LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
Capital Letters |
by Hastings Wyman |
Highlighting the Q in Iraq
In 1991, Urvashi Vaid, then director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force's (NGLTF) Policy Institute, denounced the Persian Gulf War against Saddam Hussein's Iraq. Those who saw the role of gay activism as helping correct the nation'sand indeed the world'sinjustices applauded Vaid. Others were outraged by her position, in part because they believed the Gulf War was just, and in part because they saw the proper role of gay groups as using their resources to address gay issues, not a wide range of other matters. Faced with the prospect of another war on Iraq, opponents are coalescing behind a new peace movement, and gay leaders are once again pondering what the gay roleif anyshould be in the debate. So far, NGLTF has not repeated its 1991 foreign policy venture. Jubi Headley, the group's communications director, says a response to the Iraqi crisis is currently under discussion among NGLTF's board members and staff. If my guess is correct, this traditionally leftist group will end up opposing an attack on Iraq. The Metropolitan Community Church (MCC), which has at times assumed a centrist stance in the gay political spectrumwitness its co-sponsorship of the Millennium March on Washington in 2000has joined the debate. MCC has issued a "declaration of conscience" calling for restraint in the conflict with Iraq. MCC compared the "vilification of the Iraqi nation" by the U.S. government and others to the experience of gay people, "who also know how difficult it is to survive under such circumstances." The Human Rights Campaign, a generally liberal but somewhat mainstream groupand the nation's largest gay political organizationis purposely staying away from the issue. According to David Smith, HRC's communications director, the group has no policy on Iraq and doesn't expect to. There is significant support for the general direction of the Bush administration's Middle East policies among gay writers and activists on the right. Paul Varnell, a Chicago-based columnist of a libertarian bent, has contrasted the brutaleven fataltreatment of gay people in Arab countries with the relative tolerance of gays in Israel. In addition, Dale Carpenter, who teaches at the University of Minnesota Law School; Jonathan Rauch, a columnist for the National Journal; and Richard Rosendall, a Washington, D.C., activist, have written columns that in general approve the president's stance toward Iraq. The effect of gay groups' involvement in the issue is unknown. While the pro-peace stands of gay groups could strengthen the current antiwar movement, this positioning may associate the gay movement with an unpopular cause, one unrelated to gay issues per se. Public opinion surveys on the Bush administration's Iraqi policy indicate that a large majority of Americans back the President. Americans would vote for the resolution giving the President the authority to attack Iraq by 59 percent to 28 percentmore than a 2-to-1 marginaccording to a survey taken for Fox News. In a Gallup, CNN, and USA Today poll, 58 percent of women and 56 percent of men favored sending troops to Iraq. Women are traditionally more dovish than men, but the well-publicized mistreatment of women by Muslim nations may have influenced female opinion. In a Zogby poll, however, when asked whether they favored sending "sons and daughters" to war in Iraq, respondents were closely divided46 percent "no" to 45 percent "yes." Another visible gay participant in the debatethough perhaps coincidental to his sexual orientationis Hank Perritt, the openly gay law professor running for Congress in the Chicago suburbs. Perritt was one of the first Democratic politicos to take a leading role in opposing what he terms President Bush's "rush to war with Iraq." A legal scholar with an impressive list of books and articles to his credit, Perritt authored an op-ed piece in The Washing-ton Post contending that "unilaterally starting a war against Saddam Hussein is wrongheaded." Perritt said an Iraqi war "could mire the United States in a nasty, prolonged conflict," and he criticized fellow Democrats for failing to challenge "the administration's bellicose posture." More recently, Fox News' Hannity and Colmes show invited Perritt to appear opposite Congressman Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) in a debate on war with Iraq. Perritt has spoken at peace rallies at churches and other venues in his district. Whether Perritt will benefit from an anti-Bush foreign policy stance remains to be seen. He has, however, gained unaccustomed visibility in the nation's capital that might bring in contributions from antiwar liberals. On the other hand, anti-Saddam Hussein sentiment runs strong among many voters, and Perritt's campaign may gain visibility but lose votes. Perritt's positionwhether one agrees with it or notis appropriate. He is a candidate for Congress and should address such issues. MCC, as a church, may see any war as a moral issue requiring a religious responsethough I find its equating of the gay and Iraqi experiences baffling. However, for gay groups such as HRC, NGLTF, and others to take a position on a major issue that affects gay people no differently from the rest of society divides our community, dilutes our resources, and risks undermining our standing with the public.Hastings Wyman publishes Southern Political Report, a nonpartisan biweekly political newsletter. He may be reached in care of Letters from CAMP Rehoboth or at HWymanSPR@aol.com. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 12, No. 14, October 18, 2002. |