Filed under: politics | Tags: black, gay marriage, mormon, prop 8, slate
Many in the media have pointed toward two groups of voters who defeated gay marriage in California: members of the Mormon church and African Americans.
This first group, Mormons, I agree with–the church encouraged its members to contribute to the campaign, resulting in $22 million to end gay marriage (the most spent on any social issue in the United States).
The second group, however–African Americans–I’m not so sure I agree with.
The thrust behind this antagonism toward African Americans largely comes from exit polls that cite statistics such as this one about Prop 8 in California:
Whites and Asian-Americans, comprising 69 percent of California’s electorate, opposed Proposition 8 by a margin of 51 percent to 49 percent. Latinos favored it, 53-47. But blacks turned out in historically high numbers—10 percent of the electorate—and 70 percent of them voted for Proposition 8.
Drawing inferences from these numbers can be elusive. For example, African Americans are not a homogeneous group–they possess a variety of beliefs, morals, politics, and sexualities. Unlike Mormons, who possess a similar belief system, politics, and sexuality.
A surprising article in Slate this morning tries to break down why African Americans believe that homosexuality is a choice. Slate’s editors have chosen to analyze the loss of gay rights through the lens of African American prejudice. In his article, William Saletan cites the victory of Barack Obama and the confirmation of gay prejudice on election night. He then asks:
Why, then, are the people targeted by those laws supporting bans on same-sex marriage?The answer is: They think sexual orientation is different from race. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke of a nation in which individuals would be judged not “by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”
This kind of rhetoric–the choice of discourse itself–attempts to divide both the African American community, as well as African Americans and other ethnic groups. It’s a topic that encourages blame toward one ethnic group rather than finding those African Americans who support civil rights for all. It’s the same kind of institutionalized racism that pits minority groups against one another instead of encouraging them to unify, to collaborate, to strengthen their power through caucus rather than division.
Filed under: politics | Tags: civil rights, gay marriage, mormon, new york, prop 8
More footage of last night’s Manhattan protest of the Church of Latter Day Saints, from the steps of the Mormon temple to Columbus Circle. AP estimates now say that the crowd numbered 10,000 marchers. In this video the fervor in the air is palpable.
Filed under: government, politics | Tags: gay marriage, mormon, new york, prop 8, protest
Last night, thousands in New York City showed up to protest the passage of Prop 8 in California, a law that prohibits gay marriage. There’s been lots of stirring commentary on the elimination of these civil rights, by, among others: Dan Savage on The Stephen Colbert Show (I didn’t know that Colbert was pro-gay but anti-gay marriage–which seems like an oxymoron) and Keith Olbermann in a moving commentary that crossed boundaries of sexuality.
Screaming from the Rooftop posted pictures and rough video, and notes those in attendance:
Among those marching were Larry Kramer, Whoopi Goldberg, Jake Shears, Dan Savage, Andy Towle, Jefferey Self along with sidekick Cole Escola.
Looking forward to the Boston rally on Saturday at City Hall. Mark your calendars for the protest that begins at 1:30 pm, gather your friends, sign up on Facebook, and show up! If hatemongers like the Mormon church (who contributed more than $20 million dollars to fight gay marriage) want to prohibit our civil rights, it’s up to each of us to voice our opposition and support for everyone to love.
Filed under: government, politics | Tags: boston, gay marriage, prop 8, protest
If you haven’t already heard, on Saturday there will be protests across the country to repeal Proposition 8, California’s discriminatory law that bans gay men and lesbians from marriage. Our recent election showed that Americans do care, and do take action, and will show up in multitudes in support of a common cause.
Boston’s protest takes place at City Hall beginning at 1:30 pm. Don’t sit idly by, show up and fight for the civil right of marriage for all. [img from Flickr user backseatpilot]
Filed under: gay rights, government, politics | Tags: gay marriage, harvey fierstein, prop 8, proposition 8
Gay actor, playwright, and activist Harvey Fierstein echoes the eloquence and outrage of his colleagues Tony Kushner and Larry Kramer in this articulate call to arms for gay rights.
As we watch the effects of legalized discrimination unfold in California (not to mention other states that also banned gay marriage like Arizona and Florida), Fierstein urges all of us–gay or straight–to stop sitting idly by and watching our civil rights erode.
His clarion call is not only for all citizens to speak up, but to call out legislators who walk both sides of the fence on the issue of gay rights. He calls out John Kerry (who said he would support a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage) and Bill Clinton (who signed into law the federal DOMA act and also enacted the military’s disastrous “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policies), arguing that these important men and supposed GLBT advocates should have spoken out against Proposition 8. “Hey, we’ve had gay rights in Massachusetts for months and no one’s getting hurt. No one’s getting special rights. No heterosexual marriage is suffering,” Fierstein says, “So let’s stop the panic and act like rational adults.”
