Over forty years ago the visible fight for gay rights began on the streets of New York. For many it would seem that journey is now complete - we can have civil partnerships and the full protection of the law.
However if this is true why are so many still afraid to come out? Why when you turn on the TV, or open the paper is there such little reflection of our lives and culture? Outside of major cities how many gay people can safely show affection in public?
Yet despite this the campaign for gay rights has changed. The Peter Tatchell or Harvey Milk approach is seemingly unacceptable. Instead we are content to no longer rock the boat, presenting a face of corporate respectability - gay men in suits are far more likely to make steps forward than lesbians with shaved heads.
But what of the thorny issues like true equality with marriage, discussing homosexuality in schools - or even being included in the census? How do we push boundaries without being willing to not fear upsetting people or the Government of the day?
Harvey Milk thirty years ago asked us all to make a stand, to come out and change the world. If we all did that tomorrow - it would have not choice but to change.
But I wonder how long it will take to invoke true change in grass roots communities; to make the life of a young boy bullied at school easier; to allow the career minded woman to believe she’ll be promoted if she’s gay; to stop the lesbian couple being spat on in the street - whilst we skirt around the issues and pander to the perceived sensitivities in both the public sector and corporate worlds?
I’d like to think we all have an inner Harvey Milk daring us to be different. Challenging us to question ourselves and those around us so we can come out and say what we believe and in that change the world.
Let’s not forget forty years ago Stonewall was a riot and although we’ve come a long way, sometimes we still need a bit of that fighting spirit.
Hi Jo. Yes, lets not sleep walk into complacency - we've certainly been winning battles (and celebrating), but the war is far from won.
ReplyDeleteIntegration is a complex process. And of course, the evolving paradox is this: the more we assimilate, the more it looks like some of people are "defecting" to the other side. Yes, there are gaymen in suits (included) and lesbian with shaved heads (excluded). But for every one of those, the flip side is still a young gay sex worker (excluded) or lipsticked, shoulder padded lesbian (included). In the past, we were all completely excluded, and it is more thanks to Milk than Tatchell, that we now have insiders in the "system".
At a Unison Black Members conference a few years back, the agenda being debated was how we should acknowledge and remember slavery in modern-day British culture. A delegate hackled the rostrum accusing fellow Black British for selling-out, standing there in our smart white man's suits and speaking in ways of the white opressors. He was quietly and politely led out of the conference. So my point is not to forget the subject (in this case, slavery) but once you get acceptance, the dialogue has to evolve. We now have a Black US President... in a suit.
I know there is still "gay hate" out there. But I think this is a minority and the perceived fear is perhaps bigger than it really is. The remaining majority is probably still guilty of "hetrosexism" rather than out-and-out "homophobia". And in order to tackle this, we no longer need to Stonewall the streets with placards but be smart on how we become (or have influence) the "movers and shakers" of our democratic system. Is there a possibility we could get our first gay Prime Minister?