As I watched the television coverage of the large crowds that gathered here in Chicago on election night, I sat in amazement wondering how incredible it must have been to be there and to experience such a diverse gathering of people all cheering in jubilation upon learning that America had just elected our first African-American president. And for those who were African-Americans themselves, especially those who had persevered through the civil rights movement, it appeared to be an incredibly surreal evening that they may never have imagined happening in their lifetimes. It was an amazing testimony to what's possible if you have a dream, you believe in it long enough, and you don't lose hope.
But what struck me the most was the sense of healing that was quite evident on the faces of those African Americans. As their tears started flowing, tears began streaming down my own face as well. Right before my eyes God was in the process of healing some very deep wounds from their past. And while deep wounds like that don't heal in an evening, to know that a large portion of the demographic that had previously been the source of some very deep pain in their lives was now rallying behind them must have been an enormous step forward in their healing process. That kind of reconciliation, racial or otherwise, clearly touches the heart of God.
When Barack Obama arrived and began addressing the nation and the world, I was amazed to hear him mention the word 'gay' within the first two minutes of his speech. I could be mistaken, but I suspect that was the first time that gays were mentioned in a presidential victory speech, and it was part of a list of people who are equally included in our United States of America. As I took all of this in, I couldn't help but wonder how I might feel to learn that our first gay president had been elected and to hear the nation react with euphoria. Can you even imagine that? How incredibly healing would that be for us? But in all honesty, it's hard for me to envision that ever happening in my lifetime.
As within the African-American community, the wounds within the gay community are pretty deep as well. Many of these wounds have also come from our society. It's hard to not feel personally rejected when the number of states in our union that have enacted a ban on same-sex marriages now stands at 30. How do we heal the wounds that result from rejection on that large of a scale? I suppose we can just continue to be the best example that we can be and to fight for change when and where God leads us. Because healing and reconciliation on that large of a scale can only happen when enough individuals who have inflicted those wounds of exclusion finally begin to soften their hearts and join together to include and affirm those of us who have been wounded by them in the past. That's what happened for African Americans, at long last, on election night.
While healing on that scale may seem illusive for the gay community, there are wounds that we as individuals do have the ability to heal. Those are the wounds of exclusion that we have inflicted upon others, even others within our own community. It's hard to imagine full acceptance of our community by society when we don't even feel accepted by segments of the community itself or by individuals within the community who have rejected and abandoned us. I'd like to think that members of a group that has been marginalized would know how painful it is when they themselves marginalize others who are a part of that same group, but that often doesn't seem to be the case. Fortunately, reconciliation and healing on this scale can begin when only one heart starts to soften toward someone they've deeply hurt. This equally touches the heart of God. But it takes humility, integrity and a fervent desire for authentic unity.
I sometimes feel like I'm the only one who really cares about reconciliation. I sometimes feel like I'm the only one that's willing to acknowledge and discuss the things that need to change in the gay community. I sometimes feel like we'll never be able to heal the numerous deep wounds of exclusion that we've inflicted on one another ( due to age, appearance, religious beliefs, etc. ) , much less those wounds inflicted by society. But President-elect Obama would tell us … 'Yes We Can! Yes We Can!' But he'd also say that it's going to take each and every one of us doing our part to reach out a hand of inclusion, reconciliation, and healing to those we've wounded. That's my dream, if I can only find a way to believe in it long enough and to not lose hope.
