil rights, can be so hush about his support for the gay-rights movement.

He has a personal investment in outlawed marriages. As child of white woman and a black man, it was illegal for Barack Obama's parents to marry in 16 states when he was born. Many will say Barack Obama had to be a closeted gay-rights supporter because he would have lost the presidency otherwise. That in itself is deplorable.

Homosexuals are a very diverse group of people. They reside in all parts of society. They can be are rich or poor, black or white, rural or urban, religious or agnostic, conservative or liberal. They are human just like the rest of America and it's disgusting they are treated like second-class citizens for simply being who they are.

In my view, if you supported Proposition 8, you are either ignorant or a bigot. It's that simple and there are no shades of gray. Ignorance can be forgiven and I can guarantee if you meet any gay person and truly get to know them without judgment, your mind will be changed.

The gay-rights movement is the civil rights movement of our generation. Homosexuals shall overcome and the leaders of the movement will be revered much like Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks and Lyndon B. Johnson were in the 1960s. It is imperative Americans pick a side and do not saddle the fence. History will judge those who do not support gay rights. So, how will history judge you?

Trevor Turner is a member of the MU College Democrats. He can be reached at tturner@themaneater.com.