Several hundred made their presence known at the Stop the H8 Rally in Kansas City, included among those were political leaders Scott Burnett of the Jackson County Legislature. Other political leaders—Councilwoman Beth Gottstein, School Board Member Airick Leonard West and Senator Joile Justus—took the microphone to lend their voices at the rally.
The transcript of my speech at the Stop the H8 Rally follows:
When I saw that Californians approved Proposition 8 by slightly more than 50% of the vote, it got me to thinking:
Surely, more than 50% of the people—in any state, let alone California—know a gay person. That means that there are millions of people who voted in favor of stripping constitutionally guaranteed rights from people who they know.
Even here in Missouri, a similar ban was passed in 2004 by, like, 70 percent of voters. That means that each of us probably knows quite a few people who don’t support full equality for gay couples. Even accounting for those who hold extreme religious views, that means that there are many of our own friends and family who don’t support full equality us—for reasons that aren’t particularly clear.
What could their reasoning possibly be? I have a few theories:
Theory # 1: the religion excuse. Many people—and I’ve heard Hillary Clinton express this view—say, because their particular religious tradition doesn’t sanction same–sex marriage, that they personally have qualms with it.
Perhaps we should point out to those people that we don’t need their particular churches to give their blessing on whether or not we are deserving of the same legal rights granted by our government to straight people. We’ve found plenty of churches who will welcome us—that’s not the issue. When we say marriage, we’re not talking about the ceremony in a church. We’re talking about the hundreds and hundreds of rights that government sanctioned marriage extends to any opposite–sex couple who asks for them—regardless of how long they’ve known each other, whether they really love each other, even whether or not they happen to be sober at the time.
Theory #2: the sex excuse. While they would never admit it to our faces, many of our straight friends and family, as supportive and loving as they are, I suspect are still a little queasy over the prospect of two men or two women in bed together. And the notion of gay marriage kind of reminds them of the fact that we are sexual beings like them. Frankly, I kind of get this—the idea of a man and a woman having sex still makes me a little queasy.
There’s one other theory I have. I call this the secret excuse: that is, the idea that straight people secretly know that marriage isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be. They don’t see it as that big a deal that we don’t get to experience it. To that, I say: let us decide for ourselves!
I have an assignment for all of you: help to dispel the mystery surrounding why a majority of people continue to oppose full equality for gay couples. Find out where all the straight people in your life stand on the issue. Make them talk about it. Force them to go on the record. If they are opposed, or if they equivocate, help them to understand all the practical challenges faced by gay couples as long as we are denied full equality under the law. Talk to them about how complicated and expensive it is to protect your assets in the event of your partner’s death. If you’re a gay parent, describe the anxiety that comes from the fear that if you die, your child may be taken away from their other parent. Let them know what a burden it is to watch your co–workers enjoy benefits that you don’t don’t have access to yourself. If you’re lucky enough to work in one of those places that will give you domestic partner benefits, tell them how offensive it is that you must pay taxes on those benefits while your straight co–workers get them tax–free.
I don’t know about you, but aside from being a little pissed off, I’m a little bit tired.
I’m tired of seeing our community take two steps forward only to take one step back.
I’m tired of being expected to be patient—of being asked to be grateful for the progress that we have made. To be thankful that there is not nearly as many people who hate us now, as there used to be.
I’m tired of POLITICIANS who in private tell us they’re our friends but whose fear of losing their next election causes them to be hypocritical in the execution of their public duties. (Not too long ago, I heard Senator Claire McCaskill tell Chris Matthews on Hardball that she didn’t see any need for a change in the military Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy. Matthews kind of chuckled when McCaskill said it, as if to say, “MY GOD, are you kidding me?!”)
I’m tired of CLOSETED GAY POLITICIANS—Republicans and Democrats alike (YOU KNOW WHO I’M TALKNG ABOUT)—who take up space in our elected bodies that would be better filled by the likes of Senator Jolie Justus—one of only two openly gay elected officials in the Missouri General Assembly (SOON TO BE ONE OF THREE).
Something I’m not tired of? The increasing number of straight ally elected officials who believe in LGBT equality and who know how to stand by their convictions Elected officials like Gavin Newsome, the Mayor of San Francisco, who made history with his decision to start issuing marriage licenses to same–sex couples. And we have a surprising number of these allies right here in Missouri. People like Councilwoman Beth Gottstein, who, as one of her first official actions after taking office, fought a winning battle for Transgender Equality—persuading her colleagues on the city council to pass a nondiscrimination ordinance—in the only unanimous vote in support of LGBT equality in the history of the Kansas City Council.
Get more involved in the fight for some of the rights we’ve been denied for too long. Become a member of PROMO or Four Freedoms. Contribute to the continued fight in California. Work on behalf of political candidates who we can count on to fight this fight with us.
And don’t let the straight people in your life off the hook. OUR votes will not be enough—we’ll need theirs, too. The quiet indignation so many of us have indulged in for so long is no longer enough.
Additional Resources
NBC Action News video
In This Moment (blog of Diane Silver)
KMBC 9 video
Springfield, Missouri news source
Columbia, Missouri news source
St. Louis, Missouri news source
Comments
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Jim, precise and to the point…without mincing words, as usual. We’re lucky to have you here in KC. Maybe some day Jeff City and the entire state will become as lucky once you decide to run for office.
I am acquainted with many of the politicians you mention and agree with your evaluation of them, as well as your analysis of the entire situation. Your “assignment” is worthy of acceptance.
Many times I find that I don’t always have to inquire as to where those in my life stand on gay issues…too often I find that the GLBT is the last allowance of discrimination in our society, which is becoming more isolated to the deep south that turned more “red” this last election. Many Californians are expressing regret for their vote and may work to reverse the recent decision.
Thanks to the activist work of people like you, we should have a GLBT person in the White House soon…as soon as Barrack finishes his two terms!