Down with DOMA

I grew up in a working class family. My mother was a cosmetologist, and my father a machinist at a local plant. My mother was raised Roman Catholic, so my brothers and I were also baptized into the faith. We even attended Catholic School for our entire grade school process. I got programed all day about my religion and the bible. After school, I would go to work with my mom at the beauty shop because I loved being around her co-workers and customers. I was a nosey kid! One of my mom's best friends and co-workers was a gay man. I never knew what exactly it was about him that was different. I just knew that he was fun. I had not heard the word gay used as a slur until I was in grade school. I remember asking my mother what it meant, and she said "it is when a man loves another man...like my friend "Mario" (this name has been changed)". I remember thinking it was funny, but I did not understand the big deal. I really did not understand the mechanics either which is a whole other conversation in and of itself!

Throughout my life, I gravitated towards my lovely homosexuals. I was quite the hag starting in high school, but I was raised Catholic. I was always torn over whether or not I was doing something wrong by associating myself. Being Catholic, for me, came with an enormous amount of guilt and paranoia. It was not the religion for me. I did not decide that until I was an adult. I met two of my best friends when I was in my twenties. They are the most amazing people that I have encountered in life. I know that I can count on them for anything. They have shared milestones in my adult life, and they are homosexual. Although they are no longer together, they remain my friends because it we sweet sweet love when we met. After months of getting to know these people, I knew without doubt in my heart that my God could not possibly hate these two people. They are no different than me. They do not love differently. We hurt the same, bleed the same, love the same, and die the same. They are spiritually my brothers along with many others that I have become friends with over the years.

The changing point for me was going to my first Pride Parade. I had never seen anything like it before in my life. It was like Candy Land. It was glorious! Until I walked towards the end of the parade with a few friends and we found the protesters. I had never been so shocked and offended in my entire lives. I grew up with people like this, and I could not imagine shouting the hatred they were shouting. I thought of my friends, and I found myself in a full on shout fest. I waved my rainbow flags and screamed that they would burn in hell first as loud as I could. Of course I went to their level! It was fun!

I could never imagine anyone treating my friends like that just because they are being who God intended them to be. They are just trying to live their lives. Many years have gone by since my eyes opened, and I am always quite vocal over my beliefs. The world is changing, and there are more people openly protesting for equality for GLBT's. The new problem is people are afraid of change. Today President Obama "instructed the Justice Department to no longer defend the Constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act" (CBSNews) People are coming forward with their hatred more than ever, but there are just as many if not more of my GLBT loving family in support. No human being should be condemned for the way that they were born. Being GLBT is not a choice it is preordained at birth. This is what I believe with all my heart, and I know without doubt my God agrees.