Shiny Political Objects

by on

Amen to Dale's post. I'd add one additional point. The political class offers us these shiny political objects because our leadership (and, to be fair, many of us) give them the impression that they'll make us happy. A natural consequence of asking for things other than the hard ones: marriage and the military -- is that we allow politicians to work on the easy ones at the expense of what we really need.

California's legislature, like the President, is seeking to honor Harvey Milk, but they're doing it after having done their work on the hard issue of marriage (and getting preempted by the voters). I don't want to diminish the political importance of symbolic or accessory accomplishments, like hate crimes laws. These can and do pave the way in the political process for the momentous achievements that are needed. Presidential honors to openly gay and lesbian citizens do let the nation know that honor and homosexuality are not mutually exclusive, and show that the President was speaking honestly when he said his vision of America includes lesbians and gay men.

But this is not hard work. By definition, presidential honors go to people whose reputations are well-established. It is the rest of us -- the undistinguished ones who have to live under federal laws that mandate discrimination against us -- who aren't much helped by honors like these. Changes in the law are the only thing that will make a difference in our everyday lives, and for a minority that continues to be denied the dignity of the constitution's equal protection clause, that means we can only depend on political majorities. We have done a monumental job of getting this nation close to majority support -- and have gone above and beyond the call of 50% when it comes to the military -- but are at the point of either diminishing returns or sheer exhaustion right now. Either way, it is only those like the President who have it in their power and talent to make the closing case.

Honoring Harvey Milk and Billie Jean King is good for Harvey Milk and Billie Jean King, but those honors do not change a single word of a single discriminatory federal law. Anything less than that is costume jewelry.

4 Comments for “Shiny Political Objects”

  1. posted by jamesnimmo on

    I agree that GLBT orientation should have nothing to do with our protection under the law and the receipt of the benefits for which we’re paying but getting only discrimination in return. America is about being adversarial and that’s they way it’s going to be. The GLBT’s need to continue with the resistance that sprouted during June, ’09 when the Obama Dept. of Justice defended DOMA in California. I think this is what lead to the naming of Milk as a Freedom Medal winner. We must go beyond window dressing and fight for real coverage under the law for everyone, not just those who have become targets of homo-haters.

  2. posted by CuriousSergey on

    Hey everyone!

    I recently moved from Russia to the States (New York City). I just was curious what American Gay Agenda is. I went to the gayest neighborhood of New York City ? Chelsea – to ask gay guys what does the ?gay agenda? mean. I typed everything on a camera.

    It was weird to ask random people on the streets the question: ?Are you gay??. You should see how they react on the video!

    You can watch the video from my channel on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/CuriousSergey

    Please, let me know now what do you think, and what Gay Agenda means to you!

  3. posted by Mark on

    Just want everyone to know I have started a new site that is Gay/Lesbian/Bi/Transgender friendly, why don’t you all come check it out, it’s new, so I want to get people involved in getting it big. Think of it as Myspace meets Craigslist. http://www.getyourjollys.com

  4. posted by richard cadena on

    so well stated. its like something that should of happened way back in the 80’s. its not anyways close to groundbreaking action. i am a vietnam era vet circa early 70’s and to think that almost 40 years later- we are still no closer to achieving equality in our service to our country or in the ability to marry the one we love. i have always looked up to Ms. King and am happy for her–but at the same time, our brothers and sisters in the armed forces are still being booted out at a time when they are needed.

Comments are closed.