Whatever Happened To The Gay Rights Movement?
I just read an article at the Advocate.com written by Jack Kenny, creator of the short lived NBC show The Book of Daniel. In the aftermath of his show being canceled after only a few episodes, he has written this open letter of sorts to the Queer Community asking where were we all when he was being attacked over the shows content? It's a fair question. Whatever did happen to the Gay Rights Movement?
As were most of us I'm sure, I was only vaguely aware of the show at all and had only read one story about the show struggling to keep it's advertisers (and by extension, stay alive at all) as a result of other minority group's efforts to pressure the show out of existence. As much as I'd like to say that it isn't my fault for not knowing, it really is. As it is for all of us concerned about our cause. We must stay informed so we can act when such a fight is going on. I see many websites helping to get the word out, and the rare and under covered article or news item in the mainstream media about a protest here or there. But where is the follow up by us, "The Community"?
He makes a pretty good point about the use of language like "practicing homosexual" as if it's okay to say those words. From the article:
Thanks for reading. I hope you'll resolve to so more and I have after reading this article. As I find ways to stay informed and actions that can be taken, I'll try and do my part and spread the word here on the C.R.B. blog.
As were most of us I'm sure, I was only vaguely aware of the show at all and had only read one story about the show struggling to keep it's advertisers (and by extension, stay alive at all) as a result of other minority group's efforts to pressure the show out of existence. As much as I'd like to say that it isn't my fault for not knowing, it really is. As it is for all of us concerned about our cause. We must stay informed so we can act when such a fight is going on. I see many websites helping to get the word out, and the rare and under covered article or news item in the mainstream media about a protest here or there. But where is the follow up by us, "The Community"?
He makes a pretty good point about the use of language like "practicing homosexual" as if it's okay to say those words. From the article:
Had the AFA [American Family Association] written "practicing Jew," or "obvious Negro," or "active Muslim", you can bet each of those communities would have been in an uproar. But not us. No, it's still OK in the LGBT community to use our sexual orientation against us. Because we still hide. We let it be OK. And as long as we let it be OK, the rest of the country will let it be OK.Until this 'community' can be united against those who would try to stuff us back into our respective closets, we'll never acheive equality. And as Mr. Kenny so aptly points out, tolerance really isn't enough.
Thanks for reading. I hope you'll resolve to so more and I have after reading this article. As I find ways to stay informed and actions that can be taken, I'll try and do my part and spread the word here on the C.R.B. blog.
posted by Unknown at 4:43 PM
0 comments
