Subscribe to Breaking NewsBesen: Drop the Washington Crack Pipe
I understand the magnetic allure of Washington, DC. I worked there for several years and it could, at times, be mesmerizing. I’ve attended press conferences on the steps of Capitol Hill with Ted Kennedy and marveled that I was standing next to the real icon, not a replica from Madame Tussauds wax museum. I have stood only a stone’s throw from President Clinton, as he greeted foreign dignitaries on the White House lawn. (I might have actually thrown the stones at Bush)
It makes one feel, well, important.
From a media perspective, there is also nothing like being swept into the tidal wave of presidential politics. Last year, I made national news by slamming candidate Barack Obama for sponsoring a South Carolina gospel tour featuring “ex-gay” singer Donnie McClurkin. My second foray into the spotlight involved Sarah Palin’s church promotion of an “ex-gay” conference in Anchorage.
Getting thrust into the national storyline means hundreds of news stories that feature your name and the bright lights of television. Of course, such massive media hits are important and serve a larger purpose. But, the downside is our movement can become intoxicated with Washington at the expense of broader issues.
Let me be clear, it is crucial that the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender movement have a strong voice in Washington. It is vital that we support our national lobby groups. Solutions at the federal level are often preferable because they apply to conservative states where it may take decades to achieve equality.
Still, this past week underscored how the gay movement’s engagement with Washington has become an unhealthy obsession. I have seen hundreds of articles and e-mails with people opining on Obama, the Democrats and the gay movement. (I’m as guilty as anyone else. Indeed, my column last week was about the administration’s timidity on gay issues)
It seems every person wants to be the star of Meet the Press, every activist is now Chris Matthews and we are all experts at political chess, prattling endlessly in the cyber salon about the machinations of the administration. Everyone with a computer is now a master strategist and can regurgitate the records of previously obscure members of Congress.
Political discourse has become an aphrodisiac that has seduced our community away from equally important issues. Perhaps it is time we go into rehab and free ourselves from the Washington crack pipe. It is a cheap high that rarely lasts and often leaves us broke and unsatisfied.
We all wanted King Obama to sweep into office, wave his magic wand and make discrimination disappear. I really wish he would, but it is clear that he won’t – or at least not as quick as we desire. So, why don’t we pry ourselves away from DC for a moment and try using our resources in alternative ways?
Anyone remember AIDS?
Ever hear of the multi-million dollar ex-gay industry that pumps out reams of propaganda to portray gay people as sick and “sexually broken?” Few people seem to notice, even though these groups spread harmful myths and poisonous stereotypes that impact our daily lives.
What about increasing funds to help GLBT youths who are thrown out of their homes? Or, scholarships, so these teens can succeed in life and maybe one day run for Congress?
How about focusing on the abuses against GLBT people overseas?
The aforementioned issues will not get you on a Congressman’s speed dial. It is unlikely that you will win a sparkling trophy or have a marble bust made of your head. The cable shows may not be dialing you at a frenzied pace. But, you might have a disproportionately positive impact and even save a few lives.
The other problem with our political addiction is that it breeds bad messaging. We are coming across as a powerful lobby that is demanding action as payback for money and votes. While there is a place for such muscle flexing, it masks our true agenda.
The immediacy of our cause has to do with the trauma we all faced as children. Now that we are strong, we don’t want one more GLBT teen to commit suicide while Congress dithers. It is unconscionable for another youth who dreams of serving his or her country to be turned away while Obama plots his reelection. It is an insult – right down to the core of our soul – when our government tells us that we can’t marry the person we love.
Our movement is not about Obama’s career, nor the happenings in Congress. What we seek is to reclaim our basic dignity and end needless suffering – both goals that one is unlikely to achieve solely in the glamorous quicksand of Washington.
While our fate in DC hangs in the balance, how about returning some balance to the GLBT movement by ending our fatalistic fixation on all-things political?
I find it sad that our first Black president is so willing to accept a back of the bus seat for Gay Americans. Abraham Lincoln indeed! Gay Americans have stayed in the closet and acted like good little oddities for too long. If we stay quiet any longer then we are what haters say we are: “wimps”. While most of us work on humanitarian causes on the local and state level already, we have been remiss on the national level. Obama and the Dems in congress have been elected in a large way by seeking our money, votes and grass roots efforts. We now want what been promised us. The EXACT same civil rights these elected officials enjoy. Not separate and equal. The time is now.
Sam M, you wrote: “He is first going to make sure to have EVERYONE is going to be with us. ”
Really? I’m 62 years old and there’s no way in hell I’m going to live long enough for that, or even your children or your children’s children.
Imagine if Martin Luther King said that – we’d still be waiting for the 1964 Equal Rights Act.
