A History of Violence
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What can we do to stem the tide of violence?

There's an old proverb that says something along the lines of "in order to avoid repeating history, we have to learn from the past." If there's anything we can learn from the Black civil rights movement, it's that we have to keep fighting for equality. We can't let fear defeat us. We have to stand up against the bigots and hatemongers and demand our rights.

So how do we do that?

Vote! One of the easiest we can do to make a difference is elect fair-minded, progressive officials. The only way to stop the homophobic politicians is to get them out of office.

Support gay-positive legislation and defeat antigay measures. Many states are bringing gay issues to the polls. We can't afford to sit idly by while the antigay forces muster their troops with military precision. State after state is passing same-sex marriage bans while other states struggle to pass antidiscrimination laws. Our opponents are well-organized and well-funded, so that makes it all the more important that we pay attention, spread the word, and vote. Also, don't be afraid to contact your representatives and let them know your feelings on important issues. As HRC president Joe Solmonese said in reference to the attacks at the gay bar in Massachusetts, "When a man walks into a bar, asks if it's a gay bar and starts shooting, there couldn't be any more glaringly obvious and enraging example that we need uniform hate crimes law and that Congress has stubbornly failed to act."

Come out and speak up! This is perhaps the hardest, yet most important thing we can do as gay men and women. Coming out is a powerful statement that has been proven to change hearts and minds again and again. If you're already out, speak up. If your friends, family, and coworkers don't understand how these issues affect you, then how can they care? The more people who know and understand how homophobia adversely affects their loved ones, the more allies we'll have on our side.

I don't believe we are doomed to repeat history -- not if we can learn from the past and work together to create a better future. In 1964, Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "Nonviolence is the answer to the crucial political and moral questions of our time; the need for mankind to overcome oppression and violence without resorting to oppression and violence. Mankind must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression, and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love." That message is as true today as it was then. Let's learn from history and move forward in love.

© Josh Aterovis, All Rights Reserved. Article provided by GayLinkContent.com