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Focus On The Family. National Organization For Marriage. American Family Association. Fred Phelps. Alliance Defense Fund. Catholic League. Christian Coalition. Mike Huckabee. Newt Gingrich. Maggie Gallagher.
Most of us, most gays, liberals, pro-same-sex marriage people would agree, these people, these organizations are our enemies. They are our number one targets, the most powerful groups, standing in the way of marriage equality and civil rights for all. Most of us are wrong.
In reality, what’s standing in our way is two things: apathy and complacency. Right now, we have everything on our side: A Democratic government, five, soon to be at least six states that have legalized gay marriage, with more on the way. Momentum. Individual social networks rivaling small nations. Growing public support for our cause, weakening public support of hatred and extremism. The Internet.
Yet, day after day, I talk with people who just don’t get it. The gay friend who sends me a text, “Congrats on Vermont!” I text back, “Vermont was last month. Today we won Maine.” Or, the gay friend on Twitter who asks, “Is it the right time to push for repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, when there are 44 million people who need healthcare?” Or, the friend who calls me furious about the latest insult Maggie Gallagher hurls, but won’t take an hour out to show up for a gay marriage rally. Or the ones who spend time railing on Miss California on Facebook, but won’t click on the ad that asks them to send an email to their Congressman.
We are the ones standing in our way. There are over 300 million Americans in this country. That’s roughly, conservatively, 30 million gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgenders, and queers. Add on our parents, friends, families, that number should easily double, triple, quadruple. So, 10% of the population is LGBTQ, include friendly and supportive relatives, acquaintances, and we should easily net 25% of the population who have every reason to support us, to care, to take action. If 25% of every elected officials’ constituency contacted them, don’t you think we’d be further along? Don’t you think they would act in our favor? So many more would.
We are millions upon millions strong. Yet we don’t act. We don’t take the time to act, in our own self-interest. In the interest of those we love and care about. In the interest of what’s clearly right.
It’s time. The clock is ticking. We are stronger than Maggie Gallagher’s NOM. Stronger than Newt Gingrich. Stronger than Focus On The Family. But only if we act. Here’s how:
Click on any of these links. Type your name, your address, check a box, add your own words if you want, and tell your Congressman, your Governor, the President what you want them to do about gay marriage, Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, The Hate Crimes Bill, The Defense of Marriage Act, and ENDA. Then tell your friends, your family to do the same. Do it for you. Do it for them. But do it. Now. You’ll feel really good today. You’ll feel even better tomorrow.
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New Yorkers For Marriage Equality
Other sites that support the GLBTQ community:
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Make sure you take a look at The New Civil Rights’ Tool Kit. Bookmark it as a resource.
There are many, many more groups that belong on this list. Does yours? Let me know and I’ll add it!