LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
The Beat Goes On (After the March) |
by Murray Archibald |
Many of you marched on Washington last week. Many of you didn't. I did, and it gave me the opportunity to reflect on the state of gay life in the year 2000both on a national and a local level. The Millennium March on Washington has been awash in controversy since its inception, with debate starting even over whether it was an appropriate time for it to take place. Left up to me, I probably would have agreed that it was better to concentrate on organizing on a smaller, local level. Once it was underway, however, I felt both compelled and excited to join the flag waving, banner carrying marchers for another trip to the mall in Washington. The big question iswhat do we do now? Yes, we want equality, that's what the march was about, but how do we go about creating that reality? Have we come home with anything constructivewith a strong enough vision to carry us through the next five or ten years? Are we ready to dig in our heels and combat the entrenched homophobia that lies at the heart of much of our society's spiritual base? One of the differences in this March was the number of times I heard speakers use the word, God. We are not allowing our enemies to take possession of that wordwe are not allowing them to use faith as a battering ram as they have tried to do in the past. Some of the most profound activism happening in our time is the day to day work being done to make inroads into the spiritual bodies of our country. This is where our enemies live. This is where a great deal of the work has to be done, and it won't happen just because we pick up a flag and wave it around the capitol. It will happen because neighbor to neighbor we come together to speak a common language of love, understanding and compassion. Much of the work that needs to be done today has to take place within our local communities. Gay people, by our very natures, have the ability to reach across the boundaries that divide our society. Being queer has shaped us and given us a unique perspective and unique talents for dealing with the world around us. We are fluidable to move through all the many aspects of life that make up who we are. We have to, however, go out into the world and participate on all levels. We cannot allow only straight people to own the military or faith communities or any other part of our world. We are a part of the family, and there is a place at the table with our names written upon it. Perhaps it is only that I am growing older, but it seemed to me that there was a huge number of young people in the crowds last weekend. As I scanned the marchers that stretched far down the mall, I wondered how many of those young people would rise up to become the leaders of tomorrowand I wondered in what condition they would find the world. I suppose I was feeling optimistic about the future because I had traveled to Washington a few days before the March with my partner Steve [Elkins], the Director of CAMP Rehoboth and editor of this magazine, and one of our CAMP Rehoboth youth columnists Kristen Foery. Kristen was being honored at the Vice Versa Awards with the Best Contribution By A Young Journalist Award for her article "We're Here, We're Queer, We're Just Getting Our Driver's License," written for this magazine when she was sixteen years old. After Steve's introduction, Kristen had been asked to read some of her article, and to say a few words about gay youthand she blew us away. Speaking quietly to the room of gay and lesbian press people from across the countryand her parentsshe brought the room to its feet and tears to the eyes of more than a few of us. My feeling of optimism came from knowing that because of people like Kristen the future would be in good hands. My optimism also comes from my experience with CAMP Rehoboth and within our own community. It comes from knowing that whether we are marching in Washington, building a gay and lesbian community center in Rehoboth, coming out for the first time, becoming activists, or quietly working behind the scenes, there are myriad ways for us to participate in the building of our community and our world. It takes optimism and a positive attitude to combat the hatred and homophobia that still exists around us. You cannot participate in something like the March on Washington without seeing the hateful banners and signs of our enemies. What kind of sickness does it take to hold up a big sign that reads, "Don't believe in hell? Ask Matt." And yet, in some ways the extreme blatant homophobia of protesters such as this is easier to take than the insidious prejudice that infiltrates our culture and our mainstream churches and our schools. Equality begins within our families and our communities. It begins as we come out again and again on deeper and deeper levels. It begins as we use all our gifts and talents to find the truth and share it with one another. It begins in the love and the respect we share with not just our gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgendered brothers and sisters but with our straight ones of all different colors, and faiths, and nationalities. Yes, I marched in Washington last week, but I continue to march as I go about my business at home. I continue to march in my art, and through CAMP Rehoboth. I march as I participate in family events and in the church down the street. I march as I talk to my neighbors. I march because I have nieces and nephews, I march for Steve and me. I march for Kristen. I march for my spirit. I march because the founders of our country built a land of liberty. I march because life demands it of all of us. I march because I'm a gay man in the year 2000. I march because I must. Perhaps this March was not much more than a big festival. Perhaps this March only served to give us a rallying point. Perhaps you disagreed with the organizers of the event. Perhaps you didn't care. No matter how you felt about it or how you did or did not participate, this year's March is only a stepping stone in the yellow brick road that leads to equality. But as in that classic story that takes us over the rainbow and that we love so well, like Dorothy we have the power to go home anytime we choose. We have the power to create our hearts desirewe have the power to create the equality of which we dream. Sometimes it is a March that gives us the courage to keep going. Sometimes it is the words of a young journalist like Kristen. Sometimes it is our heart. Sometimes it is our day to day struggle. Whatever it is, do it, be it, live it, dance it, fan it, sleep with it, and wake up with it. Most of all share it with those around you. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 10, No. 4, May 5, 2000. |