The Bigotry of Hope

Amid the joy we progressives and Obama fans have all felt since Election Day, you know the most interesting thing that jumps out about the sour note sounded in Florida, thanks to the nearly 2/3 majority which voted to enshrine in the state constitution a redundant ban on same-sex marriage? Ironically, it turns out that elevating the number of black voters so impressively -- which helped turn the Sunshine State blue -- was what really made the difference: a whopping 71 percent of them voted in favor of Amendment 2, according to exit polls; the anti-gay black vote in California was similar. Barack Obama's shout-out to gays and lesbians in Grant Park? Never mind -- after all, as progressive as he is, he, too, opposes same-sex marriage, and from what I can tell didn't bother saying much if anything to voters about the meanspiritness embodied in these amendments.

Well. The Wall Street Journal and many other usual rightwing suspects even of a more secular ilk would have us believe that leaving aside the "morality" of the issue, the will of the voters must at all costs be respected. No doubt in the 1950s such reverence would have led to the continuation of Jim Crow, anti-miscegenation laws, and other racist nonsense for at least another generation, at least in the South, had not the U.S. Supreme Court stepped in. You'd think if anyone would appreciate that civil rights are civil rights, it's black Americans. And that's what makes the support of some among them of such bigotry and intolerance particularly appalling: their spectacular obliviousness to oppression -- just as long as it doesn't apply to them. And yet at the same time, given human nature, it shouldn't be all that surprising, either -- it's far from uncommon in history for the once persecuted to turn into the persecutors or at least condoners of persecution; consider, say, the early Puritans in New England or various and sundry former colonial peoples the world over. In other words, once we've overcome, the rest of you can go screw yourselves -- in fact, maybe we'll even help screw you. Because yes, we can.

Is that too harsh? Well, I'd like to think it's a matter of ignorance that can be solved by more education and outreach the next time around, if there is a next time. This time, activists fighting these measures didn't do enough to combat the prejudice ingrained in some minority communities -- and it sure cost them in Florida and California, at least.

Follow David Paul Appell on Twitter: www.twitter.com/DavidPaulAppell

Comments

[Speakupper]

Barack Ad no on 8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eMXdliDGXs

Biden says no on 8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDdwdaMP9vo

[LillianB]

Where's the morality in denying other people to love one another? Where's the morality in elevating oneself to a judge over who's worthy of love and who isn't? Where's the morality in denying other people rights oneself take for granted - like being legally bound to one's spouse, a family member in every sense, including the lack of sense of the insurance companies?

There is no morality in discrimination.

[johnwinner]

I strongly hoped that Californians would vote down Prop. 8, and am very disappointed they didn't.
HOWEVER, Please remember that when the question of gay marriage raised its head in '04, it helped defeat Kerry. That the Obama campaign avoided the issue was a success on their parts - it helped get him elected.
I know progressives, perhaps especially gay progressives, enjoy the 'martyr' role - BUT: You can't change anything if you're not elected.
As for the broader startegies involved: Gay rights activities keep pushing gay marriage as 1) a humanitarian issue (emotions involved), 2) a quasi-religious issue ("between us and our god"), and a civil rights issue (right to whatever).
The Bad News: No one cares about your emotions; if you insist this is between you and your god but you don't invoke the First Amendment, you can go debate with the Fundamentalists from now 'till Judgment Day; and and the Founders said nothing about marriage in the Constitution because they wanted to leave the matter up to the states.
Now, the Good News: This is America: MARRIAGE IS ABOUT MONEY. For the gay marriage movemnt to succeed in the long run, it will have to push fiscal partnership of the union; accept the possibility of a civil union that has all the force of marriage, and if it wants the marriage to take place in a church, it needs achurch strong enough to go to the courts on a separation of church and state case.

[uheardme]

Most white gays I encounter are racists. Perhaps other African-Americans have the same experience.

