Gay Rights. Right now it is a white hot debate that has everyone dodging for cover. This is something that has a deep and profound meaning to me. I am affected by this on two different fronts. I have served in the United States Air Force and I am one of the 18,000 gay Americans to have been married in California. To begin with, I have served in the military.  I graduated in top honors in all my classes, and I fought in Iraq and served in locations around the world. I did not corrupt the military, I did not "turn people gay". I served my country quietly and finished my six year enlistment.

Now regarding marriage. I understand why some people are upset. I know that in most religions marriage is a tradition that has been previously offered for only a man and a woman. I respect your opinons and your beliefs. I do not want to change "marriage" I just want to be recognized legally. The biggest problem I have, and where I have to draw a line, is when a belief or a tradition is made into a law, stilfing the basic rights of other human beings. If you break down the legal implications of marriage, it is a consentual contractual relationship that is recognized by the government. For those of you who are going to add your comments that stem from your religion please keep your comments to yourself. Your God is different than my loving God. We are a diverse nation and for you to call upon your religion as everyones is plain ignorant. If you want to impose your beliefs on me, please move to a country where you are able to do that. America is founded on diversity and there is no room for hate.

I understand that changing the definition of a marriage is tough for some people to swallow. However, it is the right thing to do. I heard a lot of buzz about allowing civil unions, but that will not help me. I am married to a man of a different nationality (German) and I can never sponsor him to live with me in the country I love, until the federal goverment recognizes us. You could call our marriage "cookie monster" for all I care, as long as I can get the same legal benefits that anyone else has.

Listen, I am not asking you to hold my hand, to comfort me, or to join me on a gay rights movement. I am only asking you to open up your hearts and realize that I am a fellow human being who is looking for the same rights that everyone is entitled to.