It has been about 35 years since my first gay friend came out of the closet. He was from the south; his parents disowned him and he moved to NYC where he found his “tribe.”
That was my first brush with homosexuality and with homophobia.
Fifteen or so years later we’d get Tom Hanks in Philadelphia. Almost two years ago, Dan Savage and his “It gets better” campaign (“it occurred to me that I was waiting for permission that I no longer needed“). This year’s Seattle Times social media campaign for R74.
I know a lot of folks can say that their economic situation is no better, or that it’s worse, than it was four years ago. Heck, we can sure say that in our household. But before you vote “pocketbook” over “social causes” please consider Doug Wright’s words below.
And these:
We’ve been at war for the longest time in U.S. history — and no civilian has been asked to sacrifice (with the exception of those with family in the military). Instead, this has been a credit card war, unlike all previous conflicts, with the full costs to be borne by our children’s children.
The cost of that war and machinations of the mega-rich on Wall Street have contributed significantly — I’d argue almost exclusively — to the current economic doldrums. (Remember, corporate profits have bounced back to record highs last year.)
Do you really want to spend more on the military than we are right now — knowing that we already spend more on defense than the next top 14 countries? If so, vote GOP.
Do you really want to gut and outsource FEMA? If so, vote GOP.
Do you really want your daughters and granddaughters to grow up in a world where the legal climate is one where they have little or no control over their bodies — even if raped? If so, vote GOP.
Do you really want your children and grandchildren to grow up in a world where their skin color or gender or sexual orientation directly affects their rights, economic mobility and place in society? If so, vote GOP.
Pulitizer prize-winning author Doug Wright’s Facebook post on gay marriage and the GOP.
I wish my moderate Republican friends would simply be honest. They all say they’re voting for Romney because of his economic policies (tenuous and ill-formed as they are), and that they disagree with him on gay rights. Fine. Then look me in the eye, speak with a level clear voice, and say, “My taxes and take-home pay mean more than your fundamental civil rights, the sanctity of your marriage, your right to visit an ailing spouse in the hospital, your dignity as a citizen of this country, your healthcare, your right to inherit, the mental welfare and emotional well-being of your youth, and your very personhood.”
It’s like voting for George Wallace during the Civil Rights movements, and apologizing for his racism. You’re still complicit. You’re still perpetuating anti-gay legislation and cultural homophobia. You don’t get to walk away clean, because you say you “disagree” with your candidate on these issues.
Amen.
Also worth a read:
Barack Obama v Mitt Romney
Known for gnawing at complex questions like a terrier with a bone. Digital evangelist, writer, teacher. Transplanted Southerner; teach newbies to ride motorcycles. @kegill (Twitter and Mastodon.social); wiredpen.com