2010/2012, The National Equality March & LGBT Priorities.
The National Equality March is scheduled for October 11-12, 2009 in D.C. I’ve avoided writing about the issue of whether or not the equality march is “good” or “bad” for the community because, on September 9th, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. Central Time, I will be a guest on Sisters Talk Radio discussing that very issue.
However, time is running out to plan for the march. We must act now and unite every LGBT activist, blogger and party of interest in declaring their full support of the National Equality March. We must begin promoting it as if it were the death of a pop icon. But why?
While California activists are arguing over whether a ballot initiative to overturn Proposition 8 should happen in 2010 or 2012, activists in other states are dealing with something very different – sometimes, literally life or death.
There is still reason to be concerned about having our heads bashed. Take the case of Steven Harmon of Portage, Michigan as an example. The 15 year old was recently attacked and beaten by two other teenagers apparently because Harmon had “come out” as gay the week before. While beating him, the teens repeatedly called him “faggot” and other derogatory anti-gay terms.
Many of us will be dead tomorrow because some yahoo decided it was o.k. to murder a queer. One of far too many recent examples of this occurred in Northwest Washington only about a week ago and resulted in the death of Nana Boo, a transgender male to female.
Many of us may not have a job tomorrow because our employer decided they don’t like queers. Tonight on Closet Talk I will be talking with Candice Metzler. Candice lost her job due to her transition and was unable to find employment. Ultimately, she found herself homeless.
While many are debating whether or not to proceed with at 2010 ballot initiative and whether or not to support the National Equality March, here in my neck of the woods, we’re still trying to figure out how to keep kids from hanging themselves from the rafters because they are demonized for being “gay.”
We need a national front to help change the lives of the future generations of our people. If you still don’t support the National Equality March, try walking a mile in a gay or transgender kid’s shoes in Jonesboro, Arkansas where social and legal changes to LGBT equality will likely never occur without involvement from our national government. After that, you may be singing a different tune.
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…RE the March. I hope many are going. TR has a list of celebrities going… but remember this too.
COMMENT there:Please. PLEASE.
At the march, have a sign with a number:
The number of LGBTQI Americans who WANTED to attend but could not because they are mentally or physically disabled, or living well-below the poverty level, etc.
I would be on that list. We feel as if we do not matter to the "activists", and feel as if we are never represented.
It feels as if NO ONE is able to protect us from a country over-stepping its bounds when it comes to voting on civil rights. (Joe B)
…and I say: Also see JOE's post above.
SOMEONE needs to March for those who CANT.
I hope someone meets him, if he wishes, gets his photo, makes a poster
and carries it with them during the March.
…. and Think about others you could do that for! How about all the murdered
ones over the last few years?
Although I am not aware of anybody losing their job at my previous employer because of being LGBT – we were all made very uncomfortable in other ways. Even our union strongly advised us to be in the closet at work – and it was more difficult for some of us to hide than others.
There have been too many beatings and deaths – one is too many. There have been too many hate crimes against LGBT in our community in other ways too – again one is too many.
We need to come together into one mindset. There might not be one exact ‘perfect’ right idea – but there are great ideas to help us begin. The National Equality March is great for everybody. Cleve Jones has been involved for so many years and he wants people of all ages – all generations. What a great place to start!
I believe that none of us is perfect – but some ideas are significantly better than others. This is one of those ideas.
mj
Jay, I’m a longtime follower of yours on twitter. Personally, I am still undecided on the March. Congress will be out of session that day. The March will culminate on the Capitol steps on a day when D.C. is relatively empty.
At link is a viewpoint against the March. The reasons why, give me pause. You know on the day of the March, Congress is closed and most politicians will be out of town. So what coverage will it get on the airwaves? Will it make a dent against homophobia or will it drain valuable resources?
http://www.floridablade.com/2009/9-3/view/editorial/6240.cfm
Of course, we want protections and equality for all LGBT people. Of course we want to stop violence against our community and to fight hate. The question is if the March will get us further towards that, or if it will drain resources towards other battles.
