An Article for Arnold Being of sound mind, good health, and having reached the age of 65 years, I am compelled

to offer the following words. This information is based upon lifes experiences and a formal education. Clearly, it is the major religions of the world, from which I am a part, which set the standard of opposition in allowing legal marriage to LGBT couples. The major religions of the world focuses on every individuals actions regarding right and wrong; all individual actions will be judged by God at the end of life as we know it. Do I own a right to precede Gods judgment with my own? The Republic of the United States of America is indeed a unique country relative to theology and law; if theology and law were not distinct, these historic Supreme Court Decisions would not be occurring. Although the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation are liberating literary documents promoting freedom, justice and equality, they were found lacking in content that protected the citizens of the new America. It was the delegate from Virginia, George Mason, who promptly noticed the necessity and bluntly stated It has no declaration of rights. Thomas Jefferson was greatly influenced by Masons voice of dissent and recognized the need to make the immunities of the countrys citizens clear. Consequently, the Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution setting precedent in determining the outcome of present and future citizens rights. Ironically, as we draw closer to these Supreme Court Decisions, we must take special notice to the first ten words of the Bill of Rights or Amendment I because they are very much alive: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, In essence, the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional and must be struck down by the Supreme Court Justices as an illegal abridgment to the Constitution of the United States of America. Furthermore, it is the Supreme Court Justices that are on trial: this is not about our belief but rather our conviction to what has already previously been determined. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, therefore, the Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional because it is founded in thought and theory on the principles of religious belief. All citizens of the United States of America are entitled to all protections and benefits of the Bill of Rights and the preceding pertains to Amendment I. Do I have the right to suggest that members of the LGBT community are not true citizens and if this was my thinking, on what grounds could I base this frame of thought? This long line of thinking must end with diversity and the 14th Amendment: All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. Members of the LGBT community are true citizens of the United States of America and deserve equal dignity and honor bestowed upon any other

person of this great country; many members of the LGBT community have surrendered the supreme sacrifice in defense of our nation. Surely, they are entitled to any benefits due all citizens of the United States and to deprive them of life, liberty and property under a federal law that should never have been, is a grave injustice and an infraction of the U.S. Constitution. Do members of the LGBT community have the right to be who they are? Did African Americans have the right to be who they were in 1956? In 1956, I personally remember having to walk a city block to get a drink of water on a 90 degree plus day because the sign read white only and not being able to enter the elaborate establishments unless I was carrying my shoe shine box. The intentional deprivation of an individuals or communitys identity is an inhumane atrocity and a constitutional violation; all citizens of the United States of America have a natural right to be secure in their own person. No one has ever explained this phenomenon better than the late great Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In his Where do we go from Here? Speech, Dr. King eloquently addressed the issue of an oppressed identity. The tendency to ignore the Negro's contribution to American life and to strip him of his personhood, is as old as the earliest history hooks and as contemporary as the morning's newspaper. To upset this cultural homicide, the Negro must rise up with an affirmation of his own Olympian manhood. Any movement for the Negro's freedom that overlooks this necessity is only waiting to be buried. As long as the mind is enslaved, the body can never be free. Psychological freedom, a firm sense of self-esteem, is the most powerful weapon against the long night of physical slavery. It is only fitting that as the closet is becoming a thing of the past, so should the rights of the LGBT community be recognized. Some words are forever and will never die. Thomas Jefferson, George Mason, Martin Luther King Jr. and many other great Americans are speaking on the issue of same sex marriage through the United States Constitution. Identity is essential for all and to allow this potentially divisive element to exist when the law has previously made its decision would be a travesty. Should I fear condemnation from the major religions of the world for lowering my wing of condemnation on same sex marriage? I think not. I fear incurring punishment for making the mistake the slave master made and the racist makes; therefore, I cannot in any manner contribute to actions that would deprive any human being the right to identity but rather support equal human rights of existence. I commend the Commander in Chief, President Barak Obama, for doing what he considered the right thing to do in backing same sex marriage from gut alone. Also, the Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton is to be commended for her in-depth knowledge of the law in backing the rights of all U.S. citizens. In loving memory of my youngest brother, Arnold Gene Atkins, who passed away on July 23, 2012. Arnold defined self as a gay man and was a true father figure to many of his nieces and nephews growing up without a father. Rahrah Rashad March 28, 2013