[FogCityJohn]

For me, as a gay man, the irony of African-Americans voting to strip gay people of rights is painful. One would hope that African-Americans' own experience of oppression would make them realize that, as Dr. King said, "injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." But perhaps African-Americans are simply succumbing to the temptation of prejudice. After all, prejudice permits one the pleasure of feeling that one is "better" than someone else. It's why so many poor whites cling to racism. In their dire economic circumstances, they enjoy being able to look down on others, even if their sense of racial superiority is false and entirely misplaced.

And the responses of African-Americans to this post have been telling. The resentment of gay people is plain to see. How dare we claim that our struggle for equality is as valid as theirs? Don't we realize how lucky we are, being able to hide the fact that we're gay? Some of the commenters do all but tell us to get back into the closet. What am I, a gay white man with an African-American partner, to make of this?

In the end, this makes me profoundly sad, and very doubtful that the unity that Obama talks about can ever be achieved. If we cannot see ourselves in others, we will remain forever divided, shackled by our petty prejudices.

[stpintodalite]

Not one responder to this post said they resent gays. No one said that the struggles that homosexuals face are not as valid as those faced by African Americans - it is a different struggle but equally as valid. And yes you do have the luxury concealing you identity; something most of us cannot do. The point I'm making is that if you turn this into a racial issue you alienate the many Blacks and other people of color who are willing to join the fight in support of Gay marriage. Black people of less than 7% of California's population so we are not your oppressor. Prop 8 failed because of religious attitudes tied to the definition of the word marriage. Does the Black community have a long way to go with respect to gay rights? Absolutely! However the fight is with the church, not with the overall Black community. 69% of Blacks may have voted for Prop 8, but 31% voted against. Reach out to that 31% and work with and use them to change attitudes in the African American community. Lastly this issue is much larger than Black folk, because millions more white people voted in support of Prop 8. Get back into the fight and stop blaming this on a small fraction of the population who hold no one's fate in their hands but their own.

[FogCityJohn]

I agree that you didn't come out and say, in so many words, that you resent gays. You do, however, bristle at the suggestion that our struggle for equality is as worthy as yours. And what about this poster? "[O]nce and for all, stop trying to equate the gay rights movement to a civil rights movement. As long as homosexuals have the ability to decide not to be gay . . ., this will never be successfully painted as a civil rights matter." Guess your fight for equality is a "civil rights matter" but ours isn't.

And please, "the LUXURY of concealing [my] identity"? Do you have any idea how *insulting* that is to a gay person? How'd you like to be forced to conceal who your husband is? You're suggesting that gay people would be just fine if we'd just stay in the closet. Sorry, while you may think that being gay is something to be ashamed of and hidden, I don't. Homophobia tries to force us to deny who we really are. Your suggestion is somewhat analogous to a white person asking you, "What's the problem with sitting in the back of the bus? You ride the same bus as whites and get to the same destination at the same time as they do." You'd correctly object that sitting behind a sign is simply demeaning and a statement of second-class status. Having to lie about who you are and who you love is no luxury; it's oppression.

[David Paul Appell - Huffpost Blogger]

Mea culpa on Obama and opposition to these amendments, y'all! But his larger opposition still stands, as does the larger point about the electorate opposing equal marriage rights. I do not blame any of the defeats on black voters; my purpose was only to note the cruel irony of their opposition and the need to educate and reach out to them. They, like many people, seem unable to divorce the civil aspect of marriage from the religious aspect.

[stpintodalite]

While I agree with this comment, the tone of your article was very different. I appreciate and understand the frustration with the passage of both amendments, however, making this a Black/minority vs. Gay issue only makes people dig their heels in. Outreach works, protests work, exposure to different lifestyles works, having an opportunity see that gay couple are just like everyone else works; everything else is just noise and does little to advance the cause of gay rights.

[JulioSeispack]

i was just making the same comments on another article in huff. Though in support of Obama, while i was in line to vote in miami beach i was handed a voting card with Obama's statement against amendment 2. The person handing them out was making it clear to the public that Obama was recommending voting no on two. Unfortunately, most churches in the US were preaching the subtle hate message of 'vote god'. which could only be vote republican to oppose ss marriage and abortion. Can we hold the churches responsible in a class action law suit? Better yet, can we educate other minorities on empathy, and understanding same sex issues? As long as they prefer to listen to the hateful religious organizations they will never be critical thinkers.

