While poking my nose around CNN.com in the past few minutes I came across an article highlighting the continued plight of gays/lesbians in this nation at a time when the Gay Civil Rights Movement is stronger than ever. I was alarmed to read an article about Anthony Wilfert, a former Army sargeant who was discharged after the military learned of his sexual orientation. At a time when politicians are scrambling to avoid negative public backlash associated with mandatory extensions for our straight servicemen and servicewomen, they find no fault in willingly-dismissing thousands of their able-bodied and content peers simply because of whom they happen to be in relationships with? Explain that one to me please.
Furthermore, I'm
outraged to learn that it is still legal in 33 states for employers to fire their employees based upon their sexual orientations. More than 113,000 hate crimes have been committed since 1991, and 14% of them were based upon sexual orientation. Congress is attempting to add gender, sexual orientation, and disability to the categories already covered by the federal hate crimes law, a move President Bush, an unabashed homophobe and bigot, has already promised to veto.
I also found it amusing to note that all eight Democratic presidential candidates said they would like to alter the "Don't ask; don't tell" policy to finally allow gay men and women to serve in the military while all ten Republican candidates said they would decline taking action. Republicans actually wonder why so many Democrats, Libertarians, and Independents are turned-off by them when they continuously take
unethical stances like this on important societal issues?
If I'm willing to lay down my life to fight for this great nation, then why should I be refused the ability to do so simply because I'm gay. If me being out in Basra can take one of my straight counterparts home to visit his/her newborn child, then why oppose it? Besides, with the very, very hostile way things have been going on this forum as of late, I'm assuming most would be happy to "kill two birds with one stone" by replacing all of our straight servicemen and servicewomen with their gay/lesbian counterparts to kill off as many of us as possible in the process to quell the Civil Rights Movement, right?
I'm tired of you Republicans giving us the uneducated responses of "If you don't like it; move to Canada," or "Stop trying to shove your sinful
agenda down our throats." First of all, why should I "give up" on waging a civil fight worth fighting in order to move to a nation where people are friendlier and more "progressive?" Why can't I toil laboriously and dilligently on American soil to bring those same great qualities that are enjoyed by Canadians and Europeans
here?
Also, what "sinful agenda" do you Republicans always rant and rave about? I didn't realize Jesus would disapprove of someone standing up for their own basic human rights, such as wanting to be protected from hate crimes in legislation or even, God forbid, visiting their ailing loved ones in the hospital. When did the good Lord that
I know become so callous and mean-spirited? Some of you right-wing, Evangelical fundamentalists truly need to take a deep breath and look at people like me without being up on the pedestals that you like to perch yourselves upon. We all bleed the same color blood, drink the same potable water, commute on the same freeways, and pay taxes to the same governing bodies. Why then are we
still being viewed as "second-class citizens" by you all?
Can I
please have an INTELLIGENT response to these serious inquiries besides "Thou art hellbound" or "Adam and Eve; not Adam and Steve?"
Thank you.
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As a future employer myself, I would never turn down the chance to hire an otherwise outstanding employee over something as superficial as gender, hair color, or...gasp...who they come home to in the evenings. 
