Election 2012: If only the elephant were pink...

For months, I have been glued to the television and internet, watching polls jump up and down.  I watched all three debates, and listened to both sides plead their case.  Yes, the two had their ups and downs.  And yes, they both had convincing arguments here and there.  But in all three debates, one topic was not discussed.  And if you're reading this, I don't have to tell you what that one topic was.

Now, it's no surprise that most gay or pro-gay people vote democrat.  But why?  Lots of people will say things like "Well the economy is more important.  If you can't get married, at least you'd have a job.  You should focus on what is the most important for the country."

And that's always heard far too much.  "This is more important for the rest of us."  It's sort of like telling the 9th person at a party that the pizza only had 8 slices, so have some chips instead.  "But I wanted pizza!"  All joking aside, there is no right or wrong answer to this.  And shockingly enough, I am about to say something my few avid readers will be shocked to hear.  If you do vote for Romney, I won't un-friend you on facebook.  I won't yell at your face.  I won't say things like "you obviously don't care about me not having equal rights."  Because I don't have the right... to tell you who to vote for.

It's not that 50 percent of America is completely Anti-gay.  Most surveys nowadays say the majority now in fact supports it.  And yes, there are even gay republicans.  But the reason most people don't look at equal rights for gays as their primary reason for choosing a candidate is simply because it has not directly affected them, at least not enough to consider it a factor in their decision.  They haven't seen how it can keep a family separated, or out of the country, or truly felt what it is like to be treated as unequal.  You can't just yell at someone "This is what it feels like!" And expect them to just get it.

Unless voters are directly affected by an issue, or at least moved by it, it isn't likely to be their deciding factor.  The unemployed guy will listen to debates about jobs.  The student will listen to talk about college loans.  And as always, the factor most affecting them, will ultimately make their decision.

But long ago, a white man probably said, "you know what, I think black people should have the same rights as me."  And he went to the polls and voted for that.  Longer back, a man said to himself "You know what, it is silly that my wife isn't allowed to vote too.  I think I'll vote for her to have equal rights."  They didn't throw their votes away.  They stood up for the underdog.  Maybe someday, history will write pages about how amazing it was that in 2012, civil rights was still an issue.

I did vote.  I sent my ballot across an ocean in the mail, to make sure my voice was heard.  And yes, I checked Obama's name.  He's had his ups and downs, sure, but he became the first president ever to publicly say he endorsed my rights.  And he brought many more to me that I didn't have.  If you read my blog, and if you are on the fence about what candidate to vote for, then I hope my words over the months and years influence you to be on my side of history.  Please share this blog link with others.  Even if I only influence one vote out there, and even if your share only influences one.  They all add up.

The world is changing, one mind at a time.  It just takes a long time, for everyone to be affected, and no one to feel left out.  We just need to order two pizzas at the party.

Please share.