This, you must read. From GayWired.com.

Where’s The Gay Mafia When You Need It?
Cam Has Had Enough And Speaks His Mind
05.16.03

By Cam Lindquist

There comes a time in a queen’s life where enough is enough. Now, I personally feel that I have a very high tolerance for bad news, even when it comes to our community. Most of the time I write my column about trivial, humorous things to briefly give my readers a reprieve from the headlines blaring by with messages of doom and gloom.

One would think with all the unrest around the world that people in high profile places would have better things to direct their attention toward. But no, some still find the time to make unsavory comments against the rainbow community. Ludicrous analogies still fly, comparing homosexuals to bigamists and those who partake in bestiality. Any educated person reads it and laughs at the ridiculousness; it is like comparing apples and oranges.

Except I am not laughing, and I don’t know anyone who is laughing. For some time now, we, the falsely accused, have patiently waited for others among the right wing to, at the very least, call for a retraction and apology. And to those who normally do not take even a whimsical interest in the fight for equality and yet are among all members of this great nation who have called for this apology, I would like to extend a thank you.

But there are some, no-no, many, in very high profile positions, who have chosen to make non-committal, semi-endorsing public statements. I would like these people to know we are not ignorant, we know you have effectively sacrificed our dignity and our pride by giving place to such monstrous comments.

Let us set aside the fact that we are already second class citizens in a country where we cannot marry, cannot build families with the legal endorsement of the court, and cannot trust our leaders to protect what few basic rights we have. We will ignore the fact that we live in a nation, paying taxes and serving in a military where, for the most part, we can lose our job, our housing, and our children for being in love with “the wrong person.” We won’t address the fact that our basic civil liberties, the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness are impaired by the same government who promises to at least let us strive to achieve it.

While other nations look at our policies and shake their heads, wondering why any segment of the population would be deprived rights given to most, we still live and work and financially support the “American Dream” we are not allowed to have. But we go to work, we ignore this Confederate-like imbalance between the invisible class line because we believe in America. We are citizens of a country we love, despite flaws, and we work and hope for change.

But this issue, and those who are willing and passive participants know who they are, strikes deep to the heart of the real issue. The issue is not with the man, and I use that term very loosely, who made the comments. He is entitled to his opinion, he is entitled to exercise his first amendment rights we hold so dear. Even though I cringe at his words, I hold my head high as he bashes me and my family, comparing us to those who are gluttons in marital issues and those who abuse animals in perverse sexual ways. Why? Because as he can say what he thinks, so can I.

The issue here is not a change of policy or even a severe punishment such as stepping down from the higher ranks of his political loftiness, though these are probably warranted. The issue is that those he is accountable to are beating around the bush, calling him an educated man, and silently agreeing with him. How can this be?

I will tell you how. Let us address this in a self-serving manner from the point of view of those siding with these statements. How can those who make their living by public image, who regularly have to win a popularity contest to keep their job, not at minimum demand an apology and retraction? Because they believe what he says in theory. It has been said that the surprise isn’t that this person who made said comments feels this way, it is that he had the audacity to publically announce them. I agree.

But what I want everyone to consider is this. No matter who you are, no matter what town you live in, and no matter what circle you run in: you know someone who is either gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, or intersexed. You may not be aware that this person is of this orientation, or making this transition in their life.

A few years ago in Atlanta a transgendered woman passed away, she had lived on her block for 20 years in the suburbs. Her neighbors had no idea she used to be a man. Think you know everything about your close, personal friends? Think again!

I spend part of my week in an office building with about 50 people. I live in a very conservative, southern town. There is not one person in this office who doesn’t know someone, a friend or relative, that is openly gay, lesbian, or bisexual to them. And that is discounting myself and the three others that work here. Consider this: those are only the ones they know about.

As with any significant group of people, the world would stop, even if only for a short period of time, if all of the rainbow community boycotted the “American Dream” until this issue is resolved. This theory, that we are everywhere, silently in every building working next to you, is commonly joked about and called the “Gay Mafia.”

Obviously the fashion industry would come to a screeching halt. Hollywood would be unable to produce a 30 second commercial, let alone a sitcom, movie, or music video. The big box home improvement centers, which are “manned” by countless and tireless lesbians and butch bears, would have to close. Customer Service Centers and Call Centers around the nation would have an empty seats and abandoned calls.

Let me put this into layman, or non-gay terms for you, you won’t have new clothes, anything to watch on TV, you can’t repair your house, and you can’t get tech support on your laptop or cell phone. And these are just the stereotypical jobs held by the stereotypical queer people who only make up a small portion of the community.

The real impact of the “gay mafia” isn’t in those areas. The world would compensate eventually. But in time of high unemployment due to the mismanagement of an Elephant-like party stomping across it’s own people and blaming others, people would eventually fill those chairs, stock those shelves, and slap makeup on those actors. The skill lost would be obvious, but recovery would be inevitable.

Even the doctors, lawyers, teachers, judges, police offices, rescue persons, business people, retail store owners, chiefs, pilots, technicians, factory workers, and even, dare I say, ditch diggers and trash collectors would eventually be replaced if the “gay mafia” called for a cease in working.

A temporary bump in the road, sure. But my point is this. No one is asking for anything more than to be treated like human beings. For someone to stand up for us, as we stand up for you every day. For someone to say, “Let them marry who they want. Let them work where they are qualified to work. Let them live in the housing they can afford, let them raise children, all just like we do.”

And when someone comes along with some off the wall, 1865 attitude lessening us as humans as the African Americans were, all we want is someone to say, “That is my neighbor, cousin, friend, brother, or sister. You need to apologize, because that is simply ignorant.”

Is that so much to ask? I pay my taxes just like everyone else. I live, I work, and I breathe the same air under the same American Flag. This nation is great because of the vast diversity we have between the oceans. If you don’t believe that, well maybe you are the one that doesn’t belong here.

? Cam Lindquist, All Rights Reserved

  

Posted on May 22nd, 2003 by jl
Filed under: Interesting Reads