Happy To Be Gay

In response to http://www.wacotrib.com/opin/content/news/opinion/
stories/2005/06/19/20050619wacjyoung19.html

Thank you for shining some light on the life and pain of Mr. Ball. I applaud your effort to expose Gov. Perry's heartless attack on GLBT people for the power grab that it is.

In deed, this is not about morality. It is not even about religion. It is about manipulating the fears and prejudices of people for political gain. Such cynical acts ought to be beneath a sitting elected official, but in modern-day Republican politics in this state, it is almost to be expected.

While I thank you for your column, I do take exception to one sentence. You say, "But if you are homosexual in Texas, sadness comes with the territory." Not only is this sentiment misplaced, it is actually dangerous. I do not know if you are gay, but I doubt you are. If you were gay, you would know how one of the hardest parts of coming out is the fear that, as a gay Texan, your life will be miserable. You believe this, not because of any empirical data proving it, or because of some innate truth inside of you, but because the images you are force fed and the references you come across often paint gay people as sad or depressed or outcast. It leaves a lot of gay teens feeling there is no option but to end their lives.

Well, I am gay and I love my life. I have an incredible soul-mate and lover with whom I share a monogamous relationship. We would marry, if we were allowed. We go to movies together, pay bills together, go on vacations together. I walk the dog in the morning and he walks her at night. I share my hopes and fears and joys and sadness with him and him with me. All in all, it is a really normal, but most often joyful life. And I love my community which is filled with caring, loving, strong and determined people.

Is it hard hearing that the governor of your state shared a stage with an out-of-state millionaire evangelist that spewed hatred from a podium emblazoned with the seal of the state of Texas? Yes, it hurts. Does it make me furious that the governor said nothing to defend Texas citizens from this televangelists brutal, hate-filled assaults? Absolutely. Is it tough thinking you live in a state where they will take your taxes but not give you equal rights? Most definitely.

But the saddest part of all for me is watching this great state, the state I love, be lowered and debased by a governor who is willing to trade the proud name of Texas for a few votes from an extreme fringe sect hell-bent on using the laws to force their narrow view of morality on others. Texas is better than that. We are better than that, and we deserve a governor who is better than that as well.

Thanks again for your column.