| I read an email yesterday written by the writer of Avenue Q to Jay Leno about his poor taste in gay jokes. In it, the writer talked about the silent holocaust occuring in America toward the gay community. The email made me feel really shitty...
I remember in High School, when oppression came standard, how much I fought for what I believed was right. I remember waging war against the American Red Cross for their unfair and unfounded policy toward blood donations for homosexuals. I remember threatening my Superintendent, Principal, and Vice-Principal with a discrimination lawsuit for their inability to cooperate with our Gay/Straight Alliance. I remember writing an article to my local newspaper, announcing myself as a small-town homosexual, and welcoming the problems that it would create for me. I created T-Shirts denouncing the President's DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act), wore black on the anniversary of Matthew Shepard's death, remained silent on the National Day of Silence, helped closeted strangers deal with their confused thoughts, feelings, provided contraceptives for my peers, promoted HIV/STI testing through school presentations, GSA meetings, blogs, and peer-to-peer opportunities. In High School I cared about my gay borthers and sisters, about the transgendered community, and the other varieties of so-called sexual deviants.
So what happened?
I went to college, I joined the GLBTQ group, and I participated in all of their (our) events. I left school, I went home, I remained sexually-ambiguous at work, and then I moved to Columbus, OH, one of the most gay-populated cities in the U.S. Suddenly oppression became an idea, not a lifestyle. Being surrounded by so many brothers and sisters created this false sense of security that in effect, created sloth. "Things have changed," I would tell myself, "no one suffers like they did before, and if they do, they will just move to a city and be fine."
fuck that.
What about the individuals who do not want to relocate? Who have families, friends, or loved ones that they do not want to leave? What about those strange (to us city queers) homosexuals that would just prefer a peaceful, smalltown life? Should they fear for their lives when they venture from their domicile, even as far as their front porch? Is that a fair price to pay? What about a government (federal, state, or local) who will not allow sexual orientation on a simple non-discrimination policy?
Ohio is there already, and things could get worse. Kenneth Blackwell is running for Governor on the Republican ticket, a notorious right-wing-anti-gay-lobbyist who will not stop until his state is purged of the foul stain of homosexuality, minorities (even though he is African American), the impoverished, and any other plight that, instead of fixing, he would rather just force-out through hate and intolerance. I mean, I am sure it will work for some, but why not rise against it? How about a campaign, not for a specific candidate, but against one instead? We, as a community, do not need to vote the same, or eat the same, or dress the same, but can we not agree that someone who wants to take away every liberty that we have is not a candidate we would like?
The American Red Cross has been trying to get its blood donation policy changed for over a year now, but the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will not allow them, even after the ARC presented evidence that the restrictions were no longer founded.
I could write more of these all night, but I really need to get back to work and earn some money. If anyone has any ideas, plans, beliefs, passions, for or against this blog, PLEASE REPLY. We need to leave our comfort zones, we need to take action, and we need to develop some INTOLERANCE of our own. |
