Yes!  Yes! Yes!  As big of an advocate that I am for the equality and inclusion of the LGBT community.  As much as I speak out against discrimination, as difficult as it is for me to accept I’m not an equal citizen (which is why I refuse to accept that I am not) I understand there are some other pretty pressing issues facing this country.  I also understand that everything falls in a sequence of priorities.  I know what may be a priority to me, is not a priority for someone else.  That’s the way life is.

One thing that affects us all however, whether you’re gay, straight, Black, white, male, female or transgender, is health care.

I don’t think anyone in their right mind, which means anyone out of the “Right mind” as in “Right Wing Republican”, would disagree that health-care is a huge cluster f*ck in this country and something that needs to be taken care of.  This is a priority for the Obama administration.  As much as I want the right to marry my partner, or adopt a child, I also want access to health care, even if I loose my job.

For me, Gay Rights and health care are both very important issues, but if I look at both issues, and honestly answer which one is more important, almost certainly I have to answer health care.  I would be a bit selfish if I answered differently.  Even more basic, it really falls into Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.  I can’t very well fight for my rights if I’m not alive and well.

One thing that boggles my mind a bit however, is the debate in congress.  There are 46 million citizens in the U.S. without health insurance, and on the contrary to what some people may want you to believe, it’s not their fault.

So, here we have members of congress debating and arguing over health care for the people of this country.  Some of them don’t want universal coverage.  Some claim that would be socialism.  Well, if it is, so be it.  I honestly believe that health care should be a RIGHT of every citizen of this country.  I am well aware of the cost involved, but nothing in life is free.  I am willing to pay more taxes if I know, that if I loose my job, then I will still be able to receive the same health care as any other citizen of the U.S.

I also wonder, why should those who make our laws, who enjoy the great health care that is provided to them and their families, be debating over health care for anyone else.  What those who oppose universal health care (or government run health care) don’t seem to understand, or perhaps admit, they are receiving government run health care.  Now tell me, one justification or reason why a Senator from Utah (or any other state) and their family  should have government controlled health care, yet no one else deserves that right? Other’s (mostly Republicans) claim that government health care would dictate the doctor one could see, or limit treatments.  I ask them, are you limited with your government coverage?

Again, I know there are many steps forward in many areas that we as a nation have to take.  But I am not so self-indulged to see, even though I currently have health care coverage, that health care should be a RIGHT of every citizen.  That isn’t socialization, that is American.  Health care industries, insurance companies, should NOT be part of capitalism.  Those industries should not be making record billion dollar profits at the expense of the nation.

Think of the billions, perhaps trillions made by those industries, and think of how that could have paid for everyone’s health care.

Now I’ll backtrack to cost.  Will universal coverage cost the tax payer?  Yes it will, but what is the lack of health care costing the tax payer now?  Perhaps our taxes will go up, but the money we and our employers spend on health care would be eliminated, so it would all balance out.

The time is now for change…change in gay rights…yes, but even more important, change in health care.  If that change doesnt’ come…you will be affected!