Remembering What the Struggle is About

Saw this on Twitter this morning, and it reminds me of a few things that I thought I’d share.  As background, the Dallas Principles– do you know what they are? Prepared in May 2009 by a group of 24 “thinkers,” they lay out a set of principles for equality. This is important, not only because this story concerns one of the 24, but because the Principles, in and of themselves form a foundation for any progress we can expect in the areas of equality and fairness for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queers, (GLBTQ).

But even with a set of principles, it is easy for anyone (including a co-author of those principles) to let emotions get the better of him or her. I hope that explains comments made by Charles Merrill to a post of Queerty, where Merril writes:

If Judge Walker lets Prop. 8 stand he ought to commit suicide. He hates himself and we don’t need gay internalized homophobes to tell us we are worthless.

I don’t know about Charles, but I am not fighting for equality because i think the actions of others either label us worthless or validate our worth. I know I am a person of worth, and we as a collection of diverse communities are a “people” of worth. And I think this is critically important! Every gay activist out there, needs to get a grip, and stop reacting to each and every piece of struggle in the battle for equality, as if it were the single most important thing in the world. We will fight battles and win some and not win others, and our goal has to be to set a battle plan that allows us to string together wins, and build momentum towards accomplishing our principles.

The case before Judge Walker , wasn’t begun expecting that Walker’s decision would be the end of it. It was known (and planed) to be just the first step in a long string of judicial battles moving up through the court5s towards the Supreme Court. It may or may not make it all the way there, but I think most believe that will will eventually end up there. We can agree or disagree, if the decision to take this into the federal courts, at this time in the overall battle, was a good one or a bad one, but to what end? The decision was made, and it is time to be committed to that game plan, and follow it through to the end (which is not Walker’s decision).

What is most appalling, however, is the ease at which Merrill believes he can know what Walker might do, and why he might do it. and- I can’t believe I even have to point this out- while chastising the Judge for how his decision will talk about worthlessness, he himself treats the Judge’s life as worthless.  This is no different than the Ugandan government wanting to execute gays! Merrill wants someone who doesn’t act in the way Merrill feels is the correct way, to be dead. and if that isn’t enough, this is happening far before a ruling has even been issued!

My take on the ruling and the court strategy: the lawyers went into this possibly expecting to win the first trial, but expecting the decision to be appealed. They went in knowing that even if they lost, they would appeal. The Judge’s decision helps build the legal stage upon which this battle will continue to be fought. Either way he decides, it will add to that foundation.

I call upon all the authors of the Dallas Principles to issue a statement about this and condemn the suicide language used by Charles Merrill. If Merrill is an example of our collective leadership, we need new leaders!

NGblog: Dallas Principles Co-Author – If Judge Walker lets Prop. 8 stand he ought to commit suicide.

Here is the original  Queerty Article and comments

What do you think? Do, we as a movement start calling for suicides from anyone in authority who doesn’t act in a way that someone finds wrong? Is there only one way to act  or feel or see issues if you are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or queer? Leave your comments here!