Why Some Americans Don't Have Reason to Celebrate

"We've finally arrived at a moment when America feels like it's supposed to." - Bob Cesca of the Huffpo (Wenesday, November 5, 2008)

This past Election Tuesday, Californians turned out in droves to recognize the rights of caged-chickens while denying the rights of gays and lesbians to marry. Passing Prop 2 and Prop 8, Californians secured a chicken's right to "extend its wings, lie down, stand up, and turn around" in confinement, while revoking basic democratic rights from gays; rights like equal protection under the law, the ability to pursue happiness, and the freedom to worship religion without state interference (that's right, there are Judeo-Christian confessions that view same-sex marriage as sacred). In short, Californians sympathize with chickens but not with gays. We Americans can all be proud of the prodigious progress being made. Americans, exceptionally capable of progressive change, have once again galloped forward. Who can doubt that this moment marks an ideological shift leftward? Indeed.

Sorry to be the buzz-kill at the liberal victory-party, but this election has been a historic nightmare for millions of gay Americans. In Florida, Arizona, and California propositions have been passed to amend state constitutions, permanently enshrining second-class citizenship into law. America has taken a tremendous step backward -- actively revoking rights granted to citizens by state constitutions -- though you'd never know it from most of the punditry and pontificating.

Drunk on Obama victory, commentators are busy idealizing the American electorate, waxing rhapsodic about the inherent goodness of the American spirit, the progress it has made, and its tolerant essence. Skim the titles down yesterday's Huffpost for gems like: "How to come down from Euphoria," "The Other Side of Paradise," "Exhale," "Real Shock and Awe," "Why All Americans have a Reason to Celebrate," and "Hitting the Reset Button on the 21st Century." Apparently nobody in the MSM has the stomach to parse words like "bittersweet," "hypocrisy," and "pyrrhic victory." It just does not jibe well with the supposed revival of the American dream that began this past Tuesday. I get it: anger and suffering isn't cool. It makes Americans uncomfortable. The victors do not want to hear about it; certainly not while they congratulate themselves for being so enlightened.

To be sure, this is not the media's fault. But its reticence on the uneven nature of American progress is strikingly naive and delusional, especially given the overwhelming--though not singularly determinative--role that African-Americans played in supporting Prop 8 and denying other Americans their civil rights. While seventy percent of self-identified gays and lesbians supported the first African-American presidential candidate (according to the exit poll reported by CNN), seventy percent of African American voters approved Prop 8, compared to 53% of Latino voters, 49% of white voters, and 49% of Asian voters.

The Obama victory was undoubtedly historic and groundbreaking, but it has come at a price: the aggrandizement and intensification of hostility between Blacks and gays. The irony is as ugly as it is heartbreaking. The betrayal gays feel can be summed up pithily: how is the outlawing of same sex marriage any different from the anti-miscegenation laws of segregation? Some may point to religious values as the discriminating factor, but "Christian values" were used to justify anti-miscegenation just as they are now used to justify the revoking of same-sex marriage. Hiding behind the Church, then and now, does not absolve anyone of their complicity in discrimination.

But the failure to defeat Prop 8 does not lie with the Black community or any other minority. It is the gay community who has failed to build coalitions with other groups. Wake-up call to gay leadership: We must form institutional alliances with other minority communities and start supporting each others interests. We are not going to see these groups support our right to marry if we do not make an active effort to support them as well.

Some gays -- mostly from the Boomer generation -- point out (correctly) that I am impatient. Progress, they say, is inevitable. Consider the historicity of a president-elect who freely and comfortably refers to gays within the first breath of his victory. We are a long way, they remind us, from the days when a president couldn't even utter the word "AIDS" publicly. Andrew Sullivan, who has been a fierce advocate of gay rights for decades, reminds us that "twenty years ago, equality of gay couples was a mere idea. Forty years ago, it was a pipe-dream." Try to see the forest for the trees. In the long term, history is on our side.

Well, as the cliché goes, in the long term we are dead.

Comments

[tonysmith]

Preach. Yes - a lot of blacks are homophobic, just like whites, Latinos, etc. A lot of white gays are racist. Scapegoating blacks sounds, um, like more of the same. Go on to the blog dissenting justice. It's written by Darren Hutchinson. We cannot post links here, but he writes about Prop 8 and race. A good read.

