Subscribe to Breaking NewsRuby-Sachs: LGBT Violence Rising With Political Gains
The two worst experiences with homophobia in my life have been in New York City. I have always lived in cities that are liberal, large and generally accepting. I assumed NYC was the same. But holding hands with my partner I have been both spit on (in Washington Square Park by a really old lady) and threatened and followed for three blocks (exiting the subway in Union Square). It’s not expected, especially in affluent and progressive pockets of an already diverse city, but perhaps this kind of backlash is inevitable.
The number of LGBT related violent incidents rose 26% between 2006 and 2007 and the increase is supposed to be even greater this year. It could be a sign of regression in the United States, but is more likely a byproduct of progress.
New York has recently changed birth certificates in the state to reflect same-sex families. Gay marriages are now recognized there and hopefully, in the near future, will be granted for New York residents. As a country, the U.S. has had a number of high profile court decisions granting gay rights in adoption and marriage. Proposition 8, alone, has done a great deal to raise the profile of LGBT issues.
So, should we be surprised that the number of individuals angry over homosexuality increased with visibility?
Probably not, but it does point to one part of the fight at which we are still failing.
The fight for acceptance and visibility is fought and won in the courts. And, to some extent, we can also rely on progressive legislators at the State and Federal level who will spearhead tolerant law. But, like many minority groups before us, work needs to be done on the ground to promote tolerance and integration.
It’s Christmas and this year, consider donating to a local community organization or youth group that works in the same neighborhoods, schools and workplaces that must implement the progressive legal gains of the LGBT community. In many ways, all the visibility and political gain is useless without this important, individual-oriented work.
As I have said many times in previous posts over many months – When they no longer can use the law as a tool for their violence and oppression, they will just return to conventional means and good, old-fashioned physical violence. Arm yourselves.
the conservatives and the religious are losing ground and bite back before their fall.
Let’s stop being polite about it.
The reich wing konstipated konservative kristianist kultist krazies (KKKKK) and the Rethugnantclone Party have blood on their hands.
OURS.
James “F**k YOU and YOUR Families” Dobson, “Quackers” Wild-man, Lou Sheldon, Maledict the XVI, the majority of the Anglican “primates” (what an apt name!), virtually ALL of the Eastern Orthodox hierarchy, the Orthodox Jews, and the majority of the Islamic WORLD will NEVER give up. They want us incarcerated, re-educated, or (preferably) DEAD.
THEIR religion is OUR problem.
They can’t PREACH hate and expect their followers (who are typically poor and ill-educated … a virtual requirement for any fanatical movement) not to ACT on it.
They’re already trumpeting that President-Elect Obama is the ANTICHRIST. AS A DIRECT RESULT, threats against his life are escalating at an alarming rate, before he even takes office.
Dobson and Co. just don’t GET it … the 2008 election was a MASSIVE repudiation of religious fascism, and every INTELLIGENT analysis of how the Republican Party MIGHT regain RESPECT (never mind POWER) states categorically that they HAVE to REPUDIATE Sarah Palin and the religious extremists who want her to run for President in 2012.
The latest steaming pile of intellectual equine excrement I read claimed that GLBT people were RESPONSIBLE for the Holocaust (NOT that we were VICTIMS of it!).
And, oh yeah, same-sex benefits are why the American auto industry is in such dire straits.
Cheers,
Bud Burgoon-Clark
San Diego CA USA
JQSR, Gangstsa rap, and all homophobia is caused, and based by extreme religions.
Do I detect a note, defending our religious detractors, the people who have spent millions of dollars to take away our rights.
Get real, it’s religion’s teachings that call us an abomination. When the church states were less human, sick, have to change, what we are to be equal, why do you think rappers make the music they do!
If the church, any church thinks we don’t deserve human rights, then violent hate crimes are accepted by all too many, including rappers.
Sam : Gangsta rap isn’t exactly from any religious source, and it promotes plenty of homophobia, both violent and otherwise. The atheist communist countries were always virulently homophobic, too. Religion can be a problem, yes, but not the sole problem.
Pati: you missed the point. What good are laws if the police officer or judge who is supposed to enforce them hates you? What good is legislation if those tasked with enforcing it would rather see you burn in Hell? This isn’t about switching from legislative battles to personal ones. It is about both.
The reason of increased violence toward gay people, is none other than religion.
The pope, just the other day, told the U.N that it’s position, for gay people to have basic human rights, was unacceptable.
The more ground we gain the more virulent their words of hatred are directed towards us.
Their words of intolerance against gay, triggers their violence upon us.
The pen they use causes the violence of the sword.
Know your enemy’s, and how you will defeat them.
It’s so simple to just give to the LGBT charity of one’s choice. That way one doesn’t get needlessly stressed out over giving to any organization one disagrees with.
