The Civil Rights Movement of the 60’s was one piece in a larger struggle against racism which is and must be ongoing. Today LGBTQ persons label ours as a civil rights movement is to accomplish legal and legislative changes similar to those which were achieved by the African American Civil Rights Movement.
The big deal for us, in Pennsylvania is getting two bills, HB 300 and SB 300 passed to provide protections from discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations. If you’ve been a long-time reader, you know this bill has been a passion for me since 2008.
Both individuals suggest that the vote of the people trumps all else, which is not the way it works in the United States, no matter how much these homophobes wish it did. We live in a Constitutional Democracy. Here is what is meant by a Constitutional Democracy
These two aspects make this decision potentially one of the most damaging decisions since the founding of our Country and the birth of our Constitutional Democracy.
It is possibly the advocates role to help that history keep from being forgotten, and our job to embrace lessons from past struggles so that we can employ then anew in new struggles against the same old power structure of oppression.
This situation was and will always be a case where the timeline to an employer benefits change created hardships for one or more persons. This was never a situation about discrimination. LGBTQ persons are no longer the isolated victims we once were. We can’t trot out the discrimination card at every bump in the road. Gay, lesbian, bi, trans, queer, and straight people encounter hardships because employers change benefit packages all the time. Let’s address those issues without trying to make everything be about discrimination.
In the end, gay, lesbian, bi, trans, and queer persons are all persons who are gender non-conforming in one way, shape or form. Any homophobia, discrimination and othering happen because LGBTQ persons choose to risk being visible as the whole persons that we are. Consider how many gays and lesbians have always been out there, and no one cares as long as we stay hidden in the closet. Our “crime” as it were- the thing that prompts our oppressors is our visibility and in that way, we are all alike, no matter how we understand our sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression.
Sue Kerr continues her coverage on the situation with Allegheny County ceasing to offer domestic partnership benefits. Her recent post is an excellent read. I received some feedback via email from an occasional reader who has some history with the Pitt domestic partnership offerings that I appreciated receiving. I don’t know about the City of Pittsburgh or the Allegheny County offerings, but in the case of the University of Pittsburgh, the domestic partnership status was[Read More…]
On days like today, it is so depressing to be an advocate for change and progress. Why are we pushing for LGBTQ Rights when we are still so far behind when it comes to equality for women, the poor, and racial minorities. Is the success we see for marriage equality because marriage helps support the status quo of white male power, or is change really happening and today’s set back an example of the volatile[Read More…]
A few days ago, I received via email from Ron Frisch, University of Pittsburgh Associate Vice Chancellor, that there would be no change in the University of Pittsburgh’s domestic partnership benefits.