[lobear00]

To those who are saddened, by the outcome on Tuesday, Republican party "Snakes". go back into the holes you slitered out from, your greed,selfishness, warmongering nature does not fit in this world anymore. Come out of the dark, stop letting your shadow's scare'you so much, come into the light and the "Truth will finally set you free, and your brains will finally start to function once again.

[prolifeprogressive]

pt 2 - if it makes it through moderation! -

The country is very divided over abortion and gay rights - but I for one am glad that we went through a national election of supreme importance without letting the 'wedge' issues decide things. And I do not rejoice over that. I pray for O's safety and that he can do the jow we elected him to. I rejoice that apparently - Democracy has been restored to America - that Rove's toxic and manipulative 'permanent repub majority' has not come to pass.

We will never all get what we want in a democracy - but we should respect the process and not subvert it or demonize each other when we disagree.

[wolverine442]

This country was not founded on majority rule. It was founded on a conglomeration of disaffected minorities. The 13 colonies couldn't have been more different in social attitudes. Yet they found common ground and joined up to fight the tyranny of the majority ( the royal british crown). They created the single most important document in modern history. It guarantees that the minority will not be oppressed or stripped of rights by the majority. That's the structure of our society and government. It is a representative democracy or as we refer to it as a republic. Direct democracy, majority rule, is nothing more than mob rule. Jesus himself can testify to the horrors of that reality. There was no liberty and justice for him just what the majority of the crowd wanted to happen, whether right or wrong, no check, no balance. We cannot go down this road. We don't even sentence criminals in this country with simple majority rule. That argument can never 'hold water'.

[Scott1560]

Jesus aside, I'd love to agree with you, but when attempting to put our nation's foundation into a 21st century perspective it just doesn't work. The true litmus test would be to imagine yourself back in those days of yore and ponder what would abe acceptable. Most certainly, gay marriage would not be accepted nor would just being a cavorting gay gay. Odds are good that any such uprising would have brought about a constitutional amendment rendering the discussion moot. Same goes for the 2nd Amendment. Let your mind travel back again and imagine what the reaction would be if a farmer had to either give up his gun or register it at a government office. I dare say had that been the case, our civil war would have come at a much earlier date. Your argument would not have passed muster back in the day.
Best to view our rights in a more evolutionary manner and seek change as change is needed or accepted. When the day arrives that I'm convinced that my target rifle is adding to the crime rate, for the good of society I'll turn it over to the authorities for destruction. I've got no problems with gay marriages so I'm sure that as soon as folks are convinced that it does not threaten their daily lives (and it doesn't), it will be legalized.

[PlanetKansas]

For the record, I support gay rights and marriage, but this is a wedge issue that is distracting from the very real problems facing our nation.

True equality for all has a long way to go, but Obama can't allow this issue to use up all of his political capital the way the Clinton's erred with Gays in the Military.

Advocating civil rights is a nobel cause, but the conservatives are putting these amendments on the ballots, not to attack gays, but as a Rovian tactic to manipulate and attract Republican voters to the polls and influence the outcome of the elections.
Gays have always existed, and had relationships, albiet, non-married ones, and the daily work world is becoming more accepting every day. My own corporation offers health benefits to partners, most estate issues can be handled in any will and attacks against gays are punished as hate crimes.

In all due respect, I think the gays need to back off and take a more long term strategy. Let the marriage bans pass. Then it won't be on the next ballot, the Republicans won't be incited to the polls, and a more liberal majority can be built to eventually pass this civil rights issue.

WIthout gays on the ballot, we would have won a Senate majority. To continue yelling about it only makes Carl Rove more the evil genius.

[tgig]

You miss one critical point here. The rights we are discussing weren't being granted on this election. If they were I could see saying, "well, we are getting there." The point you miss is that the rights we are talking about in this election were ALREADY granted. In this election people actually had to vote to take them away. You can't see how even more deeply flawed, and hateful that is?

[Scott1560]

Oh, geez, give it a rest. Republicans? Rovian? What type of conservative? The election cycle is over, talking points out and we're back to the reality of life. The gay marriage issue has little to do with party. Take a look at the exit polls.

None of my experiences in life, or any the the friends I've had, demonstrate that gays are that much different than anyone else. Many enjoy hunting, target shooting, share a concern over national security and the economy; their beliefs, other than a few social issues, swayed more to the right. Being gay, having a certain sexual orientation, has zip to do with how one views foreign policy. Perhaps the more radical activists can tie sex in with other viewpoints, but I've yet to run into those folks in the varying circles I've travelled in. And with all honesty I can state that I've met more gays at republican fundraisers than I did at events held by democrats. Understand, this was in a rural farm community where sexual orientation was way down on the list of things to be concerned about.

