Where do we go from here

Let’s Set Our Own Agenda

How did the GLBT community allow Karl Rove & Company to hijack our issues for the last election and force us to spend all of our time, money, resources & energy
fighting for their chosen issue?
If you’re wondering what I’m talking about—it’s gay marriage. Let’s face it, of all of the issues currently facing our community; marriage or civil unions really belong at the bottom of the list.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m appalled that eleven states opted to write blatant discrimination into their constitutions. It’s anti-ethical to the concept so brilliantly outlined by the framers of the Constitution. Honestly, I was shocked by the feelings of desolation & disenfranchisement I felt the morning after the election because of those states. But, I am a pragmatist. I know, legally & constitutionally these should never stand up in court, if the justices are truly objective. It boils down to discrimination and we don’t legislate that in this country; contrary to any individual’s actions or belief system.
I’ve been asked by acquaintances & excoriated by friends for not giving what they deemed the proper amount of time to the Don’t Amend Alliance here in Utah. My immediate gut reaction was I wasn’t thrilled by the message of Don’t Amend. That’s the short answer. I believe the focus we should have placed on this issue was that it is discrimination and we don’t sanction that in this country. I felt there was too much emphasis on the fact that straight couples would also be affected. It seemed for a while there the message was this can hurt straight folks so you can’t do it. The biggest piece missing for me was I never heard anyone come out and say that by not passing this amendment gay marriage or civil union would still not be legal in this state. Those are some of my biggest objections to the way the campaign was handled.
My larger reasons for only donating funds and not my time are more complex. We need to focus our energies and resources on larger issues facing this community.
It is now over six years since the brutal torture and murder of Matthew Shepard in Laramie, Wyo. and by and large there is still no comprehensive hate crimes legislation in this country. Not on the local, state or national levels. Personally, I think this issue affects more members of the community than concern over marriage. There are no comprehensive equal opportunity employment protections nor is there comprehensive fair housing legislation to protect us.
Again, I think we need to put these basic, albeit, important civil rights well ahead of civil union or marriage.
By focusing our attention on the marriage initiatives around the country this election season; the Republican House Leadership was able to avoid being called to task for removing legislative language strengthening hate crime prosecution from the 2005 defense authorization bill. The media didn’t cover this, where were the ACLU & HRC? Most people I don’t even know that the defense authorization bill is designed for or that important items previously agreed upon by both houses of Congress were removed. Current federal hate crimes legislation only covers crimes based on race, color, religion or national origin.
That should have been a huge issue toward the end of this election cycle, maybe then we wouldn’t have lost so many seats.
Moving forward, the GLBT community and its leaders need to garner the political savvy and backbone to set their own agenda and not allow the “hot-button” fear tactics of Karl Rove and those who emulate him to set our political battles for us. Else we will forever be distracted by the “shiny” object twirled by the homophobic minority on the right.
We are so fortunate here in Utah to have friends of our community like Dave Litvak, who continues year after year to introduce hate crimes legislation to the State Legislature; who year after year defeat it due to the inclusion of the words “sexual orientation.”
If that doesn’t prove we need a hate crimes bill, I don’t know what does.
Deborah A. Pavek
Murray