Hi, I'll be short once again.
More below the fold.
Lately, I have been writing action diaries for the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, and up until now I wasn't sure why I was so passionate about this issue. I have been searching my brain all day trying to figure out why this issue, this one military policy and law, gets under my skin so bad. I mean, you're probably thinking "well, thats fucking obvious, its a discriminatory law that is whole unfair and based in bigoted beliefs". Well, yeah. That is, indeed, the text book definition of the opposition of DADT. Its bigoted, unfair, and strips people of their job all because of an aspect of someone's personality.
But, for me, it goes deeper than that. It goes right to the core of who I am, personally, as a straight man. It cuts right through me, like a hot knife through butter, and I want to come clean. I want to explain why I am so passionate about this issue, this one issue, and why it matters so much to me. And why my support of the President, and the national democratic party, hinges on this one issue.
I grew up in the public education system. It was really hard for me, especially because I was a pudgy and confused little boy. My mom lovingly called me the "absent minded professor" because of my huge vocabulary and book knowledge, and because of my clumsy nature. I wasn't all that good at sports, I was socially awkward. I had a cherub face, with freckles all of it, messy brown hair and thick coke bottle glasses. I was the very definition of a target.
But I never knew what hell bullying and hate was until my mother came out of the closet. I had been made fun of before, but this was a special type of torture. One that hits you to your core. This type of bullying is one that is intended to slowly but surely break you down, kill your personality, humiliate you and your family in front of the maximum audience possible.
Some examples of this: finding my locker ransacked in tenth grade, with all of the items that were previously in it strewn about the hallway, and spray painted in big bold letters on the front of the locker is the word "FAGGOT". That same year I got my ass kicked 3 times by people who thought it would be funny to "smear the queer". I got told "shut your faggot face" more times than I can count. I found a dildo in my backpack, with a letter attached. The letter said "give this to your mom, I know she needs it". The locker room was pure hell as well. It was always "hey adam, does your mom scissor?", "hey are you gay too?", "I know I saw you looking at my dick" etc etc.
You might be wondering how all these people found out. Well, I had been going to school with these people since the 3rd grade, and when I was younger I did reports on my "mom and mommy", and stuff like that. Everyone knew, because everyone knew me for such a long time. And word got around.
So, school was hell for me. You may be wondering "well what the hell does this have to do with bigoted policies and such rexy?"
Well, good question, and I'll try to answer you.
To me, homophobia and homophobic policies and laws are inextricably linked. I am not saying that these policies and procedures are CREATING homophobia, far from it, I am saying that they are a part of the whole. My passion about repealing DADT comes out of my desire to make things fair, sure, but its deeper. Its about creating a social environment in public education, and hell, just in everyday life that accepts the GLBT community with open arms. My education, my entire life, has been affected by homophobia, and it is my belief that stuff like DADT and DOMA make it OKAY for homophobes to operate.
Its not that bigots will come right out and tell you "DADT is my justification for being homophobic". This is wholly an internal and unspoken justification. They look at the military, and say "Hey, they can kick people out for being gay, and thats the GOVERNMENT! I can be a bigot too!!" or that "gays can't get married so they are second class and should be made fun of!"
These policies don't just affect GLBT people, they affect everyone. A society that arbitrarily places restrictions on their populace based solely on an aspect of that individuals identity creates an atmosphere of hate and xenophobia, and emboldens the bigots to take their hate that one step farther. And they are using our GOVERNMENT to justify this hate. Its disgusting.
Anyway, this is why we must not give up on DADT repeal. Because maybe some of the bullying will stop. Maybe good kids like me can actually focus on their education instead of being afraid to go to school. I know that this is just a secondary reason to end the bigoted policies and laws against the GLBT community, but it is my reason.
Just thought I would let you guys know.
Regular action stuff:
Phone numbers and email addresses:
Senator John McCain, Republican-Arizona, Senate Armed Services Committee
Contact form here
Phone: (202) 224-2235
Senator Carl Levin, Democrat-Michigan, Senate Armed Services Committee
contact form here
Phone number: (202) 224-6221
a full list of Senators names and phone numbers can be found here
There are also numerous petitions that you can sign online to show solidarity with GLB servicemen and women
a couple from the Petition Site: here and here
Patrick Murphy's DADT Repeal Petition Page
Here is one from change.org
Sen. Gillibrand's Petition
Petition for Meghan McCain to talk to her father about DADT repeal here (h/t JesseCW)
Credo Action petition asking the President to end DADT using Executive order here
oh and here is a link to pico's awesome rec listed diary. Please, if you see this one, go to that one and give it a tip and rec as well.