Kevin Naff has a timely editorial in today's Washington Blade that focuses upon the need for the LGBT community to remain vigilant and on guard against the efforts of our enemies who are fanatics who will work constantly to harm us and deny us equality under the laws. Yes, the advances in marriage rights over the last few weeks has been stunning, but at the same time we must remember that these very advances will make our hate filled opponents redouble their efforts against us. In the process we need to understand that no lie or falsehood is too outrageous for those who are mentally and emotionally unbalanced. Just as the Taliban is resurgent in Afghanistan, we need to be watchful against a resurgence of the Christian Taliban in this country. Here are highlights from Kevin's column:*
IN THIS NEW, unfamiliar era of fast-paced change, it’s tempting to shrug off our opponents as bigots or laughingstocks and sit back awaiting the inevitability of full equality under the law. As gay rights opponents like Maggie Gallagher, Carrie Prejean and even Joe the Plumber become increasingly shrill and are widely mocked and dismissed by the mainstream media’s talking heads, it’s easy to be lulled into a sense that the culture wars are over.
*
HERE IN WASHINGTON, longtime gay rights supporter Marion Barry developed amnesia and came out publicly against a same-sex marriage recognition bill that he co-introduced. His announcement at a rally organized by anti-gay “Bishop” Harry Jackson and attended mostly by black opponents of gay marriage stunned local activists. Just how many of Jackson’s followers actually live in D.C. is unknown, but the image of a crowd of black churchgoers facing off against a mostly white gay male contingent of activists represents a challenge not to be underestimated. D.C. is a majority black city and the well-funded right-wing groups, led by the Family Research Council’s Tony Perkins, are poised to make an example of the D.C. Council if it proceeds with marriage legislation as expected this summer.
*
AS THE BARRY drama unfolded, more anti-gay invective spewed from the Capitol, as House lawmakers debated the hate crimes bill. Conservative Republican members stooped to appalling levels of rhetoric in their attempt to sabotage the measure. Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) employed the old “lifestyle choice” slur to assail the bill. But the most egregious attack came from Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.), who said it’s “a hoax” to think that gay college student Matthew Shepard was killed in 1998 because of his sexual orientation. If you thought such blatant bigotry and homophobia were passé and politically incorrect in the Obama era, think again.
*
And speaking of Obama, last week brought another disappointment, this time out of the White House. The official White House web site was updated and the much-lauded section on civil rights and LGBT rights severely edited. . . . But one change to the site has me concerned. The language related to repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” represents a departure from the earlier iteration of the site. . . . The site was changed last week to read: “He supports changing Don’t Ask Don’t Tell in a sensible way that strengthens our armed forces and our national security.”“Changing” the policy and “repealing” it are not necessarily the same thing. After a mostly online outcry over the changes, the web site language was changed for a second time late Friday.
*
All of these developments, which occurred within the span of a single busy week, point to the need for continued vigilance. There will likely be no better time to pursue significant gay rights advances than 2009 and we must guard against squeamishness and backsliding by our allies.
*
In short, we have relentless enemies and allies such as Barack Obama who - at least in my view - cannot necessarily be trusted. I will continue to see Obama as a cynical opportunist who used the LGBT community until such time as he delivers on his promises, starting with hate crimes legislation, ENDA and Don't Ask Don't Tell's repeal.
No comments:
Post a Comment