Blog: The Politics of Single-Minded - Lessons from N.C.

[Carolyn Marie]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/shannon-gilreath/the-politics-of-the-singl_b_9558682.html

I don't often post blogs, but this provides some back story for the North Carolina disaster.
Some in our community are upset about this piece, because they say it lays blame on us. You can decide for yourselves.

Carolyn Marie

[Charlize]

That is not the first time the trans* community has been accused of hurting the gay and lesbian community. We happen to be in the crosshairs right now so i'm sure these complaints about us will only grow in being heard. Hopefully we will all be able to move forward towards the dream of equality for all without each group allowing itself to make progress while leaving others behind.

Hugs,

Charlize

[Guest LesleyAnne]

I don't see it the same way as the author. I look at LGBTQ as similar to a union of sorts.

A union is only strong if it supports and represents all of it's members, not just a select few. It's collective bargaining power is just that..collective which means that it has to stand as one against an overlord that seeks complete control over wages, benefits, and the work environment. The power the union holds is the threat of a walkout which would disrupt business. The business must decide what is worse the benefit the workers want, and it's cost, or denying the benefit weighing how much money the business will lose from a walkout.

The threat we showed wasn't a walk out, but it was forcing N.C. Governor, and legislators to show their dirty underwear in front of the whole world, and they think that the cost benefit was in their favor.....maybe, maybe not. The world court will decide!

I see this latest battle in N.C. as a loss for all LGBTQ, but time will tell if it actually will turn into a win because of the backlash N.C. government is already starting to reap. They've gained national notoriety in a much negative way, the spotlight is now on them lighting up their blatant bigotry.

For the author to blame us as the cause for setting Gay rights back 25 years is saying to us we got ours, so sorry you're on your own, it's saying that LGBQ standing united with us for our rights was a mistake!

If there's a bear chasing me and you down the hill I only have to out run you. If I care about you we'll stand together no matter the outcome.

[VickySGV]

This backlash has been building since the Marriage Arguments before SCOTUS that were silly at best and went downhill from there, and it was aimed solely at LGB, but the sound bites could not be found. K.Davis was a side show that folks were keeping an eye on, but it distracted them from the number of SS Marriage that went on, and how it became a center ring event was the public no longer heard the gloom and doom or saw it to bolster the conservative imagination. Houston Texas was finally a big mooning in the spotlight for them, but it did identify a target they could aim at. As we were afraid, one little win, emboldened them, but they had to get to the LGB through a back door.

I read this article on Face Book and my response there was a quote from Benjamin Franklin at the time of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. "Gentlemen, we must truly hang together in this endeavor, or surely we shall hang separately," The author of this piece would like to see a body hanging from a rope and blowing in the breeze. I offer them the first place in line up to the gallows. I will probably be in that line too, so I am wishing no one person greater ill than my own.

[MarcieMarie12]

I think what the author forgets is that many in the trans community also are LGB. So for her to say this doesn't affect LGB is patently wrong.