Maybe it’s because I’m the mom of a gay man. Maybe it’s because my work tries to aid the progress of humankind. Maybe it’s those phrases “liberty and justice for all,” or something about equal rights and the pursuit of happiness.
But, Department of Justice, wait. What? Because “sexual orientation” isn’t listed in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, a whole segment among us isn’t protected? Really? You found this 53 years later? Why now? What about 68-year-olds? Are they listed? Am I protected? Are we all invited to America’s banquet table? No? Ouch.
My whole life I have been surrounded by “gays:” uncles, cousins, my son and their friends and mine. Truth is, we all have been, whether we know it or not. Sometimes those gays are hard to spot when –like my son–they do what we all do. He put his arm around his sister’s shoulders at her wedding and urged her to relax and have a good time.
My uncle cooked turkey on Thanksgiving and made pecan pies. My cousin plays golf. My friend folds her laundry and writes her grocery lists. Truth is, if we really know them,– how they show up at work every day, pay their bills, just as we do,– then “us” and “them” disappear.
In my heartfelt attempt at human kindness, what am I missing? Maybe I’m naive. Maybe I need to go to law school but I don’t get it. If, in our essence, we are all the same–which we are–then it’s our judgment that separates us, which fuels the trance of difference. Maybe I’m simplifying, but it seems to me that a good motto for those who would leave out a bunch of us might be, “no judgment, no problem.”
Excellent commentary, Susan. We are all humans sharing a human existence. Our stories may look different but we all struggle, we all stumble, we fall, we get up, we feel joy, pride, sadness, anger, boredom. May the imaginary lines between “us” and “them” dissolve and matters of the heart be considered with kindness, compassion and curiosity.
Finally managed to read this one after being off the grid for much of the past six weeks. Excellent, Sue!