Stand and deliver for LGBT rights
THIS COUNTRY stands at a crossroads of cultures.
In 2008, a paradigm shifted that altered public consciousness. As the dust settled after the November election, we found that even though we had elected the first African American president, in the same breath, the civil right to marry the one you love was taken away from gay and lesbian American citizens with the passage of Proposition 8--and in the state of California of all places!
This sparked wildfires of contempt across the country. Then, as the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall rebellion came near, several pre-Stonewall era-style "raids" went down in gay-owned establishments, where jack-booted officers shoved patrons to the ground with little or no proper cause. These "raids" produced one thing only--public outrage.
After 40 years, the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities have once again had enough. It is time to throw down the glove. We organized like shock troops that spread out across the country educating the rank and file and finding numerous allies that see us as equal human beings deserving of equal treatment under the law. A march was planned and organized, with one demand and one demand only--full equality in all matters governed by civil law in all 50 states. New activists sprouted up in every state.
On October 11, we marched. The turnout showed us that we truly were not alone, and that the moral minority was wrong about the public opinion of the LGBT communities. Estimates on the turnout at the National Equality March stand in the range of around 250,000.
At the same time as this march, there were solidarity rallies held in many major cities around the country. We were touching the pulse of a large cross-section of America and found their hearts were with us, beating in unison.
I have come away from the experience of this march a changed person, I had become embittered by the lies and inequalities I face day in and day out as a trans woman. This march showed me that there are others who have noticed these inequalities and side with me and my lot enough to stand up with me!
Seeing that solidarity with allies in our nation's capitol has energized my efforts to bring about the change required to actualize true equality for LGBT Americans. This march has amped up the motivation of all the groups that worked together to make this march such a success, and in the afterglow of such a momentous occasion we are inspired to do more, we learned that you really can move mountains, we learned that we can change the world...if we try.
The far right has framed LGBT equality as a culture war. If that is how they want to frame it, then, as I heard it put, "We are an army of lovers." An army of lovers that stands in opposition to a culture of hatred, bigotry and enforced fear. We can only win. We have no alternative.
WE STAND at a crossroads, where we part with the past and hold our leaders accountable, where we get our hands dirty and get involved directly with the political debate and refuse to back down, and where we rail against bigoted laws, demand equality and refuse to keep our heads down and not rock the boat. We will rock the boat. If we have to, we will flip the whole damn boat over!
We are the future, and we will change the status quo. We have stood at the steps of the White house and shouted, "Mr. President we are here for our rights! Stand and deliver!"
In saying this, we too must now stand and deliver. Yes, we staged a beautiful glorious march. Washington never looked more beautiful than when I saw so many rainbow flags marching down Pennsylvania Avenue!
Now we have to make good use of all the networking we did while we were there. We need to consolidate with brother and sister groups around the country, plan tandem actions, give and offer solidarity to each other's groups. Together we will fan the flame of hope in our hearts until it sets the entire country alight. We need to share information from our listserves, pass on names and e-mail addresses, share in each other's e-mail campaigns, write to our representatives and actually arrange to meet with them. We have to be tireless and relentless.
I've heard it said that nothing worth doing ever comes easy. That is an understatement and I think you know this too. We have to fight like our lives depend on it, because they do. We have to make sure everyone knows that, for us, the personal is political. We have to live what we fight for, we have to correct the person who says, "That's so gay!" in a condescending tone, and erase "faggot" as a slur.
We must demand nothing less than equal respect and never back down in all matters both public and private. We need to keep pushing the envelope with insurance companies, lenders, and any other legal firm in the direction of recognition of our families. If enough of us do it this will be noticed. We cannot accept the second-hand mindset that would allow these things to go unchecked. If we do not want to be second-class citizens then we must not live like second-class citizens, we must not think like second-class citizens.
So my charge to all of LGBT America is stand and deliver! Let's change the world!
Dove Paige Anthony, Chicago