In this socalled “great” country of ours (I can think of several others that are far greater than our own in terms of equality, among other things) why aren’t we supporting the UN resolution to decriminalize homosexuality? Every European Union country signed on as did countless others including Canada, New Zealand, Australia. Why do other countries with state religion surpass us on marriage equality? Why is it that every politician running for any office has to declare his or her religious beliefs to get elected, and why does every politician need to say “god bless America” at the end of every major speech? Seems that we only have separation of church and state when its convenient. I can’t imagine an atheist running for office let alone ever get elected. We’re a nation of hypocrisy and the doublestandard. It will take centuries before marriage equality is legal in all 50 states if at all. Personally, I don’t see it happening so fast in New York State for instance. We’ll end up with just three states with marriage equality on the books, the third probably being New Jersey. As a New Yorker, I’m not hopeful we’ll see it materialize for several more years if we’re lucky. With people like Ruben Diaz, Pedro Espada and Carl Kruger threatening to vote with republicans, Spitzer’s legislation is doomed without ever reaching the floor for a vote.
Acceptance may be won in the courts of the land but we still have to win acceptance and favor in the streets of the land. Be strong … but with compassion…Wolfsbane
It is impossible to teach violent people or those who would spit on us to be tolerant and accepting. This is why America was created as a secular form of government, with separation of church and state. Because religion teaches hatred and intolerance, and once it has done so to those poor children raised in its congregations, then they are almost hopelessly lost to tolerance and acceptance for their entire lives, unless they disavow their religious beliefs entirely. So we must have laws that protect citizens from religious persecution or any persecution and we must pursue the fair and universal application of those laws for all citizens, regards of sexual orientation, race, etc.
When people finally get the message that they will be punished for behaving like assholes and victimizing others, they may think twice about doing so. There is no other option. I’ve had plenty of conversations with religious bigots, and I can assure you they are not inclined to listen to reason, or give a damn about anyone they deem as unholy, or sinful, or contrary to the beliefs they hold. I don’t care if you’re a gay Mahatma Gandhi, they’re only going to see the bad things they imagine you do with your dick, not any of the love, or commitment, or hard work, or intellect.
Religiousness is on the decline, and we’re now seeing a great, last gasp of conservative christian cultists striving for ascendance through the Republican party, to try to hang on to their control of our civil society, which they have enjoyed for far too long, in spite of all the laws that demand they sit quietly in the back and keep their hands off our laws and constitutions. They resort to violence, because they don’t know what else to do. They keep losing in court because they have no legal legs to stand on. No logic, no common sense. They have relied on the majority opinion of vaguely homophobic Americans for so long, that they can’t believe it isn’t still guaranteed that everybody hates the homos.
The younger generation of Americans is overwhelmingly supportive of us and we might have to wait until they are old enough to be the majority of voters and legislators in order to reap the benefits, but that day will surely come. There is no turning back the tide, and the religionazis are frustrated and pissed off about that, and that’s where the violence is coming from.
Gee, lets see do you think this will have anything to do with it?
See articles on the new UN Resoluion to decriminalize homosexuality. Here is what Matt Barber of ONE NEWS NOW says: The decision (I think the article meant resolution) represents just one step in the overall plan of homosexual strategists, according to Matt Barber of Liberty Counsel. “It’s a brave new world out there, and homosexual activists have infiltrated the ranks of the United Nations. So I will not be surprised if this resolution does in fact pass,” he contends.
. . . If the resolution succeeds, Barber fully expects a push to begin for recognition of homosexual “marriage” that could become a party of international treaties, binding signatory nations to recognition.
Using the threat of gay marriage to oppose a pro-gay law, ordinance, or resolution is a tactic the religious right have undertaken since their success in the 2004 general election. It is said that Bush was elected on the backs of so-called values voters who came to the polls in huge numbers to oppose same sex marriage.
Since that time, the religious right have sometimes tried to beat back potentially pro-gay laws or ordinances (be it anti-discrimination laws or hate crimes legislation) by claiming that they would lead us down a slippery slope to gay marriage, polygamy, and out-and-out chaos.
It’s never amusing when they manipulate this fear, but on this occasion it’s downright ugly.
To hear Barber say it, the United Nations should not worry about advocating that lgbts not be persecuted by arrest or death. Gays getting torched out of their homes or publicly hanged doesn’t seem to be a big deal to him….so there you have it folks, along with the known support from prior Nazi brown shirt (e.g. NaziROTC memeber) Papa Ratzi..crimes against Homosexuals..must always be better than allowing them to MARRY.
Unfortunately, those who are so insecure with homosexuality that they feel the need to respond with violence will never be taught tolerance. Their lack of humanity is too great to do anything about.
But yes, we can teach tolerance to many others. It will just take time and patience.
One question. Why do we have to earn our civil rights at the ground level? Why do we have to earn them at all? Shouldn’t they be ours because our Constitution grants them to all citizens of this great country? We can’t wait for everyone to be “O.K.” with same sex marriage. This might never happen. We need to flood the courts with litigation. We need to ask for marriage licenses in every county and when we’re denied, we need to sue for the right to marry. I do believe in living out and proud. I do not believe in pandering to the biggoted masses to get anywhere in this fight for equality. It’s not gonna happen people!
As long as you don’t ask me to donate to the Salvation Army. I wouldn’t give a penny to those filthy christian douchebags.