Profile
Photos
Comments
Holiday
Watercooler: Be a gay rights patriot
, blogger, 365gay.com
07.02.2010 11:00am EDT
07.02.2010 11:00am EDT
It’s
that time of year for barbecue’s fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball
games and fireworks…yep it’s time for Fourth of July celebrations. I was
wondering what to write for the long weekend festivities. Should I post
more True Blood goodness? More Catholic church hypocrisy? More pop
culture tidbits that tickle my fancy?
Nope.
I was inspired by the Take Back Pride movement to encourage all of
us to get politicized (or more politicized) and take back the 4th of
July. If you are active, inspire others. If you give cash, give time. If
you are just an informed citizen, get involved. Patriotism must be
defined by the patriot! And we can all define ourselves as human rights
patriots (you too, straight allies).
Pick a topic that impacts the
LGBT community and get to work. Below is a short list of examples to get
you started and by all means post your own favorites. Happy 4th!
•
Marriage Equality. Why should we want to imitate the
hetero-normative institution of marriage ? Whether you personally want to
get married someday, or not, fight we must.
There are 1,138 Federal benefits, rights and protections afforded to married couples
that GLBT couples will never see because of the dreaded Defense of
Marriage Act (thanks, President Clinton). Even if you are lucky
enough to live in one six states (hello Iowa!) that allows same-sex marriage you will never be invited
to the federal party until we win.
•
DADT. One of the most inane policies enacted (thanks again,
Clinton!) by the federal government is Don’t
Ask, Don’t Tell .
The House of Representatives recently
voted to repeal the discriminatory policy and this summer the Senate
will take up the issue. We may be witnessing the last breaths of a
policy that is as silly (what? gays don’t serve?) as it is hurtful to
our military readiness (especially in times of war).
More than 13,500
service member s have been fired under this law since 1994. The law
is a response to “homosexual panic” and seems to have been enacted to
keep potentially gay soldiers from showering with heterosexual soldiers.
Come on, butch up…you already do!
•
ENDA. In these difficult economic times, it’s important to be as
secure in our livelihoods as possible.
The Employment Non-Discrimination Act would
provide LGBT employees with protection against employment discrimination based on sexual orientation .
The bill protects workers form discriminatory hiring, firing,
promotion, or compensation practices, as well as retaliation for
reporting such practices.
In 29 states it is completely legal to
discriminate based on sexual orientation and in 38 states discrimination
based on gender identity or expression is allowed. Enough is enough.
•
LGBT Homelessness. There is an estimated 1.6 million homeless
American youth. Of that astronomical number it is estimated that between
20 and 40 percent identify as LGBT .
President
Obama recently acknowledged this fact in his plan to end chronic homelessness by 2015 and
homelessness among families, youth and children by 2020. Until
homelessness is eradicated, partner with the Ali Forney
Center in NYC (here is a list of national
resources ) in advocating for the least among us.
•
Fireworks. After all of your human rights patriotism, go have
fun. If you are in the New York City area do NOT miss the Macy’s Forth of July Celebration . The
fireworks display is undeniably the best in the country. Happy 4th!
