When Celebrities Blog

Lance Bass is getting political!

The former boybander is talking gay marriage in this post on LOGO’s Visible Vote website.

Says Princess Frostylocks:

“In the upcoming election my hope is that we find a leader who has the ability to understand, work with and effectively negotiate with other world leaders as well as fix the severe problems we face at home. The United States needs to maintain its ability to be the most admired, respected and powerful nation in the world.

There are so many important issues at stake in this election, it’s difficult to pinpoint just one that’s the most important to me. I am very concerned about the environment, the ongoing war in Iraq, health care (especially the future of stem cell research) and many other domestic issues.

However, since the upcoming Democratic debate will focus on LGBT issues, I’d like to discuss my feelings on why gay marriage is an important issue to me and why I think it should be supported by all the Democratic candidates.

Bill Clinton promoted tolerance and acceptance of the LGBT community. He appointed the first openly gay senior level officials to the White House staff and fought for equal rights for LGBT Americans. His attitude and policies helped to lift the veil of shame that so many LGBT individuals have felt all their lives and helped pave the way for millions of LGBT Americans to begin to fight for equal rights.

Over the years, the amazing progress the LGBT community has made has started to crumble. Many politicians have said that allowing gay marriage would somehow threaten the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman, essentially saying that allowing gay people to marry tarnishes the institution of marriage. The underlying message is that gay people should be treated differently, aren’t worthy enough to share the title of marriage, and that the love shared between gay couples is somehow less than the love between straight couples.

My main fear is for the LGBT youth in America and around the world who, for one reason or another aren’t able to cope or can’t escape their prejudice cities, towns and communities. I often wonder how many teens have committed suicide because they’re struggling with their sexuality and feel the incredible weight of the shame their community puts on homosexuality? I am hoping in this election we have Democratic candidates who feel as passionately about this issue as I do.

By not supporting gay marriage we are teaching our youth that gays aren’t equal to straight people. We are teaching them that what they feel is wrong. What a terrible message to send to impressionable children and potentially devastating message to all the LGBT youth who may be living in an isolated environment struggling with being gay and feeling they have no hope and no one to turn to.

I understand this issue isn├óΓé¼Γäót going to win an election for the Democrats and may even cost votes, but supporting gay marriage is the right thing to do. I think that the Democratic Party needs to rise above the past and help all people have the right to marry whomever they choose. I want to live in a place where no one has to feel ashamed of who they are, who they choose to spend their life with and a place where everyone can make the choice if they would like to get married. Now is the time for our Democratic candidates to stand strong and fight for what├óΓé¼Γäós right.”

[Image via Mavrix Online.]