The California Gay Rights Brigade is chapping my ass. A gay marriage ban passed there so now we have to have national protests. Here's my question: where the fuck was California's outrage when marriage bans passed in 29 other states?
Every time I'm in California people ask, "Oh, so when are you moving here?" Seriously, people I've just met. Comments about the state of gay affairs here are met with "you should know better" looks. People cannot even wrap their brains around why a gay person might live in Detroit.
So now gay California, which hasn't had a real gay rights fight in twenty years, gets a little taste of what we deal with more frequently here in the flyover states and we're supposed to put down our knitting and march, since it's NOW an issue of national importance?
OK, fine, whatever it takes, I realize California is a bellweather state for gay rights. But I just wanted to point that out. California, maybe you could be a little less smug in the future.
There is a Very Important Gay Rights Protest coming up this week! All around the country people are gathering to "Join the Impact." Their website says:
"Tuesday night was a bitter-sweet celebration. We came together to witness the first black man who will become our president, yet watched in sadness as Florida, Arizona, Arkansas, and California all voted down equal rights for all citizens.This is not a four-state issue. This is an issue of equality across America. Stand up and make your voice heard."
The protest will be this Saturday at 1:30pm in downtown Detroit in front of the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center. I suspect there will be a good turnout, and all bitterness aside, right now "the iron is hot" and we need to push hard to capitalize on the momentum and outrage that the passing of Proposition 8 in California hath wrought.
And this extends to straight folks too. We really need your support and your voice. It's not enough to silently support marriage equality. You need to let people know that the way things are now is not right, and that you support change.
Now get to steppin'!
You and me both, Mary.
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14 comments:
In other strike while the iron is hot news....
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/11/us/11gay.html
What reason is there to go to the CAY and protest somethign that happened in California? 6 in 10 Michigan voters told gays to go sit in the back of the bus and shut up. No amount of protesting HERE will accomplish anything but wasting an afternoon.
The Charlatan, that'll be interesting to see how that turns out.
Anonymous - I'm kind of with you on the "why protest what happened in CA here" except for one thing - this issue has the nation's attention right now. Because the CA defeat has drawn such attention, it's a good opportunity for everyone around the country to say "this matters."
Plus gay visibility here is like a big zero, and we need to get out there and say "we're still here, dammit." And how could that be a waste of an afternoon?
I plan on participating. It's time we say enough is enough. I'm trying to get more information as to spread the word.
It is confusing that 30 years ago, Ronald Reagan publicly opposed the ballot measure to ban gays from teaching in the public schools. Ronald freaking Reagan, as he was laying the groundwork for a presidential run. For as much progress as gays have made socially, politically the gay movement seem stagnant.
Gays need to start scaring the shit out of straight people on this issue. TV spots with tearful old ladies unable to visit their grandchildren because of their gay son/daughter’s messy break-up. And frightened straight people who lost their health insurance because domestic partnership protections have been legally revoked. And adorable children marginalized because they have two mommies or whatever. Let's see a gay version of Jesse Helms infamous hands commercial.
And start attacking the opposition leaders with Lee Atwater-esque venom. Half of these pigfuckers can't even stay married and sober. If you have to remind people that they probably hooked Rush Limbaugh up to jumper cables to get him off the Oxy, so be it. Mormons wear weird underwear. Remember Rick Santorum's family? http://barista.media2.org/wp-content/santorumconcedes.jpg These people aren't normal.
Finally call the right on their "civil unions are ok" spin. Make civil unions a priority in Utah, Mississippi, West Virginia, Oklahoma, and every other God-forsaken heartland swamp you can find.
I don't know, this is just my view as a straight guy looking on from the outside, but the gay political leadership is way too overly-earnest-sociology-professor-fretting-about-empowerment-and-social-justice. You guys (and gals, in between, and questioning) need to get mean as opposed to just angry. Politics is a nut-cutting business. Go cut some nuts.
I couldn't agree more with your opening remarks. While I believe the increased visibility is important, I'm not sure I can get past the bitterness I feel towards self-involved Californians. Where were they when MI and so many other states needed their support? Why should I drop everything to join in their fight now? The moment they achieve their goal of equal marriage rights in CA they will vanish because, in their vision of the US, we live in flyover territory. F**k CA!
Now folks, remember the bigger picture here. Part of our problem is that we get so divided anyway. We can bitch about CA gays but when push comes to shove we have to support our sisters.
Speaking of pictures, you people have GOT to check out the picture at the link Woodward's Friend posted. I've made it easy by activating the link here. Holy shit.
I've been fascinated by this discussion. As a Detroiter who's lived in Los Angeles for the past 18 years, I never thought to view the fight as "us versus them", meaning California versus Michigan (or any "other fly" over state). While I have never lost my love for Michigan, you have to agree that major differences in attitudes usually start on the coasts. Most Californians came from "fly over" states. They came here because of a forward looking attitude that encompasses a lot more than gay rights. If we win the right to marry here, it will go a long way in benefiting more than the gays who live here. It will be one more step toward taking the fear out of societal change that apparently seems too radical for so much of the country.
Backintheday, I agree.
But don't you hate it when you have friends who only call when they need something?
Forget CAY.. Y'all need to protest at this MF's house!
http://www.allhiphop.com/stories/news/archive/2008/11/11/20682024.aspx
Ha - I know. Trick Trick, is that the gayest rapper name ever or what?
Gay people should start referring to three-ways as Trick Trick.
"What'd you do this weekend?"
"I met these two dudes and we had a Trick Trick."
The thing that bothers me is, it is like all of a sudden this matters nationally because of California. California didn't protest when the Michigan Vote went down. Why do we care so much about California? Other than that, I'm all for Gay Rights protesting and marching. We should have one every week. I'll grow a mustache and everything.
Ha - I know. Trick Trick, is that the gayest rapper name ever or what?
Gay people should start referring to three-ways as Trick Trick.
"What'd you do this weekend?"
"I met these two dudes and we had a Trick Trick."
- That is as brilliant as santorum being the term for the frothy mix of lube and fecal matter. Get Dan Savage on this right away.
Anonymous - hey, I'm picking up what you're laying down! But on the other hand, CA has done most of the heavy lifting on these issues for, like 40 years. So I guess we can be outraged a little bit.
By the way I am SO down with the mustache-growing. I am really dying for the comeback of the mustache in the gay world. Seriously.
Charlatan, we are on the same wave length. I just didn't want to actually type those words. Ech.
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