Give them hope…

We are all biting our nails tonight, terrified that we may once again feel the sting of oppression and the pain of rejection. Terrified that we have felt this night before, that we know its outcome. That the simplest of joys and rights can so easily be torn from our hands, ripped away and scattered to the winds. We have seen much sorrow and much sadness in our times, but we are not without our victories. We are not without our strengths and our determination is far greater than any hate speech or scare tactic. We are alive, you and me, all of us together, in the stomach churning, acidic wasteland that is life and the human condition. We are connected and we will overcome. There is little in this world that is certain, but never have a people fought so hard for their freedom, only to be denied.

Oppressors move with history and are taken over by its wake, no matter how long they may find themselves riding the surf. We will be triumphant and no matter the outcome of tonight, we will win. You and I and every freedom loving individual in this world will win this battle and we shall look back on these days with fond memories. Memories of oppression, but of much more… memories of our cohesion and determination to fight

Remember this. We are a more determined to be free than they are to hold us back.

Hopefully the words of the Harvey Milk will remind us jut how far we have come and how far will can and will still go.