I was asked today why I am so obsessed with equality. While it's true that I haven't always been this way, the past year, and more importantly the past few months, have dramatically opened my eyes to the injustices and oppression in this world. I remember I got involved with black lives matter bc it was just common sense to me at the time. This was long before black lives matter was even a movement. It was just a hash tag. I didn't even fully believe in equality at that time, and it only took common sense for me to jump on board.

It's common sense that our country is supposed to stand for the phrase "All men are created equal". So what happened to that exactly? Nowadays, so-called patriotism is defined as basically hating anyone who isn't straight and white. It's defined as a country where we have one belief system (in true Christianity, however, this isn't even possible), one dominent race, and lifestyles that are dictated by the opinions of the vast majority. This is supposedly what democracy is supposed to look like according to hardcore Conservatives. I guess if you're into that kind of thing, that's cool, but most of us aren't. We live in a generation of free-thinkers. We don't want to be bound by anything that doesn't let us be ourselves. And truth be told, nothing should stop you from being yourself. We all have the basic human right of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness", so why is it that so many people want to limit those rights if they somehow offend them? The basis of our country, The Constitution, is honestly based on the idea of equality. How some people believe that Conservatism accomplishes this is a mystery to me.

But this doesn't just end at the law. Most of these people who are part of the problem say that they are doing so because they are "Christians". Being a Christian myself, and actually having read the Bible, I can promise you that no part of it tells us to persecute others. In fact, the majority of the teachings of Jesus say the exact opposite. They say to "love your neighbors as yourself", and to not judge others. So please explain to me how racism, homophobia, gender inequality, and Islamophobia align with that. Please, because I don't see it.

People can't help how they are born and they shouldn't have to. No one should feel sorry for who they are as a person or for the choices in life that make them happy. No one. It's why we have equality. They have done nothing but live, and it is not fair to them that you don't like that. Like, how can you be offended by someone simply being alive??

We need peace. Love. Equality.

We need hope.

Don't be part of the problem. Please.