The Equality Battle November 11, 2009

Over the last week or so I have read countless amazing blogs, letters, and articles about the battle for equality. I’ve also had countless conversations with people about the subject.

At the National Equality March everyone there was challenged to start the movement. It doesn’t matter if you are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, ally or however you like to be identified as. Everyone of us has to work together to make this happen. We were challenged to come out, write letters to our congressional districts, talk about our fight and make things happen. I love that TV shows and movies are starting to help make the general public realize that we homosexuals aren’t all that bad, and they show some of the battles that some go through.

A very close friend of mine and I were talking about being out at work last week. Personally, I don’t hide anything. Everyone I work with knows I’m a lesbian. Even the 70-year-old woman who can’t stand the idea of gay people. My friend, however, said that she was just going to keep it quiet at her job because she didn’t want people to be uncomfortable. Keep in mind, she’s proud in every other situation…so this upset me. Why should we have to keep things  quiet to save them from being uncomfortable? We are supposed to stand up and be proud in every situation. We shouldn’t have to be uncomfortable for the happiness of the closed-minded. Straight people, let me ask. Do you like watching straight people PDA? Didn’t think so.

Another great friend of mine, an ally, has gone to amazing lengths to help with the battle. He’s written letters, had arguments in my defense, and even wants to help me start a revolution. He’s pretty much amazing. To all the allies out there, thank you for everything you do. Your love and support will help us all go far.

I challenge you to help in this battle as an ally or a member of the GLBT community.

One Month and Counting November 6, 2009

In one month my good friend, Megan Ogulnick, and I will be attending the Baseball Winter Meetings. I cannot wait to interview for either hours a day over three days. It’s going to be incredible. I will get to reconnect with the guys I worked with during my internship with the Cincinnati Reds, and the people who I met throughout the course of the 2008 season. It will be a networking and interviewing field day!

I’ve already gotten my suits dry cleaned, and gotten a million (slight exaggeration I suppose) copies of my resume made. Next step, business cards that everyone will remember. From what I know I’ll be having a bunch of mini interviews, so I’m doing what I can to make an instant and lasting impression. I’ve got my confidence cranked all the way up, and I can’t wait to show everyone that I’m made of. I miss working in baseball, and I can’t wait to get back.

If you’re at the Winter Meetings I look forward to connecting with you!

Gay? Fine by me! November 4, 2009

 

my partner and I on our way into DC for the National Equality March

Oh, America. The land of the FREE and the home of the BRAVE. Well, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t completely disappointed in the majority of Maine for voting against marriage equality. I am completely disappointed. After the National Equality March last month I have a huge charge for making things happen. I must admit, I’ve been thinking more than acting or talking. As an out and proud lesbian, it’s about time I actually said/did something to make things happen, right?

 

I am ashamed to say that I did used to hide my sexuality in the work place. I only hid it in the field I love most, Major League Baseball. Well, as the winter meetings approach and I will be interviewing like crazy to find a job…too bad if they know I’m gay. I’ve always said, if I’m asked I’ll tell. Which is still true. But I will proudly talk about my partner, and not my calling her my best friends (she’s that too, but being my partner is more important). I say too bad if you don’t want me to work for you because I’m gay, your loss. Someone will want me to work for them, and it will be worth their time.

As for Maine and the majority of America…who are you to tell me who I can or cannot marry? This is the “land of the free” is it not? Why am I not FREE to love and marry my partner? Trust me, we are not affecting your marriage. Fifty percent or more of you heterosexual married couples will divorce anyway. Harsh? Maybe, but so it telling me I can’t have equal rights. If  my partner gets sick/has to have surgery I can’t even find out if she’s okay because “I’m not family.” The religious argument doesn’t really work for me either. Coming from a devout Catholic family you’d think that none of them would be talking to me, right? Wrong. They love me and my partner, and understand that we were born this way. You can’t pray away the gay. As for the definition of marriage that apparently we gay couples are violating. Thank you to Caryn, my other half, for point this next part out for me. According to Merriam-Websters dictionary, and too much of society, marriage is “the state of being united to a person of the opposite sex as husband or wife in a consensual and contractual relationship recognized by law.” This is the definition I have been told that I am trying to redefine, and how bad that is. Consider that not too long ago interracial marriage was illegal. Tell anyone in an interracial marriage or relationship that they don’t deserve the same rights as an all white, black, pink, green or purple heterosexual couple. That won’t go over well. But, what Caryn pointed out was that in US history marriage was a man’s possession of a woman, and only whites could marry. Our country has redefined marriage before, and we will again.

For those who are unsure how they feel. Think about your friends who are gay. Maybe me, maybe someone else. Would you want to take that away from them? Consider what you might think if you have a gay child, or you have a gay sibling. How will your opinions change? Will you stop talking to them because they are gay? That happens too often, and believe it or not…they find love and support despite family rejection.

The GLBT people of America are incredibly brave. Someone of us right on the front lines for the military, and we all risk losing our jobs and families because we’re “different.” We have to fight for our acceptance.

Our generation will make things happen. Starting today.