Your blog post typifies what is so wrong about the timing and priorities for the March. “We need a National front…” and you honestly believe that a march will accomplish that?
Real change is needed in the political arena to be sure, but that will happen only when gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and straight people reach out to their elected officials – at all levels of government and demand that change directly. Those Arkansas senators and representatives aren’t changing their minds to support federal legislation just because a bunch of gays and lesbians, who have enough cash to get to Washington decided to have a March.
The GLBTQ communities make up about 10% of the population of the US, giver or take some. Not nearly enough on our own to simply demand change. All the time, talent, energy and resources currently going into a March would be better spent building strong bridges within al sorts of communities, including straight progressives, because until we have enough people actively calling for change, AND MAKING IT HAPPEN, we will continue to be frustrated at the amount of progress,
There is also something fundamentally flawed in the thinking that changes at the Federal level will make everything OK. Not to mention that this seems to be thoughts totally void of any recognition of the current state of Washington politics and the national political climate.
The March can definitely be a useful tool and have positive benefit, but be clear about what that can be. It can help energize a younger generation of activists. It can give some media attention to the issues important to the GLBTQ community, and it can help many feel as if they are part of a larger unified movement. These are all good goals and useful to achieve. but a March isn’t going to change the day to day life of that transgender kid in Arkansas.
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Hi Steve – I firmly believe that the most valuable resource we have going for us is the momentum. There are many LGBT people that want to do something, but have no idea what to do. We already see many that stepped forward after the passage of Proposition 8 stepping off because they don’t know what to do! We must keep that momentum since we are so weak in numbers.
The National Equality March is not just a “march” but also a way for many activists to come together and discuss further action. Although Congress won’t be in session over the weekend (or Monday since it’s Columbus Day), they are in session that Tuesday. Many are staying over and March organizers are encouraging you to set up appointments with your representative. That’s why when you put in their website that you’ll be attending, it asks for your email and zip code – they will send you the information on your representative. Or at least that’s what they were doing a month or so ago when I put in my information.
I agree that a March is not the perfect solution to our problems, but it is something. I hear so many people listing off why not to have a march, but few saying what to do instead of having a march.
Any way you look at it though, the march is going to happen. It’s a done deal. If we don’t support it, our opponents will gain momentum from our division. We must appear to be a unified army, marching forward, ready for war.
Oh, and Steve, I do hope you’ll tune into the show mentioned in the blog. I’m really looking forward to discussing the march with others in the LGBT Community and perhaps we can all learn something from each other.
I agree with wanting to appear unified, butf the turnout is low, we need to keep in mind that it isn’t entirely due to lack of support, but could be due to lack of money for many people. No gay person I know can afford this travel, but I live in a small rural town, I realize that.
It’s unfortunate that appearing to have a united front towards equality is contingent upon so many of us having such disposable cash.
I’ll listen to the podcast.
To TJ
I can’t attend the march but I support the concept of taking this to a Federal level. Only the Federal government can grant rights to social security, medicare, federal taxes and deductions, and any other Federal law. You said it was flawed. But I don’t see the flaw stated in your post.
States have to follow Federal laws. I remember when some states had legal abortion and some didn’t. It was a mess. Then Roe v. Wade came. Whether or not one agrees with the decision, it was a question of a womans right to choose. Rights should be across a whole country. Let states decide things like when to build a park or a road.
Why pour all that money into every state when Congress has the power to make these laws? The “marriage is a state by state issue” is just a lame argument. The same thing goes for ENDA. And only Congress can overturn Don’t Ask Don’t Tell
I’m hoping to go to the march if possible. ( I have some health issues) But I’m really concerned how poorly this seems to be organized and I don’t understand why it’s happening when D.C. is relatively empty.
I wasn’t aware of that until one of your posters here mentioned it.
sadly I’m seeing very little about this at the gay clubs and becoming increasingly frustrated with gay pride parades not taking full advantage of the huge crowds to register gay votes? I believe there was only one booth at pride in West Hollywood…..
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