Still Dreaming...

In 1963, at a rally following a civil rights march on Washington DC, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. The organizer of that 1963 rally was Bayard Rustin, a gay man and friend of MLK.

Yesterday, in Jena Louisiana, LGBTQ leaders again joined with the Black Community to stand against racial inequality, hatred and oppression. We wholeheartedly support that action and oppose race-based discrimination of any kind.

Although many Black leaders refuse to stand up for our rights for what they claim are religious and moral reasons, we know that those who oppress Blacks use the same reasoning to justify oppressing and discriminating against the LGBTQ Community.

All discrimination is based on fear of the unknown. That fear is easily manipulated by those who stand to gain power and money from exploiting "difference" and encouraging hatred.

Even though some Blacks, some Hispanics, some Muslims and some Jews feel obligated to climb on to the homophobic bandwagon and join the gay-bashing bunch, we understand that they do so out of ignorance.

Nevertheless, we will continue to oppose inequality and injustice wherever we see it because, as a very wise man once said, "injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

Thus, like King, we long for a world where all people, regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, religion or sexual orientation, are treated as whole and equal human beings. That day will come only when people realize we are not all that different from one another.

Next month, on October 11, we will celebrate National Coming Out Day.

This day is our opportunity to introduce our true selves to our friends, co-workers and family. By coming out and being proud of who we are and who we love, our lives become irrefutable evidence that hate-mongers are lying about our community and our agenda.

Out in the open -- in the light of day -- they will be outed as bigots as more and more people see that we pose no threat, no harm to anyone.

And remember, even though it may feel as though we are not supported by Civil Rights leaders, that too, is a lie since many prominent Blacks have had the courage to speak out for our rights.

Just as we speak out for theirs.

Mad Dogs and Girlie Men

We are living in a time of an endless “war on terror,” growing poverty, waning democracy, overpopulation and environmental catastrophe.

So, what’s the one issue burning in the minds of the Republican base?

You got it: Gay and Lesbian Equality.

A story in today’s Boston Globe declares “For GOP, gay rights issues play role that race once did:”

“Gay issues have widely been perceived as an advantage for the Republican Party, which in 2004 placed referendums opposing gay marriage on ballots in swing states to draw social conservatives to the polls, where many supported GOP candidates.”

Because Republicans candidates and pundits fight like one of Michael Vick’s pit bulls, Democrats are afraid to openly and loudly support full and equal rights for LGBT Americans.

And as the article’s title points out, it ain’t the first time this sort of thing happened.

Back in the 1960’s, when American laws permitted and enforced a “separate but equal” set of rules for “coloreds” and “whites,” many moderates and progressives (some of them Blacks) called for Civil Rights leaders to be patient with the legal system.

They advocated the “waiting game” and decried acts of civil disobedience which pushed the envelope and created moral and ethical conflicts for politicians – especially in an election year.

Keenly aware of the public and private condemnations he was receiving for his leadership role that encouraged peaceful protests, Martin Luther King Jr. wrote an elegant letter in response to his critics from his cell in the Birmingham jail:

“We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed. Frankly, I have yet to engage in a direct-action campaign that was "well timed" in the view of those who have not suffered... For years now I have heard the word "Wait!" ...This "Wait" has almost always meant 'Never."

Of course, history has shown that King was right: the violent reaction to peaceful demonstrations illustrated to the world the shame and immorality of American “laws” and institutions which maintained a system of inequality.

So, to all of those closeted supporters of LGBT equality, we say, come out! Stop acting like frightened children – afraid of your own shadow.

When challenged by others for your stand, just speak the truth about inequality, social and economic injustice.

In addition to standing up for our rights, don’t be afraid to speak out loudly against the “war on terror.” Have the guts to begin impeachment proceedings. Support a National Health Care System. Advocate for clean alternative energy sources like solar, water and wind power.

If you can find the backbone to do what is right, you will have massive support from the American people!

And when the knee-jerks attack, don’t apologize. Take a page from the Bush/Rove/Cheney play-book and “stay the course.”

So what if your detractors call you names? You know they’ll make the same tried and true accusations over and over again: You’re a “girlie man” who is “weak on terror” with a “pre-9/11 mentality” who “flip-flops” on the issues and uses “nanny-politics,” right?

Since you already know their game plan, why not prepare your own set of short little sound-bite sized responses:

Call them “chicken-hawks” who avoided the draft themselves but now send young American’s to die for oil. Call them “liars” who will say or do whatever is necessary to make and maintain power and an illegal war that is making America less safe and their corporate crony’s rich. Call them “hypocrites” for making laws that regulate the sexual and private lives of others while they themselves are getting down and jiggy with Congressional Pages, DC Madams and in public restrooms.

In other words, tell the truth. Then repeat, repeat, repeat.

If you have the moral fortitude to do this, the house of cards built by your detractors from illogical rants about their moral superiority will come crashing down – exposing them for the frightened little tyrants they really are.

Speaking of courage, here is a challenge to the LGBT Community: why don’t we organize collective acts of civil disobedience? This coming February 14 (it’s on a Thursday), every same-sex couple in America should walk into our local county courthouse and demand a marriage license.

Even better, film a video of your efforts and we will share those videos with the world. If you are asked to leave, just sit down quietly and insist that it is your right to be there. Show the clerk the equal protection clause of your state’s constitution. If enough of us have the courage to simultaneously perform these acts of civil disobedience, perhaps we can force the hand of our oppressors and their silent supporters.

Do you agree that LGBTQ families deserve equal rights? Will you join us on February 14, 2008? If so, please let us know, spread the word and pass it on!

And remember, Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. believed there are "two types of laws: just and unjust.” Thus, it is our duty to disobey unjust laws.

Anything less would simply be un-American.