[stpintodalite]

Minorities are not critical thinkers because a certain percentage believe that marriage should be between one man and one woman? This is not about a lack of education it is about a lack of exposure to homosexuals and societal norms that make it difficult people of all races to accept homosexuals. Stop overanalyzing the vote and turning this into a racial debate.

[stpintodalite]

You cannot lay the failure of Prop 8 nor the passage of Admendment 2 in Florida at the feet of Black people. Blacks make up only 7% of the California population, 15% of the Florida population and 12% of the US population. The definition of marriage is something that people feel very strongly about. Trying to turn this into a racial issue is just asinine. The struggle for racial equality is not entirely the same as the stuggle for homosexual rights, and it never will be. I as a Black woman do not have to option to not diclose my race. I have to deal with the immediate reaction to my skin color as I enter a room or walk down the street. Religious attitudes in the Black community drove support for Prop 8 & Amendment 2, nothing more. No one stepped into the voting booth and took delight in oppressing gays. They cast their votes based on what they learned in church and in the larger society, that would rather gays hide who they are rather than be out in the open. While I agree that Blacks in general should be more tolerant and supportive of homosexuals, this post doesn't help. Instead of looking for a scapegoat and blaming an entire race of people work with people of all races - and trust me tthat here are a ton of African Americans who opposed both Prop 8 & Amendment 2 - to continue to advance the cause of gay

[SusaninIN]

But the struggles are the same in the respect of pride in one self. Gays should be able to be proud of who they are, just as blacks should be about their heritage. This struggle isn't about who has it harder or who can hide their differentness. It's about EVERYONE being able to be proud and true to themselves. Same as women, hispanics and all other minorities. Even survivors of rape and incest are made to feel ashamed of themselves. When will we start treating everyone with respect?

[stpintodalite]

I completely agree that no one should be ashamed of who they are. What I disagree with is turning the Gay marriage issue into class/race warfare because it does little to advance the cause of Gay rights and it alienates the very same people you want support from. The struggle for racial equality and homosexual equality are not the same - and never will be - however I don't think one is better than the other. I for one support gay marriage - it is no threat to me being a heterosexual and does not affect my own personal values.

[ElBruce]

I think it's time to start talking about the Equal Rights Amendment again.

[lord corleon]

Good idea. I think the lack of one in a society that claims freedom as its cornerstone is nonsensical.

[Palmz]

I SEEM TO RECALL OBAMA MAKING THIS VERY CLEAR:

"I oppose the divisive and discriminatory efforts to amend the California Constitution, and similar efforts to amend the U.S. Constitution or those of other states" -Barack Obama

http://crooksandliars.com/2008/06/30/obama-opposes-californias-gay-marriage-ban/

I did not get past your first paragraph. Next time try Google!

[apatheticmoth]

gay americans are NOT second-class citizens! gay americans were not hung for missing work, made to work against their will, sold at auctions, forced (systematically) into ghettos/pr­ojects/low­-income housing, were not valued as less than human in an official document, made to drink out of different water fountains, not profiled by the police... i could go on! as a black woman, i believe that gay people should be married and have all the benefits as heterosexual couples. why not?! who cares?!?! that's their business. personally i don't believe in marriage, but that's another story. California is going to be, or is bankrupt. there should have been more budget issues on the ballot than measures that try to disenfranchise a prominent demographic in the state. that was nonsensical!

[brklynivn]

Ughh, yes they are and with this amendment, that is reaffirmed through the constitution. And by the way, all those atrocities that you pointed out? Weren't they rationalised through biblical passages by the bible thumpers of their day? Think about it.

[ohioan73]

Its hard to convince a population of undereducated and oppressed people who cling to God for redemption and relief from a hostile society to accept what they deem as wrong in the sight of God---their only friend and redeemer in a world of hate.

