How Can We Protect Our Children in the New Political Environment?
Answered by Candace J. Gingrich, National Coming Out Project manager for the Human Rights Campaign. Jan. 10, 2001
Q: So now we know our next president will be George W. Bush; we also know there is a Republican majority in every major branch of our federal government. What can we as gay- and lesbian-headed families do to protect the rights we have labored so hard to acquire from eroding away during the next four years, knowing full well that the majority of people in our country's primary lawmaking and governing bodies are at the best of times disdainfully tolerant of us, and at the worst of times morally affronted by our very existence? How do we keep our children safe? Keep them and ourselves from being harassed or abused? Maintain our slow but real forward momentum in the struggle for equal rights? Keep from becoming discouraged or complacent?
Sincerely,
Holly
A: Dear Holly,
While the national political landscape may appear bleak at the moment, the grassroots arena is ripe for continuing the education process. We know that people who know someone who is gay, lesbian or bisexual are more likely to understand our lives and support us in the fight for equal rights. If we don't live our lives openly and honestly, it allows the stereotypes and misinformation to perpetuate.
The Human Rights Campaign sponsored a poll in 1997 to determine what America thinks about gay families, and one of the things we learned was that gay and lesbian families need to come out as well. Some people polled said they couldn't even conceive of a gay family because they didn't know of any. But gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people who are out and open in their own communities are changing the hearts and minds of their neighbors, coworkers and friends. The more visible we are, the sooner we will be viewed not as "alternative families" but rather as just families.
Being out as a family is a powerful way to educate others about the protections and opportunities that we lack by not being recognized legally as families. Running for the local school board also can be a powerful way to make sure that the needs of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students are not ignored in your area.
In your state, the Empire State Pride Agenda is working to pass the Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act, which would add sexual orientation to the New York State Human Rights Law. If passed, this would make it illegal to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation in employment, housing, public accommodations, education and credit. To find out how you can help, visit the Pride Agenda's web site.
As futile as it may seem, you also might want to write a letter to Vice President-elect Richard Cheney. As the father of a lesbian, he comes from a different place on these issues and said some encouraging things about tolerating all kinds of relationships during his vice presidential debate last year with Sen. Joseph Lieberman.
Finally, consider getting involved in the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest lesbian and gay political organization. With a new administration in Washington, D.C., we need members like you now more than ever to demonstrate the political strength of our community to all our elected officials. We also can help provide you with many ways to get involved in the political process, from the local to the national level, through our Action Center.
Sincerely,
Candace J. Gingrich
Gingrich is the National Coming Out Project manager for the Human Rights Campaign
Jan. 10, 2001