Liberty and Justice for All
By Joseph of Canonsburg, Pa.
Where do I begin? Perhaps with the suggestion that most every family, somewhere in the family, could find at least one individual who is gay.
I’m a 57-year-old happily married clergyman. My wife and I have three great children. The two eldest are married, as well, and we have two granddaughters. Our youngest son, age 19, is at home with us. He is a wonderful, caring, kind gay male. He went through the terrible taunts and abuse in high school that most other gay youth also suffer due to bigotry from students who learn this at home. He survived, but remains on antidepression medication that is prescribed for him. I guess our country does not make "Liberty and Justice for All" the rule for our youth.
Then there are my brother-in-law and his partner of 25 years. They celebrated an anniversary together but, by law, can’t really enjoy the benefits that are afforded to my wife and me. "Liberty and Justice for All" somehow is not given to all!
Then there was my 19-year-old godson. My nephew was murdered back in my home state of Michigan, partly because he was gay. The assailant felt, or used in his faulty defense, that my nephew was attracted to him. I guess that’s reason enough to kill when "Liberty and Justice for All" is denied some Americans.
I, myself, am a member of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, and so enjoy the company of the loving, kind members of that organization, even though they have "Liberty and Justice for All" denied them in some important ways. Sometimes I feel ashamed of myself in their company because I have more legal rights than these fine folks have in America.
I can only hope and pray that one day soon, my gay family members and friends will enjoy the same "Liberty and Justice for All" that I do.
July 13, 2006