Perspective

Perspective, it's an interesting thing. Two days ago the citizens of North Carolina voted to ban gay marriages. The next day President Barack Obama becomes the first sitting President to say that he supports marriage equality. Some say the President came forward a day too late. We won't know if it would have made a difference or not. However, for some the perspective is a state lost. For others the perspective is a country won. What all agree on is that the President did a historic thing in coming out in favor of marriage equality. From some people's perspective his actions might even be considered heroic

Go to today. I helped put together an event for the Human Rights Campaign to benefit the Maryland Marriage Fund to help keep marriage equality in that state. Governor Martin O'Malley was the special guest at the event. Governor O'Malley was able to show incredible leadership in helping to bring marriage equality to his state. Now that its there, he is continuing to lead the fight against a ballot measure to remove it. His conviction to make sure the LGBT community in his state is shown the same dignity and freedoms as anyone else is truly inspiring. I would guess that the perspective of many in the LGBT community in Maryland is that he is a hero.

The person that introduced the Governor was former Arizona State Senator and current candidate for Congress in Arizona, Kyrsten Sinema. Sinema has been a leader in the LGBT community for years and is known for having led the only successful campaign to defeat an anti-LGBT marriage amendment in the country. Her ability to make things happen for the LGBT community in Arizona has been remarkable. I have had the pleasure to work with her on many projects over the years and for me personally, she is a hero. That is my perspective.

So why would someone from Arizona host an event like this? Why send money in a very important election year out of the state? Perspective. It is not likely that Arizona will repeal its constitutional ban on gay marriage. The only way Arizonan's are going to see marriage equality is by enough states having it that the Federal government takes action and the Defense of Marriage Act is repealed. So from our perspective here this is how we bring marriage equality to our state - one state at a time across the country.

So my perspective of heroes this week have been of President Obama, Governor O'Malley and Congressional Candidate Kyrsten Sinema. So it surprised me when I received this post on my Facebook

Perspective. One never knows who is watching and the impact your words and actions have on them. This is not the first time someone has shared this type of sentiment with me. However, each time it catches me off guard. I mean come on, who am I? I am not the President or a Governor. How can I possibly be a hero? Perspective. You see most of the time when I hear this it comes from our youth. While I know that the time I give is not only for myself but to make a difference in the lives of many others, I forget that people actually get that too. I gotta say - it makes all the defeats and struggles worth it. To know that I am giving our youth inspiration and hope is a very humbling experience. It also fuels me to keep going.

The funny thing is from my perspective the youth today are heroes. They are so brave to come out or to be an ally for their friends that do. I can't wait for today's youth to be in the lead and take this fight for equality to a whole other level.

A lot has happened in the last two days. I think I have a new perspective on a few things.

Biden Says Marriage is 'Inevitable' - So What?

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Vice President Joe Biden discussed many topics during his appearance on the Today Show. One of the things was the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell and the President stating he is "evolving" on the idea of gay marriage. Biden says the country will inevitably move towards consensus of "gay marriage" like it moved toward consensus on Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

My thoughts on this...big deal. I didn't hear him say the President and I are committed to overturning the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and bringing Marriage Equality to the LGBT community. What I heard is the same thing LGBT activists and even some conservatives have said. As time passes the older generation, which opposes gay marriage the strongest, will be replaced with the younger generation that doesn't seem to have as much of a problem with it.

I agree with Vice President Biden's comparison with the military. It was clear the old soldiers - McCain like age, wanted to keep DADT. However, what the survey the President did showed those actively serving - Irag and Afghanistan vets (younger generation), don't care. Eventually, as the voting population changes marriage equality is something that will happen.

Until I hear that the President is actively working on it I'm not going to jump up and down for anyone in the White House realizing what we have all known - someday it will happen. It's just most of us would like to see it in our lifetime.

I also would like to see more emphasis being put on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. I feel that until we can protect everyone in the workplace it is difficult for people in certain places to get married. While marriage equality is the wedge issue that is easy for the media to make into the primary issue I think we need to stay focus on what would protect all in our community. After all, marriage equality is inevitable.

Watch the Today Show interview here: