The Next Gay Moment?

By Hans Johnson

As another election year intensifies, more is at stake for gay people than a few overdue policy reforms. Ending the expulsion of qualified service-members from the military, extending hate-crimes enforcement, and enacting bona fide federal protections against bias remain top priorities for the gay-rights movement. [RETURN TO ARTICLE]

  • Reader Comments

     Page 1 of 1 pages

    Hans,

    Your post is both thoughtful and absolutely on target! As a long time activist who has traveled a great deal I too have had many transformative moments on moving vehicles. In the last decade, more and more people are at the very least willing to engage in dialogue and most now have someone in their lives who is openly LGBT. If we were all committed to engaging our allies the culture would change even more quickly. But your point that the “one at a time” and “all of us, all of time” approach is the one chipping away at the cultural and institutional homophobia and heterosexism LGBT people face daily is timely and much needed!

    I know that despite living in New York City and having a certain amount of priviledge, I still, daily, educate people, come out to people and make a difference by living openly with my wife and daughter. And we know that we make a difference.

    Bravo.

    United States Posted by CathyRenna on Jan 30, 2008 at 10:27 AM

    It’s about time to revive the ideal that every adult citizen in the country (actually the world, I submit) should have exactly the same legal rights as any other, and more to the point, to bring policy in line with that ideal.

    Anything less than a devoted, specific, energetic agenda for rights equalization is to continue to enshrine gratuitous and malignant discrimination within the law. The US has a long, unhappy history with that sort of thing, as do so many societies. Every step toward equal rights is a step away from dogmatism and the victimizing out-grouping that invariably follows.

    It’s not important whether “the majority” cling to discriminatory values, or if they’re just a loud minority. It’s not important whether they get their ideas from the Bible or from any other source; they can apply biblical limitations within their own lives if they wish. This is a case where a referendum is not appropriate; some things should be beyond the reach of popular vote, like my rights and yours. If there’s a more important role for the state, that of protecting and defending citizens’ rights, I haven’t heard of it.

    Philippines Posted by Kuya on Jan 30, 2008 at 10:03 PM
     Page 1 of 1 pages

  • register a new account »Posting Security

    To participate in our forums, please register for a free account.
     

    Retreive lost password »