PGHIMC - Pittsburgh Independent Media Center

Say YES to S.B. 608 & 609
by branden dudek Friday, Jun. 20, 2003 at 2:10 AM
branden@cease.info (email address validated) 412-361-3022

The stonewall rebellion in 1969 is heralded as the birthplace of gay activism, but are gay activists really following in its tradition?

The stonewall rebellion in 1969 is heralded as the birthplace of gay activism, but are gay activists really following in its tradition?

The gay activist movement was sparked by a rebellion between NYC morality police and the Stonewall Inn's patrons, who were mostly poor, mostly trans, and mostly people of color. It seems like conservative gay activists who are "just like everyone else" have co-opted and privatized the queer rebellion that took place on that humid summer night.

Recently, Rita Addessa, the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Lesbian and Gay Task Force (PLGTF) has come under fire by local gay activists, notably Billy Hileman, editor of Planet Q, for the inclusion of "class" in two new bills (S.B. 608 & 609), which could amend the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act (PHRA) and the Pennsylvania Fair Educational Opportunities Act, respectively. These bills aim to add protections for "sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression" as well as "class".

In a recent letter to Addessa, Senator Kukovich informed her that he will not sponsor the bill and went so far as to call it divisive and implied that with the current language it has no chance of passing in the state legislature. Kukovich noted that he would sponsor similar bills (S.B 706 & 707) introduced by Statewide Pennsylvania Rights Coalition (SPARC) that do not include "class" as a protected status. Most gay activists seem to be more interested in protecting a small sliver of society while leaving discrimination of people based on class, as well as many other categories, wide open to all people, including gays. Shortly after the Stonewall uprising New York City had its first gay pride assembly. Gay people booed transgendered speakers off of the stage, like Sylvia Rivera who was one of the transgendered warriors who participated in the Stonewall riots. It seems like privilege and majority rules even in gay society. Even so, the gay movement has been repeatedly excluded from progressive movements. During the feminist movement in the 1970s NOW leaders told lesbians that they would hinder the movement's progress and went so far as to label them the "lavender menace". Queers have also been squelched in past anti-war efforts and asked to leave issues of gender and sexuality in the closet, and there is a laundry list of occurrences where GLBTQ people were asked to stay out of parades, assemblies, and marches.

The gay interest group's amnesia seems to be a symptom of capitalism, classism, and assimilation. It may be that 34 years is enough time to forget our own oppression by other movements. It may be that assimilation means accepting society's apathy when it comes to other human beings. Regardless of its motives, the gay movement has been boiled down to a slight altering of the heterosexual norm. Rather than tearing down the socially constructed gender and sexual norms, gays have managed to add one more word to the definition of ?normal?.

Why are gays trying to add all of these definitions to anti-discrimination when we need a bill that simply bans discrimination of all kinds? Why are gays lobbying for same-sex partner benefits when we need national health care for all people? Why are gays lobbying for inheritance rights when so many people are homeless? Why are gays lobbying for IRA and other financial benefits when so many people are hurt by the capitalistic society we live in? Why are gays lobbying for the right to be in the military when we should dismantle the system that allows innocent people to be murdered? Why do gays lobby for the death penalty against hate crime offenders when killing people is never the answer?

The answer is simple. The gay rights movement has become a homogenous and monolithic structure that is defined within the boundaries of the very system stonewall rebels were defending themselves against. Laws cannot protect us when police, the same ones who beat and kill so many people, are the ones who enforce them.

It is imperative to liberty that progressive activists work in solidarity to end all oppression. A tremendous synergy could evolve if all groups transcended their boundaries and included all people in their struggle toward liberty. In the words of Clarence Darrow, "You can only protect your liberties in this world by protecting the other man's freedom. You can only be free if I am free."

www.thomasmertoncenter.org/RESYST

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the system - my reply
by ala Saturday, Jun. 21, 2003 at 2:02 AM

Step by step.
ala

The system works because it has been developed by the people who were at stonewall, and others who learned from it. I admit Not every system is perfect, and in time each system becomes...either corrupt, or decrepit and needs rebirth, or "new blood."

>Why are gays trying to add all of these definitions to anti-discrimination when we need a bill that simply bans discrimination of all kinds?

Because there are people who discriminate just to do it and others who single you out, because of the way you look, talk act, dress, because we are a definable minority. Did you ever have some one shoot at you because you were gay? or pull out a baseball bat and chase you and your friend down the street in broad daylight in Rochester because you were holding hands? I have and more.


>Why are gays lobbying for same-sex partner benefits when we need national health care for all people?

Taxation without Representation, or Equality. Yes we all need health care, but that is a long long way off, and no one has yet to come up with a way to pay for it short of cutting out the armed forces budget.

>Why are gays lobbying for inheritance rights when so many people are homeless?

Being Homeless Sucks 1 in ever 3 people who are homeless are also mentally ill, and need the above medical care,  attention, and shelter. Yet again, We are Talking about a major undertaking here, not only would you need to give them a home, but food, clothing, medical,  maybe detox, or rehab (if they wanted it), and then train them in living skills (if it's needed), and then offer them job training, and finally give them a job. when there are not even enough jobs to go around for even the people who desperately want to work.

On the inheritance issue  Being a Transsexual, and knowing that everything that I stand to inherit can be taken away, just because my jerk of a brother wants to take it to court. Or what if my Lover Died His things would go to his family, and not to me. and lord help me if they are +...

>Why are gays lobbying for IRA and other financial benefits when so many people are hurt by the capitalistic society we live in?

So that we can have a future to retire to.
It is not the money that hurts us, It is the people who's entire lives that revolve around money.
(or those who will do anything to get it to those people,  more money = more power)

>Why are gays lobbying for the right to be in the military when we should dismantle the system that allows innocent people to be murdered?

GOOD POINT ! ! !

Yet, I do not think that we are asking to be in the military, I believe that it is a matter of not being punished for either being it it already, or being able to be proud about who we are while in the military.

Why do gays lobby for the death penalty against hate crime offenders when killing people is never the answer?

Every time, I think about what has been done to our brothers and sisters,/need I list them?/ the ones who have been KILLED,
and how I have almost been KILLED, I can not think clearly on this point. Maybe it is just my past experience that taints my view.

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Benefits
by Theo Saturday, Jun. 21, 2003 at 10:25 AM
TheoK444@aol.com

Why do these things have to be mutually exclusive? Why can't we fight for national health care while at the same time trying to end discrimination against queers with regard to benefits and health care? Same thing for inheritance rights and the others. It is about recognizing and validating our relationships and we will never achieve equality as long as our relationships are not considered as valid as those of heterosexuals. I lost my partner to AIDS two years ago yesterday, and after he died his family was able to come into my home and take anything they wanted that belonged to him before we moved in together. They also could have kept me from seeing him at the hospital, and overrode any decisions i made about his care. This is why i will fight for inheritance rights. I didn't actually give a fuck about his things, but it is insulting and degrading to have your partner's family come into your home and have the power to take anything that they want. Do i still want national health care? Yes. Do we need to work harder to address the serious problems that lead to homelessness? Yes. Do we need to challenge the weathly powerful corporations and individuals that suck more and more of the wealth out of society and leave the lower classes with less and less? Yes. But we don't need to bend over and get fucked twice while doing it. I have no argument against the death penalty, it's wrong i all cases and should be abolished. Just my two cents. (okay, that was more like a buck and a half)

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