I wrote an earlier diary on the failure of the California Democrats to pass civil marriage rights for gays and lesbians. In the diary I said that I am pissed off at those Democrats (and Republicans) who voted no for marriage rights. And I said that the Democratic establishment has failed gay and lesbian Americans by not shunning those who claim to be Democrats but who do not take principled stands on the issues.
I have noticed that there are a lot of rank and file Democrats - both gay and straight - who don't think it's a big deal when the Democratic Party fails to advance civil marriage rights. I have noticed two general patterns: (1) Hey, there are other (more important) issues, don't say you're pissed about this one - unless you want things to be 99% Republican in the future; (2) Hey, look at what they did give to the gays? Stop expecting so much.
I generally don't like comparisons to gay civil rights and the rights of African Americans and other Americans of color. That's because the issues and the histories of the two kinds of oppression are so different. I don't think that gay marriage is the same as African Americans being denied the right to vote, or being held back economically through systems of Jim Crow and other post-slavery institutions.
But when the conditions and the levels of oppression don't make for exact parallels, the ways in which people either do or don't support the movement for change do.
If you don't express outrage over the failure of Democratic governors and legislators to pass laws that extend marriage rights to gays and lesbians, then I don't think you value those rights. Your failure to expect more is an indication that you don't really give a shit. And the same was true for white Americans who were shocked and outraged by radical demands for civil rights of Americans of Color, but not so much outraged over the denial of those rights in the first place.
I agree with George Bush on this: You are either for some things, or against them. You are either for gay and lesbian legal equality - or you are against it. Sure, there are incremental steps in any struggle - I am not pissed at the California legislators who voted for Civil Unions (which now exist in California, and soon will include almost all the rights of marriage). But I am pissed at everyone who made it so that is all that is possible at this time.
I think of this as a "truth in advertising" issue. The Democrats have been using gay and lesbian voters, but not delivering on the goods. If nothing else, the Democrats should take a moral stance on these sorts of issues - should be telling Americans about the vision and value of a tolerant and inclusive society. Voting down laws for civil marriage is not the way to do this.
I am disappointed in the California Assembly. But I am more disappointed by all of the people who just don't seem to give a damn. The people who tell gays and lesbians to expect less than full equality under the law. I am sick of Democrats who consider it "selfish" for Americans to be demanding civil marriage rights for all citizens. I am sick of the response and backlash from many "liberals" who blamed gays and lesbians for the Kerry loss. I am sick, ashamed, and pissed off.
My blog: PoliticalSmartAss.com