Subscribe to this blog's feedA comment about LGBT civil rights in response to a previous post inspired me to respond with a separate entry. (Nice when that happens!)
Here is an excerpt from the comment:
As an hiv- straight guy who is married with children, it is nice to read the differing opinions of different people. I understand that you are homosexual, why is it that (it seems to me), looking from the outside in, that all the gay community talks about is gay rights? Are the issues of the serious recession we're in not in vogue to talk of, is it that you all still feel oppressed? Honestly not trying to be rude here, but give me a break, you guys seem to be crying an awful lot about proposition 8 when if the economy gets much worse all the hiv/aids orgs. will see budget cuts, typically first on the slashing table. If I know anything from my experience with gay people it is that you all are usually a very bright, intelligent, outside of the box thinking type people. The country could use your help on more pressing issues than gay rights, don't you think? Don't get me wrong, I understand the importance of basic human rights, gay marriage included, but Obama's pressing issues are highly unlikely to have anything to do with gay rights and hiv/aids.
There's no doubt that the issue of LGBT civil rights has been in the media quite a bit lately. I don't know if that's what you're referring to when you say that "all the gay community talks about is gay rights" but I hope so. If not, then I suppose you must be expressing frustration that we just won't go away.
My response to "is it that you all still feel oppressed?" Yes. The recession is currently issue number one for all Americans. However, if civil rights were being denied to straight people, I have a feeling that you would be a strong civil rights supporter for straight people, despite a weak economy.
Even though I agree that LGBTs "are usually a very bright, intelligent, outside of the box thinking type people" I have to take a moment to consider whether that's a compliment or a condescension. And that goes for your entire comment.
The rights of African-American people and women were held up for generations because there were always other priorities, which really just means that society at large didn't want to deal with it.
There will always be excuses for why civil rights are delayed. If LGBT people have learned anything from past civil rights struggles, it's this—if we do not continue to beat the drum of equality on our own behalf, no one else will.
As for President-elect Obama, I believe that his list of "pressing issues" will indeed include LGBT civil rights and HIV/AIDS. Everything won't happen all at once, but one by one I believe they will be addressed.
Click here for a comprehensive review from the Human Rights Campaign of all LGBT-related federal legislation.
Click here to visit Change.gov to find out what President-elect Obama has promised HIV-positive and LGBT Americans.
Oriol
My writing seems to come across condescending or as a mockery from time to time. I do consider myself a smart individual, but writing exactly what I mean has always been a weak point of mine. The comment I made about gay people in general,(bright,outside of the box thinking),was a generalization and I hate those myself (sorry), but it sincerely was meant as a compliment. My point in a nut shell, was that you rarely hear anything in the news, media or any other avenue from the Gay community regarding the state of the nation and the economy. Because of all the recent attention to the gay community in the media, I have been expecting to hear from some/any LGBT leader, the community's take on the current situation. The entire nation was ready for a change when B.Obama was elected, I agree, but it seems that a lot of sub/minority groups have put too much wieght on the "dramatic changes" Obama will bring. He is entering the White House with a; sloppy, nasty, epic size, mess to clean up. He will undoubtedly bring some change, but I fear he has been built up so high, that he will fall quite hard in the eyes of many, although I am coming around to the idea he may perform quite well in some areas. Oriol, nice response to my comment, I regret that you took any of it in a way that was negative. (Partial fault goes to the way it was written). As always, I support all people, less hate groups and extremists, we were all created the same. Thanks for answering my questions. Thanks for understanding that we are all entitled to an opinion. Take care.
Bobby T.
Barney Frank has been doing an excellent job of focusing the country on economic issues while strongly advocating for gay rights when appropriate.