They will NEVER all be with us. That’s what leadership means, getting out in front of the pack, not behind it.
And Obama is supposed to be a leader, not a consensus follower.
Terry Gronda wrote: “He is our champion and we need to make hime know that. Join me in being a proud Gay man who will support our great President as he has done more for us than any other politcal figure. All of which demonstrates that he is the represenative of change in our great country.”
With all due respect, Terry, I cannot accept or believe a single thing your wrote.
“He has done more for us than any political figure”????? What has he done, except make speeches?
In fact, he recently argued in court that we should be denied our Constitutional rights because we are similar to pedophiles and incestuous couples and because we’d cost the government money.
This is doing something for us?
Klebecher and Daniel Choi have both just had their asses booted out of the Armed forces and will be denied their pensions because Obama won’t lift a finger until he’s good and ready, if then. Them and 270+ other soldiers out on their butts.
This is doing something for us?
Tell me what he has done – what executive order, what bill he has proposed – anything he has done for us other than insulting us and co-opting us?
I campaigned for him, donated to him, voted for him, believed his promises. Well, big surprise, this is not the “change I can believe in”.
He has done nothing, and other politicians have really gone out on a limb. Gavin Newsome, Howard Dean, The Mayor of New Paltz, NY, Governor Patterson, who is waiting to sign a marriage-equality bill as soon as it hits his desk.
Please don’t insult those public servants of honor and courage who have backed us with deeds as well as words by claiming that Obama is the politician who has done the most for us.
He’s done nothing. And I, for one, am pissed.
To Nick:
You wrote “I have to agree with Besen. The vitriol that’s spewed on this website and others from the LGBT community just shows we need a break from the horrible negativity surrounding the political sphere right now. It’s making everyone desperate and vicious. Maybe if we stop focusing so narrowly on what Obama and Congress are doing (or not doing), and instead discuss and take action on issues we can directly affect, we’ll be a little happier as people.”
That baffles me. I read that as “let’s just go back and sit quietly at the back of the bus and do what we’re told”.
No group has -ever- gotten their rights by being passive or accepting or “happy”. They got them by putting their lives, their careers, their families and fortunes on the line.
Where is Act-Up when we need them?
To Michael W:
Wonderful post. I agree absolutely.
all I can say is we seem to be going backwards…
my partner a I (for 26 years) aren’t ready to throw in the towel yet, why are so many just willing to throw hope out the window???
I’m really confused by this article. Are you trying to remind us that we still have work to do within our communities?
Thing is, these issues are being tackled in the political arena. Anti-bullying bills? AIDs research and education? Hate crimes legislation? Gay adoption legislation?
Our opponents seek to use the government in their agenda. There is government-sanctioned discrimination in place in much of our country. We have six states that have marriage equality. Our momentum is strong.
Are you talking about social issues that aren’t political, like LGBT teen suicides and such? I understand that. I remember reading about the three (reported) gay/perceived gay suicides in April. It was a wake up call that made me challenge myself to research my options as someone who will begin a teaching career in a year. But that also goes back to ENDA.
Political and social issues are intertwined here. I need to stand up for values at home, but I also need my basic needs to be protected by the government.
I don’t think I’m really getting it. I thought in order to be a political activist, you had to be fixated on all things political. Now, that’s different than being a media whore. Which, it seems that the so called “leaders” in our movement are more interested in being. A star. help.
Wayne I couldnt disagree with you more.
While I agree that there is too much focus on Preisdent Obama, the pressure on the President from gay Americans is paying off. President Obama is the first President to continue to promise changesin law at the federal level.
But much more important than President Obama, is the need for every gay American to get involved with emailing & communicating our expectations to the US Congress, especially since the Democrats have the majority in both Houses.
We must have federal civil rights protection for Gay Americans in the form of
1) repeal of DADT
2) repeal of DOMA
30 full access to all federal benefust for all legally civil-married civil union couples.
We are at a critical juncture wit the growing public acceptance that Gay Americans deserve equality under the law.
We also have a unique scenario where we have a sympathetic President and the Democrat majority control of Congress.
House Speaker nancy pelosi and Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid must know we mean business and we have expectations. They listen to our money (or better said, absence of our donations to the Democratic Party) and our collective vote. Gay americans respresent a minimum of 5% of the electorate, probaly closer to 8-10% (remember we have voting families and friends too) and if the Democrats dont get our money or our votes, they cannot win elections. Democrats rarely win by more than 5% of the vote
I agree with you that we must not lose sight of other important issues such as the plight of gay youth or Aids but we must do both, stay very involvd with the political process for long term, widespread change and help our own community.
