crossposted on Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters
Lord, it's so hard to keep up with all of the mess emanating from the religious right.
For the benefit of those who don't know, in addition to updating my two blogs, I have an 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. job. So sometimes I can't keep up with the news like so many other lgbt blogs. Subsequently when I post, I try to make it a doozy - i.e. either show something new and different or throw out a different dimension to exposing religious right lies.
Today, I was a little under the weather
I turn 38 this upcoming Sunday and I'm not looking forward to it. You can chalk it up to wondering if I have done something relevant with my life so far. I've had this notion many times before.
When I turned 30 and felt that I had not hit the nadir of relevance, I calmed my hysteria by noting that legendary actor Burt Lancaster didn't really start cooking until he reached 32 and that Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison didn't start writing until she was 35.
These days as I approach 40, I tell myself that Jerry Seinfeld didn't really hit it big until he was in his 40s.
I guess if I haven't done anything of relevance by the time I reach 50, I will be pulling Grandma Moses out of my hat.
Right now, I am trying to get together a serious column regarding ENDA, gays, African-Americans and the "privilege of oppression."
Sounds good, don't it?
But leave it to possible GOP National Committee Chairman Ken Blackwell to wake me up.
'Change' Ken Blackwell can believe in
The GOP may select Ken Blackwell to be the first African-American chairman of their National Committee. Something that we can blame on Obama no doubt.
Now I suppose we are going to be inundated with cross conversations between the lgbt community and the heterosexual African-American community on just what is a "civil right." This interview looks to be the possible first salvo.
Personally speaking, the entire conversation drives this black gay man to distraction. Every time lgbts and African-Americans get into this discussion, I feel like a child caught in the middle of a nasty custody battle. (Eat your heart out, Gloria Vanderbilt)
Now while I feel that the lgbt community in general can do more to help black gays and lesbians be more visible, I can't shake the notion that the entire argument puts my heterosexual black brothers and sisters in some of the most unlikely of positions.
Not only does the subject of homosexuality make the black community seem hypocritical (i.e. citing religious belief against homosexuality as a defense when some forms of popular African-American music embrace sexualized images of women and fornication - which you hardly ever hear Harry Jackson or Ken Hutcherson talk about) but it also causes the black community to forget its own history.
Take the notion pushed by some of my heterosexual black brothers and sisters that "gays have it easy because they can hide who they are."
Those who say that tend to forget a sad bit of African-American history.
It's not talked about much now but a while ago, there were some African-Americans who took advantage of their lighter skin tone in order to "pass" for white. They did this to escape the potential dead end life that racism subjected black America to.
Needless to say, those who could not pass weren't exactly happy with the actions of their lighter-skinned brothers and sister.
It was a controversial thing. Books were written about "passing," and vigorous conversations were had about the practice in meeting places such as barbershops and churches.
Hollywood even did several movies on the subject. The most famous had to be Imitation of Life, in which a light-skinned black woman ran away from home in order to pass for white.
Her mother gets so distraught that she dies of a broken heart, And this leads to the climactic, tear jerking ending in which the daughter interrupts the funeral, flings open the hearse and collapses on her mother's coffin in surfeit of hysterical tears.
You can see the scene here.
This leads to me to ask if passing caused so much trouble for African-Americans back then, then why in the hell would it be a good idea for the lgbt community right now?
Trying to be something you aren't isn't good for anyone, be they black, gay or black and gay. It's a practice that must never been encouraged.
It's that simple folks. You elect a man who promises change and then watch as he sets out to deliver.
Here is a link to the Obama transition team's web site. Listen as Robert Gibbs answers questions submitted by Americans on a range of issues, including repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Gibbs is unequivocal in voicing Obama's desire to see DADT done away with.
Anyone familiar with the DADT debate and legislation understands that repeal will still take time to work its way through both houses of Congress and onto the President's desk, however with this kind of clear leadership it will not be long before every American patriot finally has the chance to serve their nation.
On a related DADT note: the Military Times has released their 6th Annual Survey showing 71% of respondents said they would continue to serve if the policy was overturned. As an example of the majority position, the article quotes Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Pfau, of the 284th Engineer Company in Seagoville, Texas, saying he isn't concerned about the issue.
