An e-mailed press release from the National Gay & Lesbian
Task Force hypes "Why Welfare Reform Is a Queer Issue," a panel and
"speak out" to be held at NYC's LGBT Community Center on Jan. 26.
On the agenda, NGLTF's Jason Cianciotto will explain the "overt
homophobia in welfare - abstinence promotion, marriage promotion,
fatherhood initiatives." Also according to the press
release:
Policy experts will address the harmful impact of the 1996 welfare reform laws on the LGBT community and what's in store for the LGBT community with reauthorization.... Discussion will include how new welfare proposals increase funding for homophobic policies like marriage promotion and fatherhood initiatives.
I remember how when Clinton signed the GOP welfare reform bill requiring able-bodied, long-term welfare recipients to take available jobs, left-liberals predicted our nation would again be filled with Hoovervilles (i.e., homeless tent cities). Instead, a record number of long-term welfare recipients actually (gasp) took jobs.
As for welfare reform being anti-LGBT because it promotes marriage and fatherhood, one could certainly argue that not allowing gays to marry increases the liklihood that poor gays would need welfare, since studies show married couples are better able to lift themselves out of poverty. But I suspect we're actually seeing a hint of what the activists at NGLTF actually feel - marriage itself is an oppressive institution, so encouraging folks to marry (and, especially, encouraging single mothers to marry one of their children's fathers) simply reinforces the evils of patriarchy.
Update: If you haven't done so, click below and
read the comments posted on this item. We don't always get
intelligent debate; this time we did.