I learned a long time ago that comparing the situation with the gay community of Palm Springs, California with the black communities of the United States is a mistake. Certainly both sides have their issues and BOTH deserve to be able to demonstrate their dissatisfaction with the way that law enforcement has handled situations that come up. I don't see the two as mutually exclusive, but I do see them as different, both with tremendous merit.
Before I make Rev. Sharpton or Rev. Jackson mad, I want them both to understand that I have admired your courage my entire life. Let us all remember that the Rev. Jesse Jackson was instrumental in the Iran hostages situation negotiating the release of AMERICANS of all color. The man has his priorities correct. Without advocates in the communities that they come from doing the work that you do, nothing gets changed or even close to the attention that you've brought. That admiration is the challenge I face with my friends as we close in on the problem here. One thing that I admire is that the black community has people that speak out when these issues come up. Whom does the gay community turn to outside of the entertainment field? There aren't nearly enough leaders.
The gay community has had our leaders shot and killed too. Harvey Milk in California was a leader in the rights of the LGBT community only to fall before his time.
I think that the answer lies in the picture above. Don't you? Somehow this picture has the answer in it doesn't. I don't think that any leader in any community dealing with the unjust treatment of their citizens is going to say that a coming together of both communities is the best answer. I'd love to know what Revs. Sharpton and Jackson would say about it. I'll bet that they'd see what I see...somewhere in this picture is the answer. We just have to find it!!!
So while the LGBT community seeks out our advocates that can responsibly take on the topics that will inevitably come up, I would like to volunteer to be one of those. I know that I have good judgment...and I know what it's like to be treated differently. I have a lot of experience and the compassion to talk to all these people. We need more. We need a lot more. People to show up when things like this happen to ask the questions and comfort the families of hate crimes....we have to follow the lead and example of the black community and use our best judgment to keep ourselves from suffering from some of the pitfalls that come with it. People have the right to be angry, to want justice and change...how we get that has to be the most important decision facing this situation in Palm Springs.
One thing that I think that Rev. Jackson and Sharpton will agree upon is this...our problems in the black community and in the LGBT community criss cross. I have the challenge of representing black gays and they are charged with the advocacy for gay blacks....we need each other. I am more than willing to say that equal rights are equal rights no matter the color of your skin or sexual preference. Advocacy work for civil rights falls into overlapping categories. We, in the gay community need to have someone that shows up like Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson that shows, when we are here, it is important!!! We need that person...until then, we have to rely on what we can prove on our own. That's really hard.
So while the LGBT community seeks out our advocates that can responsibly take on the topics that will inevitably come up, I would like to volunteer to be one of those. I know that I have good judgment...and I know what it's like to be treated differently. I have a lot of experience and the compassion to talk to all these people. We need more. We need a lot more. People to show up when things like this happen to ask the questions and comfort the families of hate crimes....we have to follow the lead and example of the black community and use our best judgment to keep ourselves from suffering from some of the pitfalls that come with it. People have the right to be angry, to want justice and change...how we get that has to be the most important decision facing this situation in Palm Springs.
One thing that I think that Rev. Jackson and Sharpton will agree upon is this...our problems in the black community and in the LGBT community criss cross. I have the challenge of representing black gays and they are charged with the advocacy for gay blacks....we need each other. I am more than willing to say that equal rights are equal rights no matter the color of your skin or sexual preference. Advocacy work for civil rights falls into overlapping categories. We, in the gay community need to have someone that shows up like Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson that shows, when we are here, it is important!!! We need that person...until then, we have to rely on what we can prove on our own. That's really hard.