Where were gays when blacks and latinos were receiving a sub-standard education in the USA public school system? Does everybody now realize how deep injustice and prejudice runs? People who aren't educated properly and suffer poverty and sucky schooling UNPROPORTIONATELY are that way period. That goes for rural, dumb bigots as well. Same people, different color.

This is what happens when people send their children to the best schools and they get the best education as a foundation for tolerance and turn their backs while others are limited by having to share old books in class and have their school programs "down-sized" so they never mentally rise out of the slavery of mind.

I hope everyone now realizes that equality is not won until every child in America has a world class education so that the minorities have a better understanding of the world other than The Bible. When Obama said: "cling to bitterly to guns and religion" he wasn't talking just about rural bigots. We are ALL responsible for this, not just blacks and latinos but people who acted like they didn't see what was brewing in the hood all this time.

[ohioan73]

Oops typo--DISP­ROPORTIONA­TELY not "un".

[stpintodalite]

You are kidding right? This has nothing to do with failing school systems in Black and Brown neighborhoods. If you want people to support gay rights, condescending attitudes are not going to get you anywhere. I know people of all races and education and income levels who do not support gay marriage. Stop trying to make people of color the scapegoat and focus on carrying the fight forward.

[mookworthjwilson]

I read "I know bigots and haters of all races and education"

[uheardme]

"Its hard to convince a population of undereducated and oppressed people who cling to God for redemption and relief from a hostile society to accept what they deem as wrong in the sight of God---their only friend and redeemer in a world of hate."

Its hard to convince people you clearly hate and do not respect to support your cause.

[Makesense]

Oh now blacks are to blame. If Obama's candidacy does not go well you will also blame it on the color of his skin. You are a big fool for you narrow-mindedness. This is why the far left is as bad as the far right. They are a bunch of idiots. You believe that blacks owe you anything. Have yo been in a plantation before working for your master before? Have you been lynched before? Have you been imprisoned before because you are gay by your own government? How dare you compare apples and oranges just to prove your heterophobia and arrogant "blacks you owe me your vote because whites like me gave it to you and gays are the base of the democraic party" nonsense. I am tire of you and the rest of those who cannot see that there are bigger issues to grapple with in this country instead of starting these culture wars that do nothing but divide us at a time when we need to start working on big issues that we all agree affect us.

[uheardme]

A lot of white gays are racist. This is not surprising which is why they will have to rely on the courts because it is beneath them to strategize and do any serious outreach to other communities.

[KillTheMessenger]

"...and from what I can tell didn't bother uttering a peep to voters about the meanspiritness embodied in these amendments."

http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN0130893920080702

What do you now? According to your own logic it seems like you just can't tell.

Having said that, homophobia is not a white phenomenon and never was. It probably never will be. But if white voters can learn, so can black voters. But learning, as we know takes time. The time of gay marriage in the US will come. It's just not here, yet, and that is sad.

[M1]

First, why are complaining about being whipping post. Stand up and admit you are bigots. This issue has nothing to do with religion it is about Equality and the right to exercise a fundamental right and pursue happiness just like every American.

Second, feedom to choose has no barring on how you were born or not born. Your wilingness to assume gays have a choice, igiven the lack of evidence, exposes your prejudice. What if some had a choice and others did not? What difference does that make ? When one choses others should simply allow their freedom of choice....not fire them from work, deny them fundamental rights or kill them.

Third, this has already been labeled a civil rights issue by the courts and fails under Equal Protection and Fundamental rights....all civil rights issues. Your denial of that is telling.

For your information, I knew in my heart that prop 8 would be voted in because I am hispanic and I know my hispanic people have learned their bigotry from their Catholic religion. Also, Obama signaled that Blacks mistreat their gays when he was in his church he told them to stop doing that. I made no assumptions for which you speak.

The courts will invalidate prop 8 as unconstitutional and we will regain our right to marry. What will remain is the huge divide between gays and those who did not support them. Next time you look at me....you better not make any assumptions.

[ArtieV]

Easy pilgrim. Going militant is not your style and will certainly backfire.