There are a lot of big things happening in American news this week that deal with equality. My Facebook feed is blowing up with people posting on different sides of issues in Baltimore and with the Supreme Court about to make a decision about marriage equality, but I’m happy that people are using their voices.

Someone that I really care about and admire let me down this week when he didn’t use his voice. He’s been talking often about marriage equality and his support of it. However, when someone who is against marriage equality spoke with him about the issue, he didn’t say anything. He remained silent and let the other person go on without challenge. My friend then came to me to complain about it. When I asked why he didn’t voice his opinion, he said it wasn’t his battle. Him saying this broke my heart.

My friend is a white, heterosexual, Christian male. He is the majority and the historical lead of this country. But he’s a human being just like every other person on this earth. How is it that he came to be born into this status of power? Luck. Why is he entitled to marry whom he loves? Chance—of his genes matching up and our society being in favor of his sexual orientation.

So I asked him, what if the shoe were on the other foot? What if heterosexuality wasn’t the norm and your gay friend told you, Oh, I totally think you should be able to marry who you want, but I won’t tell anyone I think that. What if it were white men being beaten and shot by officers of the law? Would you let others call all of them gang members and assume they deserved it? What if you had moved here for a better life and yet people treated you like a second class citizen or assumed you invaded the country illegally? (Up for debate on this one, I know, as we white people did invade without laws). What if you were making 30% less than women doing the same work as you? What if Christians were not the majority and extremists created violence in the name of your god? (I know this has already happened in Christianity’s history, but again bear with me). Would you let yourself be called a terrorist?

The fight for equality is not one person or one “group’s” fight. It’s for all of us. The definition of humanity is all of humankind as well as the act of being humane, kind, and benevolent. Humanity is not heterosexual, white, Christian men. It is all of us, here together. Being humane is showing kindness and compassion to all.

Being brave is hard. But think of how good and victorious you feel when you stand up for what is right. Humanity, the act of being benevolent, of being part of the human race means being in this life for all of humanity. Let your voice be heard. Be human. Be here for other humans. Be brave. Don’t be silent.