am shocked that there is still discussion of any such sort in the year of 2006 in the United States of America, “the land of the free”, debating whether or not loving people who are functioning members of this society should not be granted the right to marry the man or woman they love.

From this discussion, youth are learning that it is ok to discriminate and that we can write discrimination into our legal system. That is the wrong message. If there is a debate in Washington today saying whether or not same sex couples can marry, it should be a constitutional amendment legalizing same sex marriage not making it illegal. We need to turn this around so that the youth of Westchester, NYS, and of America will see that this is a nation of equality and this will not be tolerated.

LGBT youth will become concerned about whether or not they will be able to function openly about their sexual orientation, as was I when first hearing that there was even a chance of any sort that this amendment could be passed. Quite frankly, I was terrified. I thought to myself, if they can pass this, what can they pass next? True that I am only fourteen years old and am not getting married anywhere in the near future. However, marriage is one of the most important rights that are granted.

When the law tells me I can not be married because of my sexual orientation it tells me many other things. Most importantly, it tells me and all other LGBT youth around the state and the country that we are not worthy of the same rights that heterosexuals are. Instead, it confirms that we are second class citizens. In a nation where we are supposedly granted equal rights for all people it is inconceivable to me that our government would even consider taking away the right to marriage along with over 1,000 more rights that go with it. And why? Because of the way I was born. Because of my sexual orientation.

Regardless of my religion or race or cultural background, I can get married, but the fact that I was born gay I am no longer allowed to. I did not make the choice to be gay, but it is something that I greatly appreciate. Not only that, but I consider the fact that I’m gay to be a gift. It has made me a stronger person, a more confident person, and a happier person. I will continue to fight for my rights and of those of all people. Our opponents may deprive us of our rights, but they will never deprive us of our pride. We are all citizens of this nation and we should all have the same rights. It is a shame to me that our own elected officials are turning against us simply because of their own fears of loss of power and homophobia. We must continue to show them who we are and that we are not some sort of freaks that are trying to jeopardize marriage in this country.

It perplexes me when people opposing same sex marriage make stereotypes such as saying homosexuals are promiscuous, yet when given the request of legalizing same sex marriages in which same sex couples want to legalize their long term, monogamous relationships they turn against us. All over the country, there is a revolution of anti LGBT laws being passed, which needs to be put to an end.

We have to join together and continue to fight for our rights and stand up for the legal protection we deserve as a community. This is not a racial, religious, or partisan issue. This is a civil rights issue and we all have to join together as it is only a matter of time before LGBT people are treated equally by society and law.