The Times, They Are A-Changin’ (Thank God!)

My selected title here is yet another profound observation by Bob Dylan in the early 60s that takes on a new significance when applied to the current struggle for equality and basic civil rights for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender citizens of our great nation. And let me first state that in my opinion, it's not because the LGBT Community has piggy-backed upon that arduous struggle endured by African Americans when it comes to civil rights, either. (Some in that camp vehemently object, if anyone makes that association or assertion). No - it’s not at all. Civil rights are civil rights - period!No one group can claim exclusive ownership of these inalienable privileges as if they’ve patented them, nor do they come in units or servings of just black, white or "Straight". Sure, that which was experienced by the African American Community in its quest for equality stands unique; but the same can be claimed by Native Americans, as well as every other minority group out there, which has had to fight for what should have been automatically accrued and bequeath unto them simply for being law-abiding citizens of these United States.Try as they might, homophobic and Transphobic hate-mongers - be they religious or secular - will never succeed in their claim that the LGBT Community is not a "legitimate" minority group worthy of all due rights, privileges, and protections afforded to the rest of "mainstream" America.First of all, no matter how it got that way, by birth or via some yet undiscovered mixture of biological micro-chemistry, each subset of the aforementioned Community will unequivocally declare that they did not wake up one morning and rebelliously opt to be the way they are. Not at all, given the persecutions that clearly awaited them along that road. We are clearly dealing with not just some type of behavior. We are reckoning with a bona fide state of being every bit as natural as the Heterosexual one among us.That being said, I now make this pronouncement: Prejudicial purveyors of false righteousness beware - the Day of True Liberation shall indeed dawn upon the now embattled and marginalized LGBT Community - it’s just a matter of time. it is the sheer weight of Truth, Justice and Equality itself that has provided a slow inertia in that direction.The younger generation can see right through the hypocritical bigotry of the fake Christianity that oppresses LGBT people. They want NO part of that dead and dying breed. They somehow know what Jesus REALLY would do in this situation - and they are doing it! Hence the great visitation by many supportive "Straight" youth I witnessed at both the Denver and Colorado Springs Pridefest celebrations this year. Their numbers by my observation have steadily increased over the last 6 years. It is they who will institute and implement True Equality. They want nothing to do with the lunacy of rabid haters like Rev. Fred Phelps - nor the carefully-spun anti-LGBT diatribes and exclusionary public policy antics of Dr. Dobson’s clan which they already know is nothing more than re-packaged, sanitized Fred Phelps Lite.Surely The Times, They Are A-Changin’ alright - and not one minute too soon!