Ranking the Issues: Gay Rights in an Economic Crisis

On Friday, the Washington Times reported that Barack Obama will be waiting until 2010 to push for the end of Don't Ask Don't Tell. Obama staffers say the delay is necessary to allow for consensus building.

The move raises a number of questions and concerns. At first brush it seems like smart politics: avoid a Clintonesque botch and give yourself some time to get support before taking on the gay issues. In fact, as a person as well as a lesbian, I find myself worrying more about health care and the economy than the ability of LGBT people to serve openly in the military.

But just how should we be ranking identity politics in this grab bag moment of crisis and transition?

The classic approach to politics is to rank priorities and measure the finite bowl of political capital. If Obama pushes hard on a green new deal, he likely won't have much left for universal health care. If he backs off of serious economic regulation, then he might get more support for social programs from Republicans.

Because gay civil rights struggles affect fewer individuals and relate to less quantifiable harms, it's hard to justify putting them at the top of the list.

The alternative is to reject the ranked priorities political model altogether.

There is little evidence that sway and support is finite in the American political system. Political capital relates to the actions of the leader, yes, but can be infinitely large or non-existent at any point in time. In some ways, the more you get done, the more the bowl of capital swells.

Ranking America's problems to conserve political influence is a narrow minded approach to solving this crisis. Putting banks at the top of the list avoids the plight of large employers (like car companies - as much as we love to hate their executives). Sending health care and other social programs to second or third place, leaves those immediately affected by the crisis with nothing to fall back on.

Finally, ignoring the disenfranchisement of a segment of the population breeds discontent, encourages protest, boycotts (a definite harm in this economy) and violence. It divides families (especially those who are still unable to sponsor their partner into the United States), imposes higher tax burdens on gay couples, denies benefits to gay spouses in many employment situations and polarizes social conservatives and social liberals in a time when consensus is essential.

The first years of the Obama presidency cannot be about determining who and what matters and who and what doesn't. There should be no ranking of political promises and political objectives. As President of the United States, we expect Obama to be able to multitask. As LGBT people, we should not stop fighting for the end of DADT, but also the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act and the implementation of hate crime legislation that recognizes LGBT victims.

Identity politics do not need to fall to the back burner just because times are tough. Working towards full LGBT rights should, and hopefully will, remain a priority for all of us.

Comments

[FlamingLibrul]

I'm torn on the issue of pursuing GLBT rights during our country's economic meltdown. I fear the same type of backlash happening that occurred during Clinton's first term, even though times have changed since then. Proposition 8 has made it clear that we still have a long way to go. The ultra-rightwing loves to use "The Gay Agenda" as a battering ram to stir up animosity and bigotry towards Gay rights. Until this stops working, full civil rights are going to be a long time in coming. The rise and continued adulation of figures such as Sarah Palin illustrate that the religious right still has a stranglehold on a very vocal segment of America.

Until the GLBT community and its supporters learn to be just as mobilized and vocal as the rightwing- not waiting until our rights have been stripped to gather by the thousands in protest- we will continue to be forced to fight off ambushes on our rights, and sadly, will often fail to move forward.

[Emma Ruby-Sachs - Huffpost Blogger]

Thanks for the great feedback.
I wanted to first respond to afippinger by asking him to look at the development of the New Deal under FDR. The first New Deal was unprecedented in its scope (serious economic regulation and reform for example), but a mere two years later, FDR introduced a second New Deal dealing with worker's rights, social security etc. It wasn't until WWII split the Republican - Southern Democrat coalition that FDR had the opportunity to govern without a strong and significant opposition in Congress (and in the conservative Supreme Court). Still, achieving those widespread reforms in the economic realm allowed him to move to even more significant changes (some might say) to social welfare programs and labor organizations.
As a last note, while I disagree with carsntrucks, the comment is a source of good information. We should understand the seemingly illogical interest in other people's marriages so that we can more effectively target those who still need convincing. Even people who are primarily worried about their pocket books will vote yes or no on an issue if the question is put to them on the ballot. Proposition 8 is a perfect example of this reality.

[abbeyroad]

LGBT is having a town hall meeting tomorrow night -- it will be a virtual meeting in which you can hear the panelists via webcast and direct questions to the moderator live:

Prop. 8: The Facts and Future
Tuesday, Nov. 25
6-7:30 p.m.
Visit: www.lagaycenter.org/Prop8TownHall

[LiberalBuzz]

As time goes on, the issue will sway to the side of intelligence but we will never get rid of the bigotry and homophobia completely just like the racism that exist in this country will probably still be here in a hundred years.

[M1]

There is no turning back now period.

[JohnBisceglia]

I'm baffled that America really thinks the ENTIRE LGBT community is smiling, saying "thank you", and feeling one iota of responsibility to the federal tax base. Oh sure, one may not publicly admit tax non-compliance, but seriously - do you REALLY think we are all just PEACHY KEEN about how we are treated?! We have 1,138 reasons to find ways (and there are many; legal to not so much) to keep our hard-earned money OUT of the IRS's hands.

It is VERY difficult to comply with a government whose institutional hate against our families and children harms us daily. Hets would definitely NOT play that noise.

[carsntrucks]

There are 1,138 legal instances in which marriage plays a factor. It would be PATENTLY UNTRUE to assume that every one of those instances, all at once, would apply to you. They don't apply to every couple no matter what.

Keeping marriage THE WAY THAT IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN is not institutionalized hate. The whole reason people feel marriage is so sacred to the point that they rally and protest over not getting it is based on what TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE IS SUPPOSED TO BE.

[Observer1000]

So far Obama has stuck on message, I would not use the Washington Times or any other right wing organization as sources of information on the gay equality movement. Let's also keep in mind was that the ONLY reason Prop 8 failed was because the right tried to create a wedge issue and Obama was smart enough not to take the bait.

[Observer1000]

Well another reason Prop 8 passed is that initiative questions are inherently confusing as proven by my mistatement in the preceding comment.

[jhNY]

Gay people may wish to expend whatever political capital they have built up on the pursuit of their goals of right ot marriage and the repeal of DADT, but should not be very much surprised to notice that many who would be in sympathy and solidarity with their causes are up to their necks in economics and now have less time and effort to devote to anything else. The gay electorate is in a difficult political position just now, in that their power has lately been insufficient at the ballot box to prevent the passage of discriminatory law. In other words, gay issues have lately proved to be a rallying cause for the enemies of gay rights and equality, and these enemies have turned out in sufficient numbers to pass laws against what they fear-- gay rights.

[afippinger]

While I totally agree with everything you say, I'd love some specific examples or evidence for this paragraph:

"There is little evidence that sway and support is finite in the American political system. Political capital relates to the actions of the leader, yes, but can be infinitely large or non-existent at any point in time. In some ways, the more you get done, the more the bowl of capital swells."

Meanwhile, thank you for reminding us that none of these issues are as compartmentalized as politicians and the news media make them out to be... each issue impacts the others, and you're right to say that we can't simply think of them in a to-do list format.