"That policy does not bother me whatsoever," Pfau said. "I don't judge people by their sexual orientation. I judge them by the kind of person they are. As long as they do their job, it does not bother me."
The findings are part of the sixth annual Military Times survey of subscribers to Army Times, Air Force Times, Navy Times and Marine Corps Times newspapers. This year's survey, conducted Dec. 1 through Dec. 8, included more than 1,900 active-duty respondents.
The responses are not representative of the opinions of the military as a whole. The survey group overall under-represents minorities, women and junior enlisted service members, and over-represents soldiers.
In keeping with previous surveys, nearly half of the respondents described their political views as conservative or very conservative. Slightly more than half said they consider themselves Republicans, 22 percent independents and 13 percent Democrats.
Given these skewed numbers, the fact that only 58% of the most conservative, senior career service members support DADT is telling.
crossposted on Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters
Lord, it's so hard to keep up with all of the mess emanating from the religious right.
For the benefit of those who don't know, in addition to updating my two blogs, I have an 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. job. So sometimes I can't keep up with the news like so many other lgbt blogs. Subsequently when I post, I try to make it a doozy - i.e. either show something new and different or throw out a different dimension to exposing religious right lies.
Today, I was a little under the weather
I turn 38 this upcoming Sunday and I'm not looking forward to it. You can chalk it up to wondering if I have done something relevant with my life so far. I've had this notion many times before.
When I turned 30 and felt that I had not hit the nadir of relevance, I calmed my hysteria by noting that legendary actor Burt Lancaster didn't really start cooking until he reached 32 and that Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison didn't start writing until she was 35.
These days as I approach 40, I tell myself that Jerry Seinfeld didn't really hit it big until he was in his 40s.
I guess if I haven't done anything of relevance by the time I reach 50, I will be pulling Grandma Moses out of my hat.
Right now, I am trying to get together a serious column regarding ENDA, gays, African-Americans and the "privilege of oppression."
Sounds good, don't it?
But leave it to possible GOP National Committee Chairman Ken Blackwell to wake me up.
'Change' Ken Blackwell can believe in
The GOP may select Ken Blackwell to be the first African-American chairman of their National Committee. Something that we can blame on Obama no doubt.
Now I suppose we are going to be inundated with cross conversations between the lgbt community and the heterosexual African-American community on just what is a "civil right." This interview looks to be the possible first salvo.
Personally speaking, the entire conversation drives this black gay man to distraction. Every time lgbts and African-Americans get into this discussion, I feel like a child caught in the middle of a nasty custody battle. (Eat your heart out, Gloria Vanderbilt)
Now while I feel that the lgbt community in general can do more to help black gays and lesbians be more visible, I can't shake the notion that the entire argument puts my heterosexual black brothers and sisters in some of the most unlikely of positions.
Not only does the subject of homosexuality make the black community seem hypocritical (i.e. citing religious belief against homosexuality as a defense when some forms of popular African-American music embrace sexualized images of women and fornication - which you hardly ever hear Harry Jackson or Ken Hutcherson talk about) but it also causes the black community to forget its own history.
Take the notion pushed by some of my heterosexual black brothers and sisters that "gays have it easy because they can hide who they are."
Those who say that tend to forget a sad bit of African-American history.
It's not talked about much now but a while ago, there were some African-Americans who took advantage of their lighter skin tone in order to "pass" for white. They did this to escape the potential dead end life that racism subjected black America to.
Needless to say, those who could not pass weren't exactly happy with the actions of their lighter-skinned brothers and sister.
It was a controversial thing. Books were written about "passing," and vigorous conversations were had about the practice in meeting places such as barbershops and churches.
Hollywood even did several movies on the subject. The most famous had to be Imitation of Life, in which a light-skinned black woman ran away from home in order to pass for white.
Her mother gets so distraught that she dies of a broken heart, And this leads to the climactic, tear jerking ending in which the daughter interrupts the funeral, flings open the hearse and collapses on her mother's coffin in surfeit of hysterical tears.
You can see the scene here.
This leads to me to ask if passing caused so much trouble for African-Americans back then, then why in the hell would it be a good idea for the lgbt community right now?
