You further state, “it’s not white affluent gays by and large who are unemployed, with homes in foreclosure, living at or below the poverty line — it’s us.” This is a very poignant point. Our civil rights movement was to fight for equality to vote, live, work and many times breathe without fear of reprisal for wanting to just live a quiet and peaceable life, none of which these horrors homosexuals have had to experience by and large. They have been fortunate to be able to move freely throughout society oftentimes undetected as many do so today, blending in with such ease. African Americans cannot do that at all! Unfortunately, in our past and current social settings most of us have faced, lived and survived on very little or nothing for many decades and not too much has changed with the passing of Proposition 8. Surely having voted no on Prop 8 would not have changed our lifestyles or our communities either. I know much is being said about the separation of church as state. By this do you mean that people who attend church should not be allowed to vote on a matter that may have any biblical reference? Those of us who attend church are just as much a citizen of this country as anyone else and we should be allowed to vote and speak our hearts and minds on a matter without a select group of people calling our employers demanding that they fire us. Perhaps this may have contributed to some of us not being able to hold on to our homes. Message.

Finally, please let’s clear up another matter. We are not “irrationally afraid” of homosexuals which is the definition of homophobe, and it is so sad how it is constantly being used out of context over and over again towards individuals who just disagree with the gay lifestyle. We have the right not to agree with it, and it should be okay as an American, African or otherwise. Thank you.