My husband and I give regularly to LAMBDA Legal which does an excellent job of protecting the rights of Gay youth and HIV infected individuals. LAMBDA goes to bat on a daily basis protecting Gay couples, Gay individuals from discrimination and LAMBDA is the reason there is same-sex marriage in Iowa today.
I guess I am really saying that every gay American has a unique responsibility these days to be involved and fight the fight both politically at the National and local level but also with Gay support groups such as LAMBDA Legal and HRC to name just two organizations.
Please, keep the pressure on Washington, we will be successful and within a shorter period of time than most think. DO NOT become disengaged, this is the worst time for Gay Americans to take the pressure off of Washington.
Derek I know exactly how you feel except when my fiance returns we no longer care if either of us goes to jail for staying with each other. I have given up on this country, and if they wish to deport Ruben, or throw me in jail for not adhering to DOMA let them. Let us be another example of how intolerant and bigoted this country really is. If the UAFA doesn’t pass before I finish my degree in mortuary science and psychology then that’s too bad. It looks like this country will have another illegal alien who pays taxes, is married to his husband, oh and… contributes to the whole and good of society. That must be so horrible for this country to have a bisexual immigrant actually want to live here with the person he loves and “god for bid” might finally receive the same rights and the white christian heterosexuals.
We all wanted Obama to be swept into office??? No Wayne Besen, my candidate was Dennis Kucinich. The only candidate along with Gravel to back marriage equality. Not the media golden boy Barack. Kucinich lost the primaries. Thus, I was stuck with 2nd choice Obama. Even though I am grateful that McCain who backed the various marriage bans for CA, AZ and likely FL did not get in the White House, I am still waiting for a more equality-minded pres than Barack.
Easy for you to say, you’re not in a Bi-National same-sex relationship with a time clock ticking on your partner’s Visa.
Petition, petition, petition. Sometimes I feel like as a community (including myself) we have a bad tendency to sit back and think that our “man in Washington” will bail us out. Those of you who have suggested that we organize marches, sit-ins, strikes, and other forms of non-violent, civil disobediance. I came to the realization today that Obama has not screwed us over in waiting to make important decisions in our favor. Make no mistake: Obama IS on our side. However he is not willing to make brash decisions instantly. He is first going to make sure to have EVERYONE is going to be with us. He may be pragmatic and it may not be good for us initially, but it is definitely better then having Mccain in office. Obama is not going to sign a repeal of DADT until he is sure that it won’t harm his career in the long run. If we want to sway the undecided vote in our favor, we must fight for it.
On-Topic: After that rant i feel like being a bit more positive in a negative way. Besen is dead on in his points: We still need to worry about the other issues that affect our lives: Be they AIDS/HIV, LGBT Youth being affected by Anti-gay/Bigoted bullying, The atrocious Ex-Gay movement which has been omitted from all forms of Newcasting. These are major issues on the same level as DADT, DOMA, passing ENDA and The Matthew Shepard Act.
I take a holistic approach to life, love, society & politics. I don’t see anything abnormal about focusing on DADT & DOMA at the federal level, working to overturn Prop 8 on the state level, and trying to convince my town that it really is part of California & subject to its laws.
Yes, it’s a bit complicated: things get easier & quieter when we’re dead. Mr. Besen makes some valid points about not fixating just on same-sex marriage equality, as important as that is. I agree: it bothers me that so many LGBT kids are having a rough time in school, and it is something most of us have experienced.
So Michael W, lighten up a bit; nobody (not Mr. Besen) is suggesting that your situation does not matter — that’s not the message at all. The real message is that there’s lots to be done, including changing the “hearts and minds” of many who barely have a mind & perhaps half a heart. I don’t advocate patience, but persistence. The power of nag nag nag is not to be underestimated.
Well my faith has been renewed in the Gay community by this article. As a man of senior years I have watched many things happen. I was married for nearly 20 years and have two beautiful children, Now I have been in a committed relationship for 26 years and our total of 6 kids love and respect us. I have never been so refreshed to have a President who speaks openly and with positive support about the good of our community. We are so fortunate to have elected Prsident Obama. Maybe because he has moved mountains we thought of him as having magic powers, well our elected “King” is subject to the limits of our politcal process. Praise be to the God of Our Country for the leadership of President Obama and the simple fact that we don’t have to into secret meeing places to be what we are. We need to continue to support the only President who ever openly supported our issues. We need to work with him to accomplish our mutual goals We must always remember that he alone can’t change all of congress we need to help him. He is our champion and we need to make hime know that. Join me in being a proud Gay man who will support our great President as he has done more for us than any other politcal figure. All of which demonstrates that he is the represenative of change in our great country.