The Steerage Class

‎"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

 

Martin Luther King continues to be a hero for everyone seeking the civil rights "guaranteed" to all people in the United States.  His words sum it up, for me at least, the struggle many of us continue in order to achieve the very things so many in society take for granted.  His actions should be an inspiration to all people to recognize and respond to the dignity of our fellow humans, whomever the oppressed may be, for they are our brothers and sisters.

 

June is "Gay Pride" month.  It appalls me how few gay people actually realize what this one weekend at the end of the month is all about.  Although, it doesn't surprise me in the least; this particular civil rights movement isn't taught in school during American History and many gay people (and even more straights) merely think of it as a fabulous (or pretentious) Parade. However, this, my friends, is our ever growing March on Washington; started by people who refused the abuse any longer. But I digress, there is plenty of information on this history out there and it's every bit as fascinating and horrific as every other group of people who've had to fight for their "guaranteed" rights.

 

Now, having been to where our fight began (you know, the one that spawned this weekend) I've better understood that we not only have an opportunity, but a responsibility, to show we ARE here, we ARE relevant, we ARE strong and we are NOT going to tolerate continuing to be treated as the steerage of society.  I've spoken with a man who was there on that June night back in 1969 (pictured above).  Yes, he's still a bartender at The Stonewall Inn.  Amazing stories of the history before the Stonewall Riots and the unfortunate reality that, for all intents and purposes, little has really changed in over 40 years.  We can pretend all we want that change has been made, but, in reality, only the circumstances have been shifted around.  It's unfortunate how many of us go about and accept it as equality.

 

We have two choices; that of progress and change or that of allowing those that don't see us fit to live continue their antics.  Well, my friends, no matter how you choose to fool yourself the reality is still the same: the day there is no longer discrimination; are no longer kids living in fear and/or being killed (by their own hands or anothers); the day we can walk hand in hand as anyone else is so freely able; the day our families don't disown us or our religions don't harass us; and the day our governments recognize us all equally is the day this struggle will end. The only thing standing in our way is our own apathy.