Queer Gnosis

by Troy Williams

It was no surprise that the California Supreme Court upheld Prop 8.  And what better excuse to hold a rally at the Capital and a march to the Temple?  I was invited by Michael Mueller from Utahans for Marriage Equality to speak at the end of the rally.  I don’t really remember what I said — but mostly I just wanted to convey the sentiment that queers are not victims — Prop 8 is not a defeat — and that we should no longer allow right wing organizations like the LDS Church to intimidate us.  I also wanted to remind folks that our world is in crisis — climate change threatens all life on earth — our economic crisis is leaving many Americans in poverty — and our health-care crisis is allowing Americans to die because they are denied treatment by corrupt for-profit insurance companies.

These are serious challenges facing our world — none of which will be resolved if gay marriage is made legal.  So we’ve got to get out and make positive change happen in the world.  I believe LGBT equality is a major component of the social shift that is needed in our society — but gay  marriage is only one component of a larger social justice struggle.  Keeping that in proper context is essential as we  move forward.

Richard Kim of The Nation wrote an excellent overview of the Prop 8 decision — and wisely suggests that we give pause before dumping millions of more dollars into a campaign to repeal the amendment.  “Not one of those 18,000 married couples got any new rights or benefits
that California’s DP did not already provide; they only acquired the
term marriage itself. Of course, as a state, California cannot grant
any of the federally provided rights and benefits of marriage, but as a
matter of state law, the two categories are substantively equal.” That said, I believe we queers have got to keep pushing, keep shouting and keep our dissent at the heart of public debate.  We can nolonger allow right wing bullies to dicate out lives. We need to stand up and be bolder than ever. And yes, LGBT Americans should enjoy EVERY freedom provided to other citizens of this country.  We should settle for nothing less.

So the invitation to every person who reads this blog — when you wake up in the morning, please ask yourself, “what can I do today to make the world a more just, more peaceful and more sustainable place to live?”  Then get dressed, get out the door and make an impact!

I’ll see you in the streets.

(all photos by David Newkirk)