I’ve received a ton of emails as well as Facebook invites about a debate watch party tonight at Cruze Bar. The party seems to be hosted by a number of persons and organizations, which provide fodder for some commentary. But right now, I want to focus on why it is useful for YOU to go. (and I believe it is)
Voter turnout will play a significant role in who wins the November 6 election. In many elections, there are those who turn out to the polls, no matter what, and there are those who will not turn out (no matter what). But most important are those who are registered, and for whatever reason end up not voting. They may be folks who are frustrated and not sure their individual vote counts. They may be folks who trust there are enough other voters who will get the candidate of their choice voted in, that their individual vote is insignificant. They may be folks who don’t want to win for a potential loser. Or they may be folks who don’t see how the election directly impact their own life. We need as many LGBTQ voters to turn out this election, because every vote matters- it counts; because no candidate has enough of a lead that others’ votes will be enough to win; and because each and every one of our lives is directly touched by the outcome of this election.
Going to the watch party can connect you to others who feel like you do, and keep you enthusiastic about the importance of voting. It can give you an opportunity to dialogue about politics, social issues and other things that are relevant to this election and our diverse community/ies as a whole.
Social Issues and the Election
This election is perhaps the single most important election for LGBTQ Rights to date, even though our issues are not really front and center in the National Arena, however, the next President will most likely appoint Supreme Court judges who will be deciding cases extremely important to issues important to women, men and families who identify as anything other than Straight, White and Traditional. The ability to appoint judges, isn’t a very trendy or exciting issue, but it is none-the-less, one of the ways that the Presidency directly impacts the lives of gay, lesbian, bi, trans, queer, and other progressives.
Additionally, across our country, we see efforts to either pass LGBTQ supportive laws, or to bar LGBTQ equality. A failure of Pennsylvania LGBTQ voters to turn out will encourage the anti-equality efforts in our own state to increase. We must speak out with our vote to say we will not allow our rights to be repealed, stymied, or ignored.
The Economy and the LGBTQ Community
Some have tried to paint this election as being about the economy alone, which is simply not true. However, as I was listening to Jesse Jackson speak the other day, I came to a different realization as to how this issue of the Economy touches the LGBTQ community. He said that the wealthy and the middle-class have been spoken about at length with this election, but the group which has been ignored, is the poor. Often, we see within the LGBTQ community friction over economic inequities. The myth that gays and lesbians are all of a higher economic cluster is just that- a myth. Many who identify as LGBT or Q are among the poor that Jackson speaks so eloquently about. Too often within our community, this turns to blaming the richer folks(sometimes white gay men) for ignoring the poorer folks (sometimes portrayed as everyone else). LGBTQ voters must carte about this election, not only because of how it may impact their own individual situation, but because of how the economy for everyone will be impacted. We must care because the poor Jackson speaks of, are our sisters and our brothers.
A Gathering of Community
A last reason to go to the watch party tonight is to be a part of an ever increasing diverse LGBTQ community in Pittsburgh! At times, our community seems dispersed, and isolated one part from another, but in a few important ways and reasons we come together. This is one possible way or reason to come together- to help influence our future through being informed about the coming election.The more we all gather- gay, lesbian, bi, trans, queer and supportive allies, the better we all understand the wonderful diversity of the whole of our collective community.