Unity, Love and Principle Will Overcome Bigotry and H8TE

Many folks have underestimated the depth of anger of the gay community directed toward organizations and individuals that would single out people who want to have a committed, monogamous relationship on an equal footing with the rest of society. The root of bigotry is the need by some to raise their own standing by denigrating others. Unfortunately some people feel the need to support marriage by doing just that, rather than addressing the fact that half of marriages fail unrelated to anything taking place in the LBGT community. In fact, states that have passed gay marriage have the lowest divorce rates!

Religions have used the electorate to superimpose legislatively their views over other religions with different views by simple majority vote. It has become an excuse to rally the majority against a minority, and will ultimately fail because people over time flock to the light of enlightenment instead of the darkness of demagoguery.

I feel that anger walking into a store, wondering who were these people so insecure in their own marriage and so spiteful in receiving their neighbors as to try to change the law to create a permanent subclass of people from whom to "protect" themselves. But I know anger must be channeled productively and effectively to fight for the principles of justice. People have been damaged from generations of acquired bigotry and intolerance. If hate can be taught so can love. Tomorrow protests are set to be organized across the country, and hopefully it will generate more light than heat.

First and foremost, we need to resist infighting. When Sir Elton John, who has raised $150 million to fight AIDS and spent decades fighting discrimination, is attacked by Gay.com for providing his own particular insight on Prop H8TE, they play right into the hands of the real oppressors of the LGBT community.

It is fair game to reveal the people and organizations that funded Proposition H8TE. Non-violent resistance to unjust laws is not just fair game but necessary for change to take place. Hitler legally imposed his man-made view of an ideal society - blond-haired, blue-eyed heterosexual Christian Aryans - brutalizing and killing those who did not fit in, like Jews, gays and lesbians, the disabled and people of color. World War II took 72 million lives and left the world in flames. Abraham, Jesus, Buddha, Gandhi and the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. embraced the diversity of God's creation with peace and love. You decide who you support. [Protest H8TE] 

"In matters of conscience, the law of the majority has no place."

Mohandas Gandhi

"Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle. And so we must straighten our backs and work for our freedom. A man can't ride you unless your back is bent."

Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

Jesus Christ

Loving Vs Virginia: 40th Anniversary of Interracial Marriage

What is happening across the country right now is amazing. And what happens tomorrow will be historic. The passage of discriminatory ballot measures in California, Arizona, Florida and Arkansas has touched off a wave of anger and frustration in many of us. But, as an organizer, I’m proud to say they have also inspired rallies, protest marches and nonviolent direct actions in communities around California and other cities across the country.  For 35 years, the Task Force has taken to the streets countless times to protest injustice and to demand action on issues that were being ignored. And tomorrow, we will continue to rally when the LGBT community and our allies take to the streets for the National Day of Action on Prop. 8. To see if there is an event near you and to join, click here. Each one of the ballot measures that passed deserves our public outcry. Each one was supported with defamatory and scurrilous messages that falsely equated homosexuality with endangerment of children. And each one amounts to insult and injury to our humanity and to our dignity.    Our anger is understandable and we must now turn it into action. Here is how you can take action now: Find a protest near you and attend tomorrow by visiting www.jointheimpact.com. If you are unable to attend, contact your local organizer and see if you can help in any other way. Many locations are looking for volunteers. Urge everybody you know to sign the Anger into Action Declaration today and show their support for the rights and dignity of LGBT people. We’ve made it easy to share with your friends and to post it on Facebook and MySpace. Ask people not to blame any one set of voters on the outcome of the elections. As I’m sure you’ve heard, there has been a lot of blame placed on African-American voters and this is simply not the true picture, as detailed in an open letter to the community the Task Force has signed on to. The voter blame game does not move us forward. People of all faiths, races and backgrounds voted for and against the measures in California, Florida, Arizona and Arkansas. I’d also like to let you know how we are taking action and responding at the Task Force to Prop. 8 and the other ballot measures. Here’s where we are at so far: I’m personally working with other LGBT leaders to create a collaborative plan of action to complement the legal challenge in California. We have joined with all of our No on 8 colleagues and issued an open letter to the community to debunk myths that have been circulating about the vote. We are working on strategies to bring our case again to the California Supreme Court, urging them to overturn a discriminatory measure now embedded in their state Constitution. We are using our strength and history as organizers as several of our own staff and board members are helping coordinate, lead and speak at events across the country tomorrow. Finally, if you do plan on participating in the National Day of Action, I ask only that you participate in these demonstrations with this in mind: Our movement for social justice rests on the understanding that, over time, people around us can change their hearts and minds about LGBT people. To that end, it is important that our demonstrations of anger and frustration remain peaceful and nonviolent. By nonviolent, I mean physically nonviolent, but also nonviolent in speech toward those who disagree with us.  Public protests can serve as teaching moments for those who don't understand why the Election Day outcomes are so harmful and hurtful to us. Engaging in arguments with people who may not agree is not productive; after all, when was the last time any of us were convinced to change our minds about something because someone was vociferously debating an issue, point by point and in our faces?  Remember that we must work to move ourselves towards community in the broadest sense, a community in which all are valued and respected.    Thank you so much for everything you do for our community and I hope to see many of you out tomorrow.

Sincerely, Rea Carey, Executive Director National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund