I Will Not Forget, I Will Not Be Silent
Matthew Deserves No Less
I Will Not Forget, I Will Not Be Silent
Matthew Deserves No Less
It's PRIDE time again. This year marks the third anniversary of Lawrence v. Texas which struck down sodomy laws throughout the United States. This Supreme Court ruling has tremendous sociopolitical impact because the remaining statues were bigots’ last justification for anti-gay laws. Now that the statues are themselves illegal, discrimination can finally be called for what it is. It's hate pure and simple.
It REALY bothers me when anti-glbt heterosexuals think they are doing me a favor with their own campaigns since this is furthest from the truth. Recognizing that hate is not a family value, I have thus used my own frustration and outrage as the moral conviction to work in the GLBT equality movement. I want my friends to enjoy the same basic rights which I presently have easier access to. I honestly do not understand what other people's problem is, GLBT Americans only want equal rights and respect.
I remain bewildered why African American churched campaigned so vigorously FOR the unfortunately passed Amendment 2 in Texas. Do they not understand that they damaged their own morals by having partnered with the Klan? Do they not realize that Jesse Jackson, Corretta Scott King, and other nationally respected blacks with deep religious roots were opposing these measures because other actions were contradictory to civil rights? Do they even care?
I am disappointed that the United Methodist Church decided to violate their own 'open' campaign by defrocking Beth Stroud. Her crime: openly living with her same-sex partner. Because this same church says GLBT people themselves are not bad, I'm currious about the need to split hairs. What makes them think lots of people want to belong to an organization which is so rigid and autocratic?
Ditto for the continued enforcement of 'don't ask, don't tell'. If we are in this big quagmire, you honestly would think that the armed forces needs all of the people that they could get--but, nope! The ironic thing is that the most 'gay panic' comes from senior Pentagon officials and politicians (baby boom generation and older); most of the enlisted people honestly don't care. Plus when you are getting fired at in combat, the real sexuality of people around you is going to be the last thing on your mind. You are goiing to want to get out of there alive regardless of who has what sexuality.
1.Work to end discrimination against gays and lesbians.
2.Teach your children that being gay is simply another
means of expressing love.
3.If one of your family is gay, let them know you love
them just the way they are.
4.Don't tell anti-gay jokes.
5.Find out more about what it isreallylike to be gay in
our society.
6.Be open with others about having gay friends or
family. Secrecy breeds shame.
7.If you overhear someone making an anti-gay
comment, let them know you don't agree or approve.
8.Write Congress to protest any anti-gay legislation.
9.Encourage open and honest discussion of gay issues.
10.Stand with those who believe that discrimination
against anyone is a crime against humanity.
A Brief Timeline of Gay History
I began my own activism in high school because I did not like the way which other people were being treated. I believed that heterosexism (belief in heterosexual supremacy) was wrong and that my friends deserved equal rights. When I got to college, I became involved in the campus GLBT group and even attended the Dallas pride parade one year. I also used my position at the campus paper to advocate on behalf of GLBT equality (including history awareness) and clarify that the religious right did not represnt all heterosexuals.
I wrote editorials and columns encouraging all people to work on behalf of GLBT equality. I pointed out that the pink and black triangles which are so freely displayed today were reclaimed from the concentration badges that Hitler had forced GLBT people to wear. If European GLBT communities surived Hitler, then the American GLBT communities reasoned they could and would overcome whatever this country was throwing at them.
After college, I worked a temporary job for a counter campaign which had attempted to convince City of Houston residents not to deny domestic partner benefits to the partners of same-sex city employees. Even though we lost that battle by a narrow margin, I am proud that I had made some difference in the world for GLBT rights. That campaign organization did succeed in getting 'our' councilmember elected to the Houston City Council and also made critical coalitions between race/ethnicity, sexuality, and gender. In the short time it had existed, this organization identified that progressive voters did exist in Houston Texas and could be mobilized with excellent and proactive outreach.
I had refered to myself as an 'activist' before, but that campaign experience really taught me the importance of hard work, honesty, and coalition building to effective political change. I also learned important lessons from the things which we did not do as well. I learned that people are hesitant to support a cause which functions as an exclusive clique and fundraising is critical to increase the chances of success; if you don't have money, you do not have visiblity, and then people do not know about you no matter how much they might agree with your cause or how good it is. I also saw what happened when people who did not share their organization duties etc...became so burned out from their positions (initially taken to help the community) because they had tried to do everything themselves. Group work is not a sign of personal weakness.