And I must absolutely add that the gay jokes, the smirks, the snubs were pretty much evenly divided across party affiliation, that is, party had nothing to do with it. In most cases it appeared to have everything to do w/religious beliefs or upbringing.

[S1m0n]

"For the record, I support gay rights and marriage, but this is a wedge issue that is distracting from the very real problems facing our nation."

Let's allow the people consigned to second-class status decide how "real" that problem is.

[SUIGENEROUSLA]

My marriage was dissolved by plebisite this week. This is as real as it gets for me. Would you like to look me and my (now former) husband in the eye and tell us it's not a real issue?

[MidwestMomma]

Well as a middle-aged straight woman from "Hootersville", I am really surprized by the lack of support from other minorities. Actually I am always saddened by those who seek Liberty for themselves while denying it to others, big sigh!

I personally think all couples should be offered civil unions. Even the words marriage and wedlock infer a loss of freedom to both. I've been with the same man for 30 years and resent having to be "locked or joined to him" to have my surviorship rights protected under the law or to be covered by the others insurance. But thats just my take on the marriage issue.

The real issue is denying American citizens their equal rights under the law and all American should be apalled.

[Navy VET EOD]

This only serves to demonstrate the strength and intensity of the strangle-hold fundamentalist religious extremists, particularly of the Biblical variety, have on the American electorate---Obama or no Obama.

If a religious sect chooses to exclude marriages between two men or two women from its doctrine, then fine: don't conduct them in your churches. That right is protected by the 1st Amendment.

But when you demand that your unique fundamentalist beliefs become public policy (e.g. outlawing gay marriages performed by public officials, such as justices of the peace) then you're not just infringing upon the Constitutional rights of gays, you're infringing on the Constitutional rights of ALL citizens, straight, gay or androgynous.

Among other things, we should all commit some time to supporting the activities of Americans United for Separation of Church and State if we're interested in a fair, secular legal system for all (www.au.org).

[hiprogloho]

The gay agenda with regard to having the meaning of marriage redefined is a more a matter of foolish semantics than it is civil rights. No where in the Constitution does it support the debate that heterosexual traditions or institutions are to be redefined by law to suit the whims of other sexual special interest groups. How I long for the days when nationality or profession was the main criteria of self definition and not private practice. To only define oneself via religion or sexuality is vain and tribal. For what it does is make media celebrities out of minorities and paints majority opinion as politically expedient when it is the law of the land. We are almost done with an 8 year administration of mad men rule in DC. When folks like Larry Craig support elitist right wing policies that help destroy this nation, innocent gays are victimized by the political backlash. If gays wish to fight for equal rights with a moral compass, then their leaders must stop being neo-fascist closet hypocrites who sell the US out as well as their own kind.

[politico-123]

Well said!!!

[Strepsi]

No one is asking for "heterosexual traditions to be redefined" -- we are asking for equal CIVIL RIGHTS. The anti-miscenegation laws were struck down because to choose one's marriage partner was deemed a RIGHT. Ironic, because without Interracial marriage Obama wouldn't be here. Once people are married, they become kin on a Federal level -- they can travel as family, immigration, visitation rights, estate law.... about 1,000 RIGHTS that non-married people don't get. So... it is Californians who are "redefining rights based on sexuality" -- and that is wrong! If your view were correct, that majority opinion should rule -- there would still be segregation in several states. You are WRONG. A civil society protects the minorities from the tyranny of the majority.

[mia41003]

I don't understand why other people have the right to vote on other people's personal relationships in the first place. I am deeply sympathetic to this cause and it makes me angry that gays and this issue are constantly used for political gain. I think it's fine to be a social conservative, but why do you get a say in other people's lives on such a deep, personal level because of how you interpret the bible? No one is saying that conservative churches are going to be forced to marry gay people. Would anyone want to celebrate their union in such an environment anyway?

I must confess that before I actually knew anyone gay, I simply didn't understand that issues like these were important or how they affect people's lives. Many of these people voted Yes on Proposition 8 out of ignorance. There is a lot of misinformation about homosexuality and for that matter sexuality period, particularly in America, a nation of prudes in many ways. It's tiresome, but it's a question of educating people, making people see that gays and lesbians are not the boogey-men many would have us believe. People are afraid that if gays have equal rights, somehow it will take away their own rights, not realizing that it's the contrary. There must be a way around this. Maybe working like Grandblvd03 suggested.

