As I noted in a brief post last night, the boyfriend and I attended Dustin Lance Black's speech for the Old Dominion University Presidential Lecture Series and then a VIP reception following the speech. To say that Black's speech was moving would be a huge understatement. In many ways he sought to call on Virginia's LGBT community to mobilize and demand nothing less than full equality and non-discrimination protects. Do not settle for crumbs he said. What made the speech even more powerful was his tie to Virginia: his family continues to live in Manassas, Virginia. Moreover, he had a late brother who was gay and never found peace and self-acceptance/happiness because of Virginia's exceedingly anti-gay legal climate. As I've noted many times before, currently in Virginia, same sex relationships receive zero recognition (even if couples have legally married in LGBT friendly states), LGBT employees can be fired at will even by state agencies and departments, and we lack other basic non-discrimination protections in housing, adoption rights and other matters.
The other message that Black was the need to come out and live their lives openly. Nothing dispels the lies and stereotypes disseminated by our enemies more thoroughly than having family, friends and neighbors see that LGBT individuals and come to the realization that we are just like everyone else.
The other message that Black was the need to come out and live their lives openly. Nothing dispels the lies and stereotypes disseminated by our enemies more thoroughly than having family, friends and neighbors see that LGBT individuals and come to the realization that we are just like everyone else.
I've often noted that as other nations advance in granting same sex marriage rights and protections to LGBT citizens, the promise of freedom of religion and equal protection under the law - the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, if you will - supposedly afforded to all Americans becomes more and more of a farce. Black zeroed in on this reality and challenged all in the audience demand that the the promises and grand words of the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights be brought to fulfillment. While he did not urge a war against religion, he clearly made the case that it is time to end the GOP and Christianist view of America which I often summarize with an image that reads "This is America . . . founded by white Christians seeking religious liberty . . . where people know their place. Keep it white and Christian."
I hope to get a transcript or recording of Black's wonderful speech and will share more with readers once I do so.
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