I encourage you not to read this.

I have had a very hard time deciding if I should

post certain things because of my personal

opinions, especially knowing that most people

who read my blog generally disagree with me.

But, I have decided that this is my personal

blog, something I hope to look back on and

remember certain points in my life.

That being said, I am about to write some

very personal feelings. And I am going to

warn you, some of you might not like

what I am going to say.

Yesterday was an historic day for our

country. 40-60 years ago was an ugly time

for blacks and minorities in this country.

Segregation was the norm, and blacks were

allowed to entertain us, but not use the

same drinking fountain, eat in the same

restaurants, or sit by white people on

the bus. All of us are very aware of this point

in Unites States history. We are taught in school

how the black community banned together, and

some lost their lives, to fight discrimination and

segregation. Our government backed the idea

of a black individual being less of a person

than white individuals. A lot of our generation looks

back on this and we can't quite understand

how anyone could even think this way.

And yesterday our generation spoke loud and clear

about how we felt. We voted and elected an

African American as our president. And I

think we should be so proud as a nation that

we have gotten this far. As Obama gave his

speech, I was moved to tears.

But my pride turned to sorrow today as I got

the news that the majority of people in California

voted for Proposition 8. I also found out that the

Mormon church was 70% of the finances used to

help back this proposition. Surprising to me, knowing

that the Mormon religion had their own struggle with

people discriminating against them for their religious

beliefs. 70 million dollars total was spent to back a

proposition that encouraged discrimination. And I realize

we have another fight coming in this country.

We are at the same point we were, just with

a different group. We allow gays and lesbians

to entertain us. Ellen Degeneres, Will and Grace,

Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. We listen to

musicians like Elton John, Judas

Priest, Michael Stipe of REM and Lou Reed.

And yet, we don't allow these people the same

rights that we've had since we were born.

This isn't about allowing people to be gay,

it's about accepting that they are. Acceptance.

There was a time when it was illegal for people

of different races to marry each other.

I know that had we not seen this as discrimination,

it would have affected a lot of people I know today.

People who have married mexican-americans,

latin-americans and asian-americans.

Think about all of your friends who have

interracial marriages and think how it would

affect them if they were told that they couldn't get married.

This Halloween weekend I was literally yelled

at by someone that I know my parents consider

family because of my views on gay marriage.

A simple discussion of politics turned to

anger and hatred. Homosexuality was compared

to pedophilia and bestiality. And it brought me to tears

that people still feel that much anger towards a

group of people, that are only asking to be treated

equally when choosing who they want to spend

their lives with. And isn't that what we are told

as children what America is all about? Equality?

It brought me to tears today to find out that

the majority of California, which is know to be culturally

ahead of the curve, is still stuck in this idea

of discrimination. The majority of blacks and

hispanics voted yes on prop 8. Surprising to me

that the same people who fought so hard

to be treated equally now get their chance

to discriminate.

I have tried my best to not judge anyone based on their beliefs.

But, this issue has really gotten to me. We as voters have

so much power. And it scares me to think that my life

could possibly be in the hands of people that hate who I am

or could be. I am so thankful that I live in a country that

is not allowed to discrimate against me for being a woman or an

atheist. Most places of business can be sued if they

discriminate against a person for their sexuality, and

yet that is exactly what the whole country is doing.

I hope that one day younger generations look back at us

and think to themselves how ignorant we once were.

And I hope more than anything that President Obama

looks back at his ancenstry, and puts a stop to this

kind of discrimination once and for all.

I will leave you, and this post, with a heartwarming

story (at least in my eyes) about a lesbian couple

Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin, who have been together

for 55 years! They were married in 2004 the first time they

legalized gay marriage until it was struck down.

And again in May of this year. These two women have spent

their lives fighting for the rights of gays and lesbians

since 1955. Everyone keeps talking about the sanctity

of marriage, when I believe our generation doesn't even take

marriage seriously. I know people my age who have been

divorced twice already. And for two women to last that

long, they deserve to be married. Unfortunately, Del Martin

passed away. And with Proposition 8 being passed, I believe

that will make their marriage void.