In the olden days I supported the civil rights movement for African Americans and later for women's rights. (Odd that in those days the two issues were separate.)
I did this because it was the right thing to do. Marching, speaking, working for the day. Later I did this because I had two beautiful daughters who would one day ask me what I did about these issues. I did not want to be ashamed in front of them.
I knew that if some people in our country were not truly free, none of us would be free, even my two beautiful blue-eyed blonde daughters. I believe we are all one family, just different personalities.
And I was not ashamed - for those two issues.
But I am now ashamed because I gave only lip service to gay rights, even with all my lesbian friends. I am deeply sorry that even my lip service was lukewarm.
I am sorry to my friends. I am sorry to my daughters. I am sorry to all the gay folks I have met and to the ones I have not met.
This movement needs us, the grey-haired ones to visibly stand up beside our gay brothers and sisters to demand that equal rights under the constition means just that, equal rights. (OK, the grey hair is metaphorical for those of us lucky enough not to have many and those are hidden behind highlights...)
I will not be ashamed in front of my grandchildren, who are quite small now, but who will also grow up and ask me what I did.
Why should we actively participate? None of our children are gay. We aren't gay. THAT'S EXACTLY why we should participate - for the sake of justice.
None of us are free until all of us are free.
OK. So tell me what to do, where to go in Chicago o(r elsewhere) to sign up.
I urge all grey heads (metaphorical or otherwise) to join with me by going to your local gay rights headquarters and sign up. But we need to be told where to go, at least some of us do.
So tell us. Someone give us a list or a name of an organization to call. Enough is enough. This civil rights issue must be laid to rest once and for all - equal rights for all, or none of us are free.