[raggatt]

I fully support gay rights in every way shape and form. However, I strongly object and am offended by your snarky put down of the importance of animal rights in comparison. In my world, gays being able to marry is not more important than birds being able to spread their wings.

Why should man expect his prayer for mercy to be heard by What is above him when he shows no mercy to what is under him? ~Pierre Troubetzkoy

[BCubedReg]

Mr. Halper,

I agree with everything you said. The passing of this proposition was an horrendous step backwards in the quest for equality for all. I lived in California for over 10 years and would have never thought Californians could be so close-minded and hateful.

[BluePrideSMW]

This one hurt. I've lived through anti-gay measures before but this one really hurt. To know that the same people who voted YES for Obama voted YES to HATE = 8. My first vote for president was for Shirley Chisholm and my latest was for Barack Obama. And while I've given a pass to ignorant white people. I expect black people to know better and to be more courageous. Religion is the key. Pray to a white god and vote hate. I'm angry.

[Grandblvd03]

I'm a Chicago gay white man and I've been out since I was 21. I am almost 50 now. I think this whole movement should have stressed domestic partnerships or civil unions instead of trying to force the word "marriage" down everyone's throat. Is it possible for us as a community to have a reasonable discussion about this? Perhaps we need to regroup and recast our message. There are many gay people who want the legal rights and some kind of legal recognition and actually don't even want the word "marriage" involved. We feel that marriage is a straight thing.

I am disappointed that African American democrats overwhelmingly threw us under the bus. So did Hispanic Americans by a lesser margin. Yes, it makes me angry and resentful. Does that mean it's OK now for me to be racist? It does not. Maybe we can work with these issues through outreach to the black and hispanic communities.

We got a lot of support from young people and from rich hollywood stars. Good for us. We need the support of middle America, and that can only come through pragmatic planning and messaging, and by pulling ourselves out of our gay bubble and reaching out to other people. I think we need to at least be willing to listen to dissent within our own community. There has to be a discussion, not a small group of self-righteous people calling all the shots -- that's what we're supposed to be fighting against, remember?

[hiprogloho]

You're exactly right. Gays in a civil union deserve every right as a straight married couple. And they will deservedly get them as equal protection under the law. Until then, they will be protesting over a word.

[MagisterLudi]

"Gays in a civil union deserve every right as a straight married couple."
And they have already in California. The mass hysteria from GFL community is pure nonsense.

[MagisterLudi]

Finally, a voice of reason. Congratulations. It was a breath of fresh air to read your introspective comment. Post here more!

[Morcat]

Complete civil rights for people who happen to be gay will succeed when they fully infiltrate the straight community so that everyone knows, likes and respects at least one gay person. That isn't to say that the responsibility falls completely on gays. Straight advocates have a responsibility to stand up and give voice to the need for equality, particularly toward gay families. It will only happen when forces like the Mormons do their demonizing and the public can say, "But I know (somebody) and that is not who they are." The public will change and the government will follow, and that public change is happening, undoubtedly too slowly, but happening.

[ScottInOC]

Such utter crap to lay the blame for the passage of Prop 8 on the gay community's lack of coalition building with the minority communities. The gay community has spent years building coalitions with minority groups. Harvey Milk was excellent at this in San Francisco and we learned from him.

I do blame the black community! I am an angry gay man! I will be hard pressed to vote for any black candidate for anything from now on. They turned their collective backs on us by voting Yes on 8. It was a slap in the face and will not be forgiven by this gay man...and if you think I am alone in my feelings...you and the black community are fooling yourselves.

[mia41003]

There are lots of gay black people. I think it's a little silly to collectively blame black people about this. Lots of black people are disgusted by the passage of Prop 8, too.

[Scott1560]

And I'm a semi-angry white dude who can't understand the hard allegiance to party platforms? You get straight to the matter and you might find that if many folks were honest about their beliefs they'd discover that they tend more towards being libertarian or perhpas ready to back a new party of "Common Sense."
Too many issues, stances, opinions this political season and certainly more than either party can handle. And then you've got other major issues that neither party will address. So why do we feel it necessary to lock up such a large percentage of our population in jails & prisons? When does that issue get broached? That's the ultimate restriction of freedom, denial of rights. Nary a word from McCain or Obama.