December 20, 2007.
I realize most of you have not lived as long as I have, and been around to see politicians from Roosevelt on.
I can remember when it was the (Southern) Democrats who were racists and stopped any civil rights legislation, etc., so it is shortsighted to blame Democrats for our present reality.
As I say in my year-end email, my cause has made progress under every politician and “government” since the movement started in 1950, so it may be something to try to understand why — and I think this is also true of the women’s and black’s civil rights movements as well.
But I, and those I have worked with, would still feel the same way even if we had not made progress yet. It can be done, under our system. The question is, how will the 10% of the population that is homosexual, plus our allies, friends, and families, vote in the coming elections?
We have as much voting power — assuming the voting machines are honest/accurate — as the “evangelicals.” We have not made the progress we could have because rich queers have not supported our efforts all these years. They of course think their money makes them safe and hidden — as if they are not called queer behind their backs, as are blacks, etc.
It is one thing to have been in the closet in the ’50s and ’60s, but money can be given to a cause anonymously, and the voting booth is secret. It is unforgivable for so many “gays” to keep waiting for a few cute celebrities to make “safe” for them to be open — they benefit already for the sacrifices others have made since 1950.
Our enemies support their cause; too many of us do not support ours. That is what makes the difference, and politicians have to be realistic. It is the obviousness that we are making progress, and that our numbers are growing, that has made the politicians work for us now, as much as they are. If they are to lose the religious bigots’ votes, they might have to be able to replace them with gay votes.
