Ah, equality.

Yesterday afternoon, Judge Vaughn Walker ruled that California's Proposition 8 was unconstitutional. This is a big day for us. And by us, I don't mean the LGBT community (as I'm heterosexual myself). I don't mean liberals. I don't mean Californians. I don't mean Americans. I mean citizens of the world who fight for any and all equal rights every day. This ruling is our first victory. It's the first step in the right direction we've had in a long time.

Man, it feels good.

So, of course, those at Protect Marriage have already filed their appeal. This means that we move on to the notoriously rad Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Pending their decision, we move on to the Supreme Court of the United States. That sounds fun, doesn't it? I can't wait.

It's funny, because a week ago, I would never have spoken this light-heartedly about this. I was so angry, so ready to fight these people. And now? We've won, and so I get to breathe easy. I get to call the court of appeals "rad."

And of course, yesterday and today have been full of the obligatory facebook banter. I love that stuff. People who don't know each other except for being mutual facebook friends with some other person are arguing at the top of their vocabularies all the reasons why this is or isn't the best day ever. I admit to having participated in one or two. But it's our turn! It's our turn to say, "See? See how right we've always been? See what the constitution that you love so effing much finally says about your lies? See!?"

And the joy for all those couples whose marriages were in limbo! The joy for those waiting and waiting for these proceedings to allow them to marry! The joy for those in fear of their lives, their dignity, their reputations. It's a great day to be an American. It's a great day to be alive!

Ah, equality.

I will still not be silent.

Two nights ago I watched 8: The Mormon Proposition, which is a fantastically-made documentary chronicling the gay community's fight against the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and their funding of California's Proposition 8.

Nobody who reads this doesn't know what Prop 8 was or what damage it has done, so I can save myself the time and tears it would take to write that down.

But if y'all haven't seen this film -- see it. It's the story of one of the first male couples to get married in the state of California; they were married on the first day it was legal at the San Francisco courthouse. They were so happy, and the officiator was happy, and everyone else in the courthouse was happy. But their families weren't happy. One mom was happy, and she was so happy and so perfect. But the rest of them...they were all Mormon.

One groom was descended directly from the first polygamist Mormon to ever be chased out of town for his "alternative marriage" practices. What a family history, eh?

I already knew all of the facts and all of the shocking sound bytes and the illegality of the entire situation. But the part that really tore me up about it was the inhumanity of the situation.

These people just sat there -- LDS elders, elected officials, and just regular citizens -- spewing hate with every sentence. They quoted their "scriptures" and their "laws" and their "morals" like it was no big deal to call people the devil, and call them abominations and call them damned. TO THEIR FACES. It was disgusting.

Normally, I try really hard to keep an even keel about stuff I can't stand. At least, you know, publicly. I'm actually not sure that's true, but, I guess I don't like to stoop to the level of those doing the hating in the first place.

But this?

I can't do it.

I will never stop fighting these people. I will never spend a single day forgetting that this battle needs to be fought and that I need to fight it. I will not rest until every single one of them realizes that they are hatemongers and that they are wasting the Gospel on their lies.

On November 5, 2008, I wrote these words in a Facebook note:

Okay, so Prop 8 passed. We've all seen the numbers. But what we've also seen is the most incredible acts of patriotism and love in the voices of those who spoke out against this discrimination.

I was only able to attend a few rallies in these last few weeks, but in those hours, I was so inspired by the perseverance of those who fought for their rights and the rights of their neighbors. In Simi Valley, Jocelyn and I painted shirts, emblazoned, "LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR," followed by John 13:34-35. Jesus said, "I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you should also love one another. By this, everyone will know you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." We painted "Christians for LGBTQ Rights" on the backs of our shirts. I carried a neon green sign that read, "CHRISTIANS AGAINST PROP 8" in huge letters.

How many heads shook in my direction? Countless. How many people yelled, "READ YOUR BIBLE!" our their car windows? Countless. How many children, on the advice of their parents, yelled, "YES ON 8!" out their car windows? Countless. But how many horns honked in support? How many smiles, waves, and peace signs were thrown my way? How many votes for equality were pledged? Countless.

It is just so devastating to see that our efforts were foiled by ignorance and hatred. But we will not back down. We will take this fight to the steps of the White House. We will take this fight to the United States Supreme Court. We will fight until every American has the right to be human.

This is just the beginning. We did not work this hard and get this far to be silent, now. We will not be silent. Change is coming.

Those feelings are all back. I will still not be silent.