Kids Can Be Activists Too!

by Deborah Carver

You read Rainbow Rumpus, so you probably already know what “equality” means: all people—even though you may see differences in types of families, skin color, gender (whether they are a boy or a girl), and their preference to hang out or fall in love with boys or girls—should be treated the same.

Unfortunately, not every person or every government thinks that all people should have the same rights.

In the United States and many other countries, it’s not legal in most places for LGBT couples to get married, and a lot of people think this is wrong. They hold rallies and protest to get the government to change the laws so that all people can be treated equally, and that’s called dissent. They are standing up for what they believe in: two people in love should be able to get married, and it doesn’t matter whether they will be two husbands or two wives, as long as they love each other.

Lots of kids believe that to have equality, same-sex marriage should be legal. Some of these kids come from LGBT families, like you. And some of them have been speaking out publicly about what they think is wrong.

Kasey, age 10, recently spoke at the New Jersey State House in New Jersey’s capital, Trenton, to petition the state government so his moms could get married. Sadly, the New Jersey state government voted against LGBT marriage, but Kasey’s contribution was noted by many, including the New York Times. (Here’s the full story. )

Even kids who aren’t from LGBT-headed families are standing up for same-sex marriage rights. Although they’re not from the same family situation, they are getting involved on behalf of equality, so they are allies, or friends, of LGBT-headed families.

One ally, Ethan, spoke on the steps of the Capitol in Denver, Colorado, in May 2009. Ethan was 9 years old at the time, and he helped organize his classmates to support marriage equality in the state of Colorado. You can watch his speech here:

Will, age 10, has also stood up for LGBT rights. Will, who lives in Arkansas, refuses to say the Pledge of Allegiance until LGBT families are legally able to marry and adopt children. This has gotten him into trouble at school, but his parents and friends stand by his decision to do what’s right.

“I really don’t feel that there’s currently liberty and justice for all,” Will told the Arkansas Times. He continues to be an activist (someone who works to end political injustice) even though his classmates make fun of him. (Read more about Will.)

Words like “politics” and “activism” may seem like they’re for adults or for teenagers, but as these kids have shown, you’re never too young to stand up for what you believe in.

If you see something in your world that you think is unfair, or something that does not allow everyone to be treated equally (whether it’s LGBT rights or other civil rights), you should talk to your family, friends, and teachers about how you feel. Talking to people you trust can help you sort out your feelings—and help you figure out the best way to do something about it.

How else can you get involved? You might already be familiar with organizations like COLAGE and GLSEN, which fight for the rights of LGBT-headed families. Many middle school and high school kids in the United States have formed Gay-Straight Alliances in their schools. Your school might be able to form its own chapter, or you might think about forming a chapter once you get older. You could also start a campaign with friends or family on DoSomething.org, which encourages activists of all ages, working for all causes.

This May, think about what you believe about equality and what you want to do about it. People listen when kids speak up about what’s right.