I have to give a speech

OK, if my week wasn't already hectic enough. I was asked to give a speech at the candlelight vigil on Wednesday evening, the day our domestic partnerships were supposed to go into effect. So I am up in the middle of the night. The only time I have peace and quiet enough to think. I've written a speech but I think I need to expand on it a little more because its kind of short. I'm going to post what I have here and if you guys have some suggestions, please do tell! I need help!!!

Hello and thank you for coming. We’re here today because we are discouraged. We are hurting and we are outraged. Today is the day when we should be celebrating commitments and families. Today is the day that same-sex couples finally should have been able to protect their loves ones by forming legally recognized relationships. We have worked long and hard for this day. People took the day off work to be at the courthouse to get their domestic partnerships. Ceremonies and parties were planned.

This past weekend my husband and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary with our children, family, and friends. My mind was not far from thinking about my gay and lesbian friends and how they have struggled for many years to have the same basic rights that my husband and I take for granted. My husband and I have the “straight privilege”. With a simple marriage license, we are able to make life-saving decisions for eachother and our children in times of crisis. We have never had to worry about our children being taken from us if one of us should lose our life. We have never had to incur expensive legal fees for simple protections that a marriage license grants. Domestic partnerships right some of these wrongs. To be able to protect our families is a basic human right and it is no longer acceptable to deny these rights to our GLBT loved ones!

As we are grieving, we should remember all is not lost. It is no longer legal in Oregon to discriminate against our gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender loved ones! This is a huge step in the fight for Equal Rights. All people should be treated with dignity and respect no matter their sex, their race, their sexual orientation or their gender identity. Nobody should be fired from their job, forced out of their home, or kicked out a restaurant because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. This we can celebrate!

My own gay son came out to me on Martin Luther King Day. In October, I had the opportunity to attend the PFLAG National Convention in Washington, DC. I was in awe as I stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial where Martin Luther King gave his “I have a Dream” speech. I looked to this great man for inspiration today. Civil Rights movements have never been easy and the gay rights movement is no different. We take two steps forward and one step back. The important thing to remember is that we ARE moving forward. Domestic partnerships didn’t come today but they WILL come. We have made significant advances in Oregon and in the United States. This is a battle that is not won in a day, a week, a month, or even a year. Please keep the faith. This is a set-back but it is not permanent. To quote Martin Luther King “*Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice. Justice at its best is love correcting everything that stands against
love.” Thank you!

 

Thanks biisme!

This is the updated version. I got my friend Tim to help me.

Hello and thank you for coming. We’re here today because we are discouraged. We are hurting and we are outraged. Today is the day when we should be celebrating commitments and families. Today is the day that same-sex couples finally should have been able to protect their loves ones by forming legally recognized relationships. We have worked long and hard for this day. People took the day off work to be at the courthouse to get their domestic partnerships. Ceremonies and parties were planned.

This past weekend my husband and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary with our children, family, and friends. My mind was not far from thinking about my gay and lesbian friends and how they have struggled for many years to have the same basic rights that my husband and I take for granted. My husband and I have the “straight privilege”. With a simple marriage license, we are able to make life-saving decisions for eachother and our children in times of crisis. We have never had to worry about our children being taken from us if one of us should lose our life. We have never had to incur expensive legal fees for simple protections that a marriage license grants. Domestic partnerships right some of these wrongs. To be able to protect our families is a basic human right and it is no longer acceptable to deny these rights to our GLBT loved ones!

As we are grieving, we should remember all is not lost. It is no longer legal in Oregon to discriminate against our gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender loved ones! This is a huge step in the fight for Equal Rights. All people should be treated with dignity and respect no matter their sex, their race, their sexual orientation or their gender identity. Nobody should be fired from their job, forced out of their home, or kicked out a restaurant because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. This we can celebrate!

In October, I had the opportunity to attend the PFLAG National Convention in Washington, DC. I was in awe as I stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial where Martin Luther King gave his “I have a Dream” speech. Ironically, my own son came out to me on Martin Luther King Day. I looked to this great man for inspiration today. Civil Rights movements have never been easy and the gay rights movement is no different. We take two steps forward and one step back. The important thing to remember is that we ARE moving forward. Domestic partnerships didn’t come today but they WILL come. We have made significant advances in Oregon and in the United States. This is a battle that is not won in a day, a week, a month, or even a year. The setback we’re facing today is a simple reminder that it is in the hearts and souls of many otherwise good decent people to want to protect their values as they see them – against anything they don’t understand, anything that’s a little different from the way it’s been in the past. Religious oppression is as dominant today as it has been in other civil rights movements including giving women the right to vote, allowing people of color the freedom to pursue good jobs and allowing interracial marriages. Please keep the faith. This is a set-back but it is not permanent. We need to look at today’s injustice and see it for what it is, unacceptable, wrong, and a terrible impeachment on human dignity and worth. We need to gather the strength to be inspired rather than beaten by it. We need to commit ourselves to the ongoing struggle. To quote Martin Luther King “*Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice. Justice at its best is love correcting everything that stands against
love.” Thank you!

 

Thanks! If I end up on TV, I'll post the link. I'm sure the media will be there.

 

Thanks guys! I just found out there is going to be city leaders and state senators there. Now I'm really nervous. :eek:

 

Good advice Paul, I will do that.