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Despite the host of issues confronting the globe, the gay community continues to be at the front and center of the political debate in the United States. The big Es: education, equality, energy, employment, the economy and the environment. I personally think the country needs to recognize that homosexuality is a perfectly normal behavior that manifests in a certain percentage of the population. Rather than discriminating against a large group of people based on perceived difference, we need to work together to address important issues that we have in common.
For society to benefit fully from the contributions of gay citizens, there are a host of inequalities that need to be rectified. It is not radical activism so much as shoving back against a society that would lock us in a closet and forget we are there.
There are five core issues of political importance making the rounds in Washington, impacting every aspect of the gay citizen’s right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Work/Career/Professional Options:
1) ENDA: The Employment Non-Discrimination Act. This piece of legislation addresses discrimination based on sexual orientation in the workplace. Regardless of performance, many individuals within the community are forced to remain in the closet to avoid discrimination in the workplace. Being open exposes the employee to harassment, hostility or termination.
The Challenges of Being an Out Lesbian in Corporate America
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In September a transgendered woman in Georgia gave a compelling testimony at a hearing regarding ENDA. Vandy Beth Glenn was fired from her job for transitioning from life as a man to a woman. By all accounts, Glenn had performed well in her role as a legislative editor, proofing Georgia bills and resolutions for grammar and readability for over two years. Glenn, a transgender woman preparing for a sex-change procedure at the time, told ABCNews.com she expected her boss would "do the right thing." Instead, Sewell Brumby, legislative counsel for the Georgia General Assembly allegedly told Glenn she was no longer suitable for her job.
2) DADT: Don’t ask, don’t tell. Under the 1993 policy, gay men and lesbians in the military cannot be investigated or punished as long as they keep their sexual orientation to themselves. The policy has led to the discharge of about 13,000 service members.
It amazes me that the military continues to enforce this inane code of silence for gays in the military. Whereas the law recognizes that there are gays in the military, it requires service members to keep it a secret. If an individual is a poor liar or lacks subtlety and guile, then they are subjected to an investigation and expelled. Even if someone keeps their sexuality under wraps, they are still at risk of accusation.
A recent DADT study revealed that women are far more likely to be expelled under the policy. 15% of all active-duty and reserve members of the military are women, but they comprise more than one-third of the 619 people discharged last year due to sexual orientation.
Domestic Bliss:
1) DOMA: The Defense of Marriage Act. This piece of pulp is based on prohibiting recognition of gay unions. By the state refusing to recognize gay relationships as valid, LGBT citizens/taxpayers/voters are denied 1000s of tax and civil benefits afforded to our heterosexual counterparts. Whereas I have read numerous arguments against gay marriage, I have yet to find one that isn’t written from a completely homophobic perspective. The arguments against gay marriage are uniformly based on religious rhetoric. The same folks who wish to modify the Constitution to ban gay marriage are cavalier with the separation of church and state as well. There is no logical reason for opposition. Opposition is nothing but pious imposition of one person’s interpretation of morality on another person. I argue that denial of state recognized civil union is a violation of my bill of rights as an American citizen.
2) UAFA/RFA: Uniting American Families Act and the Reuniting Families Act. The Uniting American Families Act is a US bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to eliminate discrimination in the immigration laws by permitting permanent partners of United States citizens to obtain lawful permanent resident status in the same manner as spouses of citizens and lawful permanent residents and to penalize immigration fraud in connection with permanent partnerships. Proponents argue that the UAFA would help unite and protect bi-national same-sex couples, while opponents contended that the legislation amounted to the redefinition of marriage and could lead to immigration fraud.
The Reuniting Families Act is a comprehensive immigration package that includes allowing gay Americans to sponsor their partners for residency. The bill’s Senate companion excluded the provision to end discrimination against same-sex partners.
Safety in the street
Matthew Shepherd Act is a bill that passed on October 22. It expands the 1969 United States federal hate-crime law to include crimes motivated by a victim's actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.
The bill removes the current prerequisite that the victim be engaging in a federally-protected activity, like voting or going to school. It gives federal authorities greater ability to engage in hate crimes investigations that local authorities choose not to pursue. It provides $10 million in funding to help state and local agencies pay for investigating and prosecuting hate crimes. It requires the FBI to compile statistics on hate crimes against transgender people.
Opponents of gay rights often claim that it is not a civil rights issue. How is state condoned discrimination professionally, personally and publically not a civil rights issue?
I am one individual. I cannot speak for the community, but I would prefer that we resolve issues of social inequality quickly, because there are more pressing concerns that would benefit from mutual focus. If issues pertaining to education, energy, employment, the economy and the environment continue to deteriorate unabated, equality will no longer be a concern. That worries me as a woman, as a lesbian and as a human.
E: meanderingmuse@comcast.net
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