As one citizen who has felt the sting of intolerance from my childhood to the present and had began to accept it an integral part of American Society. I was not only inspired by Judge Walker”s ruling against Proposition 8, but actually felt like a prisoner released from a dark prison cell. I realized for the first time that justice often being slow and sometimes difficult will triumph eventually because of a few dedicated people who truly understand what liberty and justice for all means.
When I was growing up in the San Joaquin Valley, because of my Okie background, I encountered prejudice for the first time. There seemed to be no recourse, or hope for me as I struggled with the old familiar criticisms that are now used against undocumented workers. Such expression as “shiftless, a drain on welfare resources, and disease-ridden,” were common. I accepted these comments, kept my head down, suffered silently, believing that this was the world I would have to accept. When I realized around high school that I was gay, my silence increased, shame and guilt followed, and I gave up any dream or hope that I ever had, and prayed only for survival. In the ”70s, my prayers were answered, and I met someone who through his love taught me self-confidence and how to fight against these forces that shrivel the soul and scar the heart. Our joint contribution to others was to form a Stonewall Club, so that no gay person need ever be lonely again.
Now I celebrate the judge”s decision and the society that once spurned me and take pride in the love that has sustained me through 37 years that has now been validated.
Thank you America for living up to your promises.
Harold Riley
Co-founder, former president,
Stonewall Democrat Club
Clearlake
