If you were fortunate to be at the National Equality March, you saw thousands of rainbow draped people marching past the White House on their way to Congress. I was there, as I had been a dozen times before, and this march was like no other. This was not angry, not demanding, not insisting that some outcome be averted. Conversation was not desperate or chants goading. This was celebration and if you are not around young LGBT much, let me share with you that this celebration is the outburst of 200,000 people all being OUT or okay hanging with people who are OUT.
Yes, there was awareness that many who were not there wanted to be out, to be safe, to be loved. We all know about hate crimes. Judy Shepard spoke and every one of us know someone who is living in isolation or died alone. However my point is that this gathering was bubbling with joy, love, pride and a deep understanding that rights and equality are on the way.
Several people I know here in Southern California went to Maine the last couple of weeks. As with all activism, the action starts with full belief in success. They begged for money, packed their bags and expected to come home having sustained Marriage Equality for Maine. Once again we woke up on a Nov 4th to the majority of voters fearfully shunning LGB people. The loss is the opposite of what I felt in DC at the march; it is a room without oxygen, without color, joyless.
I want to stop this feeling of a collective momentum against queers. I am wondering if this is actually about referendums, propositions and the majority hoarding their perceived rights which is the historical precedent. Is this so egregious in its application that it will call on the American conscience to stop even soliciting justice from the majority. It is not proper to ask, to expect, to empower the majority to protect the rights of a minority. Wiser people than I knew that ~ when did we lose that thread?
The diagnosis and resolution of that conflict is not my focus (though we need it to be championed by some). I am always and only concerned with equality which brings me to the discussion about the ideas, opinions and actions of David Mixner who is becoming the organic bellwether of this Civil Rights Movement. Today he posted the second in a serious of writings on the loss of Marriage Equal rights, when the voters are asked to protect a minority. He has done what needs to be done which is stop naming this movement marriage equality, military service, assigning the status of hate crimes – running piecemeal state – to – state and name it what it is: CIVIL RIGHTS.
This is the next footfall in the march of human rights. This is a breathing, growing expression of diversity within the human race and it cannot be marginalized, brutalized, isolated, ignored any more. There is not another moment to wait, another omen to be unveiled, another tragic loss to be survived for everyone who believes in civil rights to name this movement, join this movement, embrace and escalate this movement.
In close I want to include in this clarion call to recognize our leaders, join with one another and dedicate ourselves to this just cause ~ a sincere and wise caution: we must be vigilant to be that which we want to create. We have to become and behave as the society which we want. Within our ranks we have to include LGBTAIQQ, all genders, sexes, ages and races PERIOD. We need women in leadership, welcome our advocates, include people of color. We need to bridge generations, honoring passion in the young and the veteran. More simply: We must be the change we want to see. No one is equal until everyone is equal.
Zoe, YOU are the voice of the new civil rights movement. You have passionately and even patiently(!) at times persevered in raising the conscience and the consciousness of ordinary men and women, your neighbors and students...anyone who will listen - to look inside their hearts and recognize the 'other' is here, home, no different than this heart. From the moment you got on the plane to go to Illinois 28 years ago I watched your life shift irrevocably. The power of your articulate voice became infused by the even more eloquent power of your actions - 30 days of fasting to honor those who could not speak for themselves. Your voice has always carried even when you were asked to whisper, the whispers were heard. You have been insatiable in the thirst to recognize and rectify injustice. I will read David's writings but what I know is your voice and the inspiration that has sustained a lifetime. I am so grateful for who you are and I am proud that you are my friend.
Posted by: Patricia Klauer | November 05, 2009 at 10:56 PM