Emotional

It’s only 8 AM and I already feel very conflicted.

After hearing yesterday’s news that North Carolina’s voters approved an amendment banning gay marriage, civil unions and domestic partnerships I was shocked, dismayed, angry, frustrated, embarrassed and totally disappointed. All day yesterday I kept thinking, how can people do this to one another? How can voters feel the need to take away another person’s rights?! How can they have the right, the ability to take away love?? I was boiling over inside; it’s just not right and it’s a huge step backwards for us as a country and for us as human beings.

But then something amazing happened that made me so proud – President Obama became the first in-office president to announce his support for same-sex marriage. I mean, this is huge! This is big news! But at the same time I kept wondering, how can this happen at the same time North Carolina stripped away the right to love??

This morning when I woke up I wasn’t proud or angry, rather I woke up feeling sad.

Sad that we’re such an amazing country and yet we can still take away basic rights from other individuals.

Sad because I thought

That people were starting to understand that one person’s happiness doesn’t take away your happiness.

That everyone is beautiful, special and amazing just the way they are.

That everyone has the right to love and be loved.

Then after breakfast I watched this video and cried because of one mother’s love for her child.

Watching this young woman defend herself and her family was so inspirational and beautiful that it wiped away the anger and the frustration of the last 24 hours. Yes, I still think North Carolina voters are horribly wrong in their actions and beliefs but this video reminded me not to give up on people as a whole.

So, it’s okay to be angry. It’s okay to be frustrated with the government and even people.

But don’t give up on humanity.