Hey guys,
So if you have not guessed from my previous posts, I am gay and fairly shy/anxious regarding the issue of LGBT acceptance and equality.
So when i heard Australia was going to have a government survey on "Same Sex Marriage" i was incredibly anxious/nervous.
Nervous because i knew it would bring up a lot of hateful feelings/opinions from my friends, family and greater public in general. Opinions I may not be ready to accept or hear. I anticipated some kick back from friends and family simply because many of them dont know or choose to forget that im gay. Opting to wash over the fact and pretend I'm simply celebrant or something.
So when the topic of Gay Marriage did come up and several of my friends/family said they don't agree with it, and will be voting NO... it was incredibly painful and hurtful for me. Respecting the democratic and individual process I would simply respond "i respect your opinion" and try to move on. However on the inside I grew anxious and paranoid about how they must then feel about me personally and ultimately withdrew myself from family and friends with these opinions.
Obviously this period was an extremely tense and unhealthy time for a lot of LGBT people in Australia as they all experienced episodes like mine. What was really the icing on the cake though, was once the votes were counted and the "YES" votes had won, it was merely a silver lining. The bigger issue being that over 4 million (nearly 40%) fellow Australians don't believe me to be equal to them. I'm thrilled that Gay marriage will come into effect, but it doesn't disguise the fact that this equality is being forced onto 40% of people who don't believe i deserve to marry the person i love.
I don't know how else to feel about the issue other than, how is this equality when people still feel the way they feel. Sure gay people have stolen the right to marry. Until everyone sees us as equals and not subordinates how is it equality.
