Equality

 A while back, I wrote an anti-bullying blog post that referred to homosexual teens who committed suicide after being bullied. At the time, I purposely did not mention my opinion of homosexuality. I was afraid of any backlash that might result. Today, I am not afraid. I fully support gay rights, especially the right to marry. The fact that they are denied this right sickens me, and has since I was young. The fact that homophobia is alive and well in our society sickens me even more. Even when I was a little girl, I was infuriated when I heard people call homosexuals sinners, or use homophobic slurs. It still does make me angry. Luckily, I've learned to channel that anger into something more useful ; action. As a social justice advocate, I will fight for the rights of anyone who is marginalized, including the LGBTQ community (example: today was a day for people to wear purple to speak out against homophobia. I wore a purple shirt, purple bracelets, purple eyeshadow and a fedora with a purple band on it.)

     Now, I've heard all the arguments for why homosexuality is supposedly a sin. I just don't buy into these arguments. Never have, never will. Period. End of story. I was raised to treat all people with respect and dignity, including homosexuals.

I'm not the only Catholic who disagrees with arguments against homosexuality. DignityUSA is a Catholic-based pro-gay organization which "celebrates the wholeness of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Catholics." (http://www.dignityusa.org/purpose)  Wholeness. Isn't that a beautiful word? Every single person has value,worth,  and deserves to know that they are whole and good; no matter whom they love. In a society that judges homosexuals as sinners,as unnatural, perverted, and less valuable than heterosexuals, I think it's lovely to see a faith-based group acknowledge the wholeness and value of all people, including the LGBTQ community. If only society could see what DignityUSA, and what I, see.

     A common misconception is that people choose to be gay. It's interesting to me that homosexuality is written off as a choice. If heterosexuals find homosexual relationships unnatural, it's entirely possible, and likely, that homosexuals find the idea of having a heterosexual relationship just as unnatural. I believe that people should never be judged for whom they fall in love with and certainly not be prevented from getting married. I truly think it's unfair that homosexuals are not allowed to marry whom they wish to marry.

   No matter how you feel about gay marriage, I hope we can at least agree that judging and mistreating homosexuals is wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong. We are called to love others, and respect them. How can we really do that if we're too busy judging them for their sexuality? In John 8:7, Jesus says, "He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone." Not one of us is perfect, and we cannot judge one another. That is God's job.

Readers, I challenge you to treat all people equally, no matter their sexuality. If you do not support gay rights, I respect that. However, I would merely ask that you do some research, pray about it, and see if your perspective doesn't change even a little bit. If you support gay rights already, that's cool too. Fellow gay rights supporters, I challenge you to participate in "wear purple to end homophobia" days, as well as other events to raise awareness about gay rights and homophobia. To all of my readers, God bless!

Learning to Lean

     "Lean on me when you're not strong, and I'll be your friend. I'll help you carry on." These words of wisdom from Bill Withers are an important reminder that we should never isolate ourselves from others.  While independence is very important, we must remember that everyone needs help sometimes. I will be the first to admit that I've always hated asking for help. As I've gotten older, I've realized that this attitude really doesn't serve me well at all. The reality is that people need help to get through life. My friends, my family, and my Father support me during hard times and help me celebrate the good times. They are the ones I lean on when I need help.

    By the same token, social justice is called "social" for a reason. We cannot change the world by working alone. We must work together with other activists to see results. We must find people we can lean on when things get frustrating. As activists, there will be times when it seems like nothing is getting done. If we befriend other activists, we will have the support we need to keep fighting for social justice. This is not a fight we can win alone. Learn to lean. It will make your life and the fight for social justice that much easier.

Readers, as activists, I challenge you to find another activist who feels passionate about whatever social justice cause is closest to your heart. Then, find a way to raise awareness about your particular cause. I further challenge you to reach out to a friend or a family member in need of support. I can tell you from experience that this will make them feel loved and will give them hope. If you are in a situation that you need help getting through, just ask. Don't EVER be afraid to ask for help. Your friends, your family, and and your faith can help you through even the toughest situations. Seek professional help if necessary. You are never alone. God bless.