A stupid phrase that has been circulating around this country lately is “states issue.” "The federal government shouldn’t be deciding that issue—it’s a states issue." The states issue argument is mainly used to deny minorities their civil rights.

NOTE: Minorities in this argument are determined by their race and sexual orientation. I argue that laws that specifically restrict the civil rights of these minorities because of race or sexual orientation should be countered with laws that specifically enforce the civil rights of these minorities. The 1960s Civil Rights Acts are examples of this. Conservatives, especially on the U.S. Supreme Court, hate laws that aim to save minorities from the ignorance and fear of the majority.

This states rights talking point became a major hit for ignorant people during the 2004 presidential campaign when Dick Cheney was asked if he supported President Bush’s stance on gay marriage. Bush wanted a constitutional amendment that would forever outlaw gay marriage. This seemed a little too extreme for Cheney, whose daughter had recently come out as a lesbian. His answer: the issue of gay marriage should be a states issue. I guess that's how a powerful leader demonstrates his acceptance of his daughter's sexuality--leave her future in the hands of the ignorant majority.

But I understand that using “states issue” is a great cop out for politicians when a touchy subject surfaces. So what do the voters have to say about this evasion? “I agree, Jim. It should be up to the states. After all, we local people have to live with those gays and they could turn all of our kids gay too.”

Halting for a minute, I would like to ask if this reminds you of a similar situation in our not so distant past? Yes, you probably guessed it: the civil rights movement.

All the way back to that charming square of a president, Woodrow Wilson and his staunch support of states rights, minorities in this Republic have been dealing with the ignorance, fear, and abuse of the majority crowd ever since.

Pretend that you are a black woman in Alabama in the 1950s. Not a very pleasant situation, I’m sure. “Negroes’ rights is a local issue,” the federal government tells you, “it’s up to the majority of your state’s leaders and voters (who are all white) to give you your due rights.” What would you, a helpless black woman, think?

Thanks to the federal government’s long overdue intervention, many black AMERICANS--HUMAN BEINGS were to be recognized as being just that: Americans and human beings with rights equivalent to those of white Americans.

Fast forward to 2005--a less violent atmosphere--and pretend that you are gay and loving it in Texas. Not a very pleasant situation, I’m sure. “Homos’ rights is a local issue,” the federal government tells you, “it’s up to the majority of your state’s leaders and voters (who are probably 95% heterosexual—and decreasing, if you know what I mean1) to give you your due rights.” What would you, a neglected gay person, think?

All through history there have been prominent homosexuals. This leads one to think that homosexuality is not just a recent passing phase that a little Christianity can solve. No, in fact Christianity is responsible for suppressing homosexuality.

Before the Middle Ages when the Catholic Church and its illogical policies ruled over Europe, the empires of Rome and Greece were filled to the seams with homosexuals–including a majority of Roman emperors and Alexander the Great.

I’d hate to leave out the modern hypocrites that sexually abused countless brainwashed children under the name and power of the Catholic Church here in America.

Concluding this bash on the ignorance and fears of human beings, I will say that states rights only prolong the inevitable. When the federal government is able to see past the psychological issues and deficiencies of states’ leaders and voters, as it did with the 1960s Civil Rights Acts, the issue of gay marriage and abortion will be settled in a positive way. I say it's time for the federal government to step up and do the right thing for its minorities.

Lets get this one right so our grandchildren don’t look back and say, “Hmmm, ‘if gay people are allowed to marry, then my children will want to become gay’… were you guys stupid, grandpa?”

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1 About 7 percent of American adults are homosexuals. Lately, it seems like there are more homosexuals out there than that and that would imply a shifting atmosphere where Americans feel more comfortable about coming out... for a little while, anyway.