Transgendered individuals are still at the mercy of a misguided society, which does not recognize anatomical diversity. The corrective surgery is largely done to placate society, although very few jobs in society require a pants check. Former President Clinton got it right when he said that sexuality does not determine one's abilty to change a tire...etc.
Since children are unable to sign the consent form, these procedures are carried out against their will. The combined attack of sexism and homophobia demands a combined response. Many homophobic indivuals also are involved in antifeminism work as well. There is an assumption that ridgid gender roles/physiology is the only way to live a productive life. Obviously this is false.
Touted as "beneficial" the treatments are detrimentalto mental health. Under the "revised" label, it is actually is possible to institutionalize a child merely suspected of not turning out "right." Profoundly broad, diagnostic criteria would include any girl who played with hot wheels, or transformers...etc. Abuses once carried out against GLBT adults are being revivied on a defensless age group.
The "reverend" Jerry Falwell's attacks on Teletubbies demonstrated the extent of such ill will and hysteria. This was the earliest example of the right wing being fixated on children's programing! Out of all the problems in the world today, he had flipped out over a puppet carying a bag. (And I thought I had way too much time on my hands!) Falwell seems strangely unable to focus this energy on combatting poverty, war or hunger. Although I had previously known about his lack of intellect (opposition to liberals and feminists) his attacking a children's show was just off the wall. Even if Tinky Winky were assigned a sexuality, it would not be a problem because not every child is heterosexual! Children who are GLBT would have a role model and straight preschoolers could see that it's alright to be friends with different people.
Left with few resources, GLBT youth can experience various degrees of isolation. Several court cases however have ruled schools have a responsiblity to ensure that sexual minority youth are not singled out for discrimatory treatment or ignored when harrassed. I long for the day when such interpretation of Title IX are voluntary adopted by every school district in the country. The Department of Education began issuing guidelines regarding the treatment of GLBT students during Bill Clinton's administration. I am skeptical of the Bush regime having continued this outreach campaign and am doubtful they had followed through.
Although it's not very publicized yet, school districts should make it a priority to find out what they are. The courts are no longer as willing to brush off students who are fed up with anti-glbt abuse. This abuse can range from failure to reprimand gay-bashing students to actualy engaging in some kind of it themselves. Since people of all sexualities and religious perspectives fund public schools, they cannot use the "defense" that GLBT students are not in "this" school district. When "It's Elementary" aired in the Houston area, the local CC had a hissy fit, despite the fact that EVERYBODY pays taxes for and attends area schools.
 | White Ribbon Campaign Raising
Awareness about Gay-Teen Suicide |
Findings on gay suicide
PERSON Project
Resources from Planet Out
A Bill of Rights for gay and lesbian students
Student Pride
Durring high school, many of my friends faced a rough time because of their orientation. The school adminstration at best was unrecceptive to GLBT students needs and concerns--and some were hostile. Same sex couples were prohibited from entering school dances and the school did not take GLBT harrassment seriously. I suppose I am fortunate that none of my friends ever committed suicide or died because of their injuries, but my heart aches for those who were not as lucky. Because the Nazbonzy ruling was released after my graduation, we did not have the same knowllege of court cases which will make surivival for future generations much easier. I feel it is especialy important to reassure GLBT youth that there are people who know your struggle and resources to help them win.
If you are a GLBT youth contemplating suicide, please don't do it. Although you may think you are the only one wrestling with these issues, others have done it before. Killing yourself only allows anti-gay people the pleasure of continuning their lies. The extreme right like suicide because it allows them to get rid of gays without actualy being blamed for it. Talk to somebody you can trust like a youth hotline or shelter. (I am not a mental health professional, but will try to help people who need it).
|Liberal Politics|Democratic Party Stuff|
|General Feminism|Equal Rights Amendment| Disability Rights| |General Fun Stuff|Nirvana| 90210| | Quotes and Stats|Library of Writings|Search Engines|In Memory of Nathan Miller|
View My Guestbook