Richard's Page

Queer folks need to ask of their "straight" homonormaitve lgbt sisters and brothers a few questions. We must place these ideas out on the table for all of us to explore. We can begin talking abut fundamental change not reformation of the state and to those who do not believe in this need we than must ask~ Do all people of this country have the following? Universal Health Care, Real Wages that people can live on, Unconditional and Affordable Housing, equal sharing at all tables of power, freedom in gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, right to full immigration across all borders, full equality under law, right to equitable and social distribution of taxes, freedom from all forms of religious and political persecution? If we can not answer yes to these very basic ideas than we have a lot of work to do.

Many of us are fully aware that the Queer, LGBT community does not live in isolation from other communities. We know that war, racism, sexism, poverty, health concerns, youth violence, environmental justice, religious intolerance, racial and ethnic profiling, tax cuts for the wealthy, the slashing of critical programs for the people, attacks on civil liberties, and immigrant rights are our issues. For indeed we are here, there and everywhere.

As the assimilationist, mainstream lgbt organizations continue to try to convince the straight majority that we're just like them, more and more people are left behind. We are not just like the straight majority and are proud of our unique and diverse ways of life. We are not all straight acting/looking, white picket fence, 2 kids in the yard, a cat and dog, SUV driving, Caucasian Lesbian and Gay people.

L & G mainstream organizations try to convince us all that the fight for marriage rights is the only real battle that are people are facing. Many of us look around and answer bull. Some amongst us with allies have formed a group called Beyond Marriage and can be found at www.beyondmarriage.com. They are far more in tune with the way the majority of people live. It is a good start but requires a working group to iron out many wrinkles. This I believe would have been a right road to take in order to build solidarity.

One should not need to get married in order to gain rights. When you fight in that battle as your only battle that is not really changing the system-you are just adapting yourself to the system. As Sue of Radical women says, "Let us work for the day when the access to the necessities of life does not depend on who we love or sleep with."

The thing we want to change is the system. It is in every one's power and our right to replace this profit-driven, war driven system. This is not a dream of some of us on the left but is a reality when one looks around at what is happening in this country. U.S. capitalism has failed to meet the basic needs of many people. There is a whole world out there struggling outside our windows and doors but many in the glbt movement are blinded to these struggles. We turn our backs on our own stories, on our own people of history past who lead the social movements seeking justice and freedom for all. We must return to the soul of our movement.

As lgbt people we are a very foolish to lot to think that we can stand alone with one issue. We must stand in solidarity with others as it is the right thing to do or we could possibly be "picked off" one by one. As Queers we remember and know full well what it is like to be the victims of witch-hunting and of stereotyping. We know what it is like to be attacked. All of us lgbt and queer alike must form a broad based coalition with others fighting oppression. We must seek liberation not assimilation.

The 40th anniversary of the Stonewall rebellion is coming up next year and it is never too early to reflect on where we as a people have been, where we are now, and where we are going. Do we wish to continue to follow the wrong road of one issue homonormative gay concerns and fill the street only when we don't get what we want or do we begin to join with our people who are building multi-racial, multi-issue coalitions and become the legitimate heirs of our early freedom fighters?