Trying to be something you aren't isn't good for anyone, be they black, gay or black and gay. It's a practice that must never been encouraged.
It's that simple folks. You elect a man who promises change and then watch as he sets out to deliver.
Here is a link to the Obama transition team's web site. Listen as Robert Gibbs answers questions submitted by Americans on a range of issues, including repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Gibbs is unequivocal in voicing Obama's desire to see DADT done away with.
Anyone familiar with the DADT debate and legislation understands that repeal will still take time to work its way through both houses of Congress and onto the President's desk, however with this kind of clear leadership it will not be long before every American patriot finally has the chance to serve their nation.
On a related DADT note: the Military Times has released their 6th Annual Survey showing 71% of respondents said they would continue to serve if the policy was overturned. As an example of the majority position, the article quotes Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Pfau, of the 284th Engineer Company in Seagoville, Texas, saying he isn't concerned about the issue.
"That policy does not bother me whatsoever," Pfau said. "I don't judge people by their sexual orientation. I judge them by the kind of person they are. As long as they do their job, it does not bother me."
The findings are part of the sixth annual Military Times survey of subscribers to Army Times, Air Force Times, Navy Times and Marine Corps Times newspapers. This year's survey, conducted Dec. 1 through Dec. 8, included more than 1,900 active-duty respondents.
The responses are not representative of the opinions of the military as a whole. The survey group overall under-represents minorities, women and junior enlisted service members, and over-represents soldiers.
In keeping with previous surveys, nearly half of the respondents described their political views as conservative or very conservative. Slightly more than half said they consider themselves Republicans, 22 percent independents and 13 percent Democrats.
Given these skewed numbers, the fact that only 58% of the most conservative, senior career service members support DADT is telling.
Let me repeat myself:
I get angry reading about the same tactics over and over again against LGBT civil rights legislation - You just can't sell me that this isn't about hate when were seeing these same, hateful "Christian" mistruths and fear tactics used over and over again. When do we develop some good answers to his and his "Christian" peers' lies and fear tactics?
The ad below, by Citizens for Good Public Policy, is a for a Gainesville, Florida referendum to repeal a civil rights ordinance:
I don't look like that actor behaving like a predator shown in the ad when I go to use a public restroom; I don't act like a predator when I go use a public restroom -- I just go to the bathroom. So do other trans people. And hey, sexually predatory behavior in any public bathroom is unlawful everywhere in the U.S. -- despite what the ad says and the ad implies, the behavior shown in the ad isn't legal.
If there were documented cases of transpeople having acted like predators in public bathrooms, or documented cases of male predators dressing as women to molest women and children in public bathrooms, then you can bet that organizations like Citizens for Good Public Policy would be citing the cases. What does it tell you when they don't cite studies or cases?
As it is, my trans peers (and I personally) are portrayed as potential predators -- facts to support the claims and implications appear not to be needed. Frankly, it sucks raw eggs.
~~
(From today, there's a another story -- this time from Massachusetts -- that covers a similar "bathroom predator" argument. That story is highlighted in PHB's Quick Hits.)
~~
H/t: Queerty
~~~~~
Related:
* White Male Privilege & Women's Fear Of Crime Intersecting With Gender Expression & Public Restrooms
* When It Comes To Transgender People & Civil Rights, It Really Is Always About The Bathroom
~~
* AFA Michigan's Gary Glenn Up To The Usual Fear Tactics -- This Time In Kalamazoo
* A Further Update: Why A Commission Is Investigating The Suspension Of A Trans Student
* MA Haters Using Prop 8 Celebration to Fundraise Against Trans Rights
* The Ambiguous Feelings About Peeing In Public Restrooms
* The Predator Argument Doesn't Work With Transgender Fifth Graders
* Kevin Moore's Take On Colorado's "Bathroom Police"
* If Dr. Dobson Were King, We'd All Be Wearing Depends
* The Non-Trans Woman Thrown Out Of A NY Women's Restroom Sues
* Outing #2: When You Endanger A Child For The Sensationalism Of It
* Latest Attacks Of Teh HomoSEXual Agenda's Transgenderededs's Bullet Points
Subscribe to Reader feed
Subscribe to daily Email
No comments:
Post a Comment