OK, let me be perfectly clear. Yes, I've been very critical of the Obama administration, specifically over the reaction (or lack of) to addressing what many of us in the GLBT community have taken as a betrayal.
I think we all have good points on both sides of this argument. Unfortunately, as is frequently the case (as I see it) here at dKos things are rarely seen in shades of gray. One side is black, the other white. We either support this administration without equivocation or we're betraying our allegiance to our President.
I'll leave that argument for another day. However, I think it's time to reach out to our straight brothers and sisters and show them a history that they are more likely than not unfamiliar with because it isn't "their history"...
After the jump.
I am not even about to try to equate the African American Civil Rights movement with the GLBT Civil Rights movement even though there are some very close parallels regarding discrimination, abuse and bigotry...but there is one significant similarity; they are both almost universally swept under the carpet in our public schools. I live for the day when we can celebrate "Black History Month" in February AND "GLBT History Month" in June (to coincide with Stonewall).
Sadly, "Black History Month" is recognize in our public schools because every other month (IMHO) is "White History Month". Currently, there's virtually no such thing as teaching GLBT Civil Rights in the public school curriculum.
So, my straight brothers and sisters (of every hue), please consider this a "YouTube Primer" of the GLBT civil rights movement...which has been stalled since Stonewall. I don't include the AIDS pandemic or the organizations that were fighting those issues, because a.) they're fairly well-known and b.) they were a very narrow segment of the overall struggle for GLBT EQUALITY.
I will continue, at least in my own corner of the blogosphere to using "fierce advocate". Sorry if that rankles some feathers, but until promises are kept, they are merely words.
Originally posted on my personal blog under the title "Expand the Civil Rights Act of 1964": http://dailydumpbydave.blogspot.com/
The Power Online: sign the petition
why we fight, the suicide note:
the heart wrenching response, from a brother named "steve":
an educated mind is an open mind. we've been stagnant for 40 years.
THANK YOU, "fierce advocate" for awaking the militant beasts that refuse to be second class citizens any longer. MY time is NOW.
UPDATE: Thank you everyone for pointing out how painfully inadequate my poll choices are...Please leave your "how I wanted to vote" in the comments. kthxbai.
UPDATE 2: For people that are finding this diary in the last few hours (it's 9:23CST NOW), PLEASE READ UPDATE ONE.
...and thanks to lgmpc for this:
Poll in haste, repent at leisure!
Polls make a nice addition to diaries except for that little gotcha about no editing.
Naturally we have many knowledgable and loyal straight allies, particularly here! And if we didn't, we wouldn't be getting closer and closer to marriage equality ... so close we can almost taste it. Mmmmm, equality!