There’s a thinly-veiled, insidious meme that I’ve noticed keeps cropping up both here at DailyKos and at number of other progressive websites: Gays versus the Poor. I think it’s crucial to remember that “the poor” are not some monolithic entity. For instance, did you know that there are gay people who are poor?
I know. Mind: blown.
This diary was inspired by a recent exchange between two fellow Kossacks regarding the announcement that Pope Francis will address a joint meeting of Congress this autumn.
Let’s put aside discussion as to whether or not this event is even appropriate. That’s a separate (not to mention excruciatingly thorny) debate. Instead, I’d like to focus on one aspect of the conversation that I find rather disturbing.
Just to provide some context, here’s a simplified version of how the exchange went:
Kossack 1: “The Pope addressing Congress? Not cool. Among other things, I don’t like the homophobic policies of the Catholic Church.”
Kossack 2: “So what? Pope Francis has been speaking out for the poor, and could so a lot of good.”
And that's why I wanted to write this diary. Gay people are scattered all over the monetarism. Yes, some live like Elton John with multiple heated pools on every continent and a daily supply of fresh-cut flowers. In reality, though, most gay people are just regular folks. They work long hours for lousy wages and struggle to pay for a myriad of real needs: rent, gas, student loans, food. If you don’t believe me you can use der Google to investigate further. There’s even evidence to suggest that gay and lesbian couples are actually poorer than heterosexual couples. Turns out, not all gay couples are Cam and Mitch on Modern Family, not that I wouldn’t mind having brunch with them occasionally.
So what does this have to do with the Pope and his address?
I’m sure we can all agree that, in order to actually solve problems, as opposed to just feeling self-congratulatory guilt about them, there is always a need to get specific. What is the nature of the problem? The cause? Causes? Are you contributing? Am I? What can we do, together, to change things for everyone’s benefit?
Let’s look at the issue of marriage equality for a moment.
In between the cake and cummerbunds, it’s easy to forget that marriage is a hell of a lot more than just a ceremony. Most importantly, marriage is a bundle of rights and responsibilities that make for a big difference in quality of life for people. It’s not just some big vanity trip. Taxes, healthcare, inheritance… these are all areas where marriage means you can both save and keep more of your money, so there’s no question that marriage is a big issue in relation to poverty.
And, yet, in January the Pope stated during a Mass in Manila that same-sex marriage is a threat to the family. You can look it up if you don’t believe me.
So… what are we to make of this? Does the Pope feel that the financial advantages of marriage are only for heterosexuals? How, exactly, does that square with speaking out for the poor and disenfranchised? Are the two gay cashiers in Arkansas who want and need to get hitched not worthy of the real advantage an actual marriage would provide? When the Pope speaks for the poor is it all poor people, or just the “right” ones?
Let’s go a step further.
Growing up gay can be tough. I often wonder though, if heterosexuals appreciate just how tough. The moment you realize that you’re different—specifically different—you’re faced with a number of hard choices that no one should have to make at what is, typically, an early and horribly vulnerable age.
Do you tell your parents? Your friends? Anyone? Who can you really trust? What would happen if the secret got out?
Can you “pass?” What would it take to do so? Is that even moral?
What happens if the people you need the most betray you? Can you support yourself?
What skills do you actually have? Any? What do you do if you can’t find a job?
In short, once a child fully realizes that they are GLBT, every decision they make afterwards becomes a gamble. For too many, coming out will lead to being completely disowned, thrown out of their homes, left to fend for themselves on the streets. Some will resort to selling their own bodies just to survive. So-called “family values” evaporate for some the moment they choose to be honest about who they are with their families.
Now, mind you, I’m not saying that every homeless GLBT kid was disowned because of religion. But I certainly think these connections are worth exploring. People who insist that there’s no direct connection between religion and homophobia sound uncannily like tobacco companies discussing lung cancer.
If, upon learning their child is gay, a parent decides to throw the kid out of the house because they would rather not take responsibility for progeny that is “intrinsically disordered,” is that not an issue the Pope might want to address? I mean, a homeless gay kid is unquestionably poor, so… aren’t they worthy of some representation, too? Isn’t it worth exploring precisely why the child became homeless? When speaking in relation to Charlie Hebdo, the Pope seemed to be saying that the things people say have an effect in the real world. Fair enough. Does that somehow not apply to him? To the Catholic Church?
Now, you could, conceivably, assert that whatever the Pope might say about poverty it’s at least something… and, in a trickle-down economics kind of way, it will likely benefit the gay poor as well, at least theoretically… maybe. Possibly. Is that honestly the best he can do, though? If the answer is yes, then you have to pause to consider the possibility that the Pope is more of a figurehead than a leader, and consequently doesn’t deserve nearly as much attention as he receives.
The thing is, there’s a massive difference between making a vague, Princess Di-style statement that people can generally agree with (“Land mines are baaaaad!”) and pushing further, taking the necessary steps to analyze and solve a difficult problem. One path is easy and leaves everyone feeling warm and fuzzy, but the status quo remains. The other is hard and messy, but actually does produce change, however traumatic.
This may be a key difference between Pope Francis’ supporters and detractors. I get the sense that his fans are perfectly happy with distractions, generalities. They’d prefer to see the best in an ambiguous statement, (“Who am I to judge?”) rather than look beneath the surface (reality check - he was talking about celibate gay priests.) I’ve seen some comments where people hint that conservatives—Catholic or otherwise—are having conniptions about his supposedly liberal tendencies. Seriously? Do you people actually know any conservatives?
Basically, the doubters here want details, specifics, a plan. Unlike theology, in the real world it isn’t good enough for something to be open to interpretation.
I know what some of you are thinking. Baby steps. The long game. You’re being too cynical.
When we talk about the Catholic Church, though, we’re talking about an institution that, to put it mildly, hasn’t always done well by the gay community, so you’ll have to forgive me if I’m a bit wary. The Pope says he cares about poverty. Great. I do, too, for the reasons I’ve outlined here. Are we going to talk about how poverty affects my family and friends and the reasons why they’re poor, or are they meant to be airbrushed for the sake of convenience?
Ostensibly, Pope Francis is about rocking the boat, “creating a mess.” If he doesn’t get specific on these issues, though, and really challenge the circumstances that lead people into poverty, then we have to conclude that at least one barely visible segment of the poor he claims to speak for are merely props.