Davis, I wanted to thank you for your gracious mention in your post, ⛓️‍💥[Removed] I was very flattered to come back from my absence and see my nick mentioned among so many other fine members of this community that he and others named. Thank you.

There are many outstanding people I respect here. Like lgsinmyheart, I believe that everyone plays their part. All of us are what make GC what it is, and GC and its members are a key pillar in a larger CL community. For this reason, each and every one of us deserve a large measure of respect. Like so many minorities before us, we are the beginnings of a movement to assert our human and civil rights. Simply by existing and coming together, we have initiated one of the great constitutional tests of our times. Will our respective societies uphold the rights to our freedom from persecution? Will they protect our lives, and defend our liberty while upholding our very human right to pursue happiness?

With the election of a new president in the U.S., I hope that this country is able to turn the page on bigotry and self-righteousness and move toward a more understanding and enlightened future. The ballot measures meant to discriminate against gays and lesbians that have recently taken hold in four states do not worry me. Contrary to how it seems, I feel that these states have sealed the fate for gays and lesbians of the future. History shows that the more conservative segments of the population always stage some sort of 'last stand' before giving way to utter defeat from the (typically more) progressive civil rights movements of the era. It won't be long now before men and women are free to love and live with whomever they choose while being granted all the same rights of traditionally married couples, even if it we find that it ens up being called something different. The gay and lesbian movement in California will stage protests like we have scarcely seen until now. Before we know it, another victory for tolerance and equality will be won.

This is our future. These are our times. I predict within the next thirty years, the MAA victory will be in sight. Now, granted, I speak only of equality and tolerance. For any other goal to progress (as I know many here would like to see the AOC laws lowered or abolished) the youth liberation movement will have had to progress in time with our own. And while we may not be in an ideal position to assist that movement at the moment, I am confident that it will also see victory within most of our lifetimes. For the cause of freedom waits for no one. Liberation need only the desire of a people to be born.

I salute the people of GC and the rest of our community, along with anyone else who has ever had the courage to live through oppression. This is our moment. Let us define it.