I’ve been asked by several people why someone who is clearly British, is singing “America the Beautiful” at the national equality march. There are many reasons why I want to be involved, but before I get to those, I have to confess that every time I’m asked that question I wonder to myself “why ask, isn’t it obvious?” Isn’t it obvious that everybody should be throwing his or her support behind this weekend’s national equality March? Isn’t it obvious that Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people, not only across America, but also across the world should have equal protection in all rights? This march is not about who sings but about why they do.

Some people have complained saying that marches are ineffective and a “waist of time”, thank you for your support Barney Frank. To them, I say, silence and inaction, no matter which way you slice or dice are less effective still, and if anything only encourage our opponents agenda.

“Never be bullied into silence.Never allow yourself to be made a victim.Accept no one's definition of your life; define yourself.class

I am bisexual, and I make no apology for that fact, and in this case of my sexual identity trumps my nationally. The people attending the national equality March are not marching because they want some type of exclusive, out of the ordinary treatment; they are marching because they want to be treated like absolutely everybody else. I do not profess to be an expert on constitutional law, but it’s my understanding that the amendment speaks to “separation of church and state and that the 14 amendment guarantees “equal protection under the law and provides liberty and justice for all. I believe the US Constitution has been amended 27 times since it was adopted and with the exception of prohibition not one of those amendments sought to restrict civil rights, only expand them. As such, and please correct me if I am wrong, does that not mean that people who are using (abusing, in actuality) religion, in this case, Christianity, as the default criteria for equality goes against the very doctrine upon which America was founded? Confused, me too, given that the vast majority of people who oppose equality seem to delight in justifying their stance by quoting the bible!

If we were to apply this criterion across the board wouldn’t it mean that people of different religions are not married in the eyes of the law?So next time someone says For a man to lie with another man as he would a woman is 'toevah'" (Leviticus 20:13), tell them that in that very same passage we are also told that eating shrimp is “toevah”(roughly translated means sin)). Ask them, if this the very same bible that happily states that a father may sell his daughter into slavery, (Exodus 21:7) that touching pigs skin makes us unclean (Leviticus 11:8) and that a person should be put to death for working on the Sabbath (Leviticus 23:3).

Equal rights are not special rights they are the rights of every human being. Full Equality means the right to work jobs, go to school free of harassment and discrimination, protection from hate crimes, equitable healthcare, the option to donate blood, equitable immigration policies and status, marriage and the right to serve in the military openly.

“When I was in the military they gave me a medal for killing two men and a discharge for loving one” (~Epitaph of Leonard P. Matlovich, 1988)

November of this year we saw the first election of an African American to the highest office but on that very same day I saw the passage of a law in California that prohibited marriage between same-sex.-...that’s the definition of one step forward two steps back ..so please stop telling me to be patient..i want equality and I want it NOW.

Obama has said that nobody has the right to be penalized and for whom they love, however, for all the lovely rhetoric, it’s sad to note that equality as an issue has become a political hot potato of sorts, being batted back and fourth between both democrats and republicans. Despite election promises, the Don’t ask don’t tell” has not been amended and quality as it relates to government benefits has not been afforded. Whatever happened to “Yes, we can” ...I had hoped that after almost a year in office that the GLBT community would be saying, “Yes we did!”

Today, I will stand in Washington and sing (hopefully in tune)… in reality it’s a very small thing to do but at least I say I’m not being silent or complacent let’s all take an active role in battling prejudice and discrimination around the globe.