D-Day: Keeping My Promise

On Friday, May 3 my son Joe and I started our ride. Our ride keeps a promise. Our promise is not to ride 1,800 miles to Boy Scout Headquarters—that's just a bonus. No. Our promise is to be silent no more.

If you don't know someone gay, then listen to us closely. We are people who love people who are gay. The greatest teachers in the land has always told us to love our neighbors. To love our sisters. To love our brothers. What could possibly be more gay than that?

I want you to know that just as I was silent for 25 years, and perhaps that you assumed I was satisfied with the state of discrimination in these, our United States. I was not. I thought I was being respectful of you in my silence. Perhaps I was. But in my silence were you respectful of the idea that I love someone gay? Surely, some of you, yes. How do I know? Because we would whisper it to each other.

Today, I have found my voice. Now I declare: "Not in my name!" I will name the names of institutional discrimination. Will your name be found there? I hope not. Boy Scouts of America—can you hear me now? Can you hear the voice of a nation which demands fairness? Demands equality? Can you hear me now?

Be prepared for something wonderful. Peace.