LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
VIEW Point |
by Peter Rosenstein |
Mood Swings of an Activist
Lately I have incredible mood swings when I think about where our community is going. I go from depression to elation. Listening to the President gratuitously bash us in the State of the Union or reading about Virginia and Maryland introducing anti-marriage amendments gets me depressed. It's 2006 and George Bush, who misled us into a war where nearly 2500 brave Americans have lost their lives, has time to worry about our marriages. I figure we must in some way be responsible for his brother's divorce or one of the twins having her heart broken by a guy she thought was straight. Maybe a cowboy on the ranch. And that vicious Maryland legislator introducing an anti-marriage amendment that, thankfully, didn't get enough votes to get out of committee. I have already given up on Virginia. Then again I look around at my everyday world and realize that in the long run this President and local legislators like him are really not where the world is at. We still have a long road ahead of us but we are making progress and as the old spiritual says, "We Shall Overcome." We will, because I truly believe that in their hearts people are not mean. They can, and often are, misled either by a nasty President or by the Pat Robertsons of the world who spew hate, but in the long run they will do the right thing. It will just take a few more generations. We can see that with John Kerry's children saying gay marriage is OK while their father can't accept it, or the youngest of the Mayoral candidates in DC, Adrian Fenty, supporting same-sex marriage while the older candidates aren't there yet. And while there are African American ministers that aren't there yet, there are heroic statements of support from the late Coretta Scott King and icons like Julian Bond. That support will be a beacon to the younger generation and they will see that a loving gay or lesbian couple joining together in a civil marriage ceremony won't impact their lives. Then again I went to see Brokeback Mountain. I came out feeling both sad and depressed. Sad that the true love of those two cowboys had to remain in the shadows and depressed because I realized that is still that way many of my brothers and sisters have to live. While I can feel comfortable as an out gay man in Washington, DC, there are so many places where members of the GLBT community must still hide. Where in Oklahoma a particularly vicious anti-gay minister, who hides his own sexual orientation by spouting venom, gets arrested for soliciting a male police officer. I couldn't decide if that was depressing or I should be jumping for joy. Then again I spent a recent Friday night at a local bar with hundreds of out and fun gay men, who happily and openly lined up on the street to get in. They live their lives openly and walk down the street holding hands declaring their sexual preference. I had dinner with a couple who have been together for 32 years and are open and happy and respected members of their golf club in Florida. Free to live and let live and even be campy if they choose. I often think my age has something to do with my mood swings. Many of my young friends, and yes I do have young friends, live their lives not really worrying about these issues. They are much more concerned with their outfits for Saturday night and will they have enough money for both their rent and that new ipod. They really believe they will be able to live their lives happily and that the rest of the world will come to recognize they are no threat to anyone. They grew up and went to schools where openly gay organizations existed and they could bring a guy into their room for the night. They are upbeat and make me feel that way when I am with them. They are the future and make me feel good about it. I remember as a teacher being excited by the minds of young people. They were so open to learning and understanding new things. I came to understand that hate is taught and people aren't born hating. So three generations from now we will have a community who grew up with Will and Grace, Brokeback Mountain, and a host of other gay and lesbian characters in the movies and on TV, and out role models in politics and business. My latest mood swing makes me believe that we won't be seen as strange and different but just neighbors and friends and will have become just an accepted part of the framework of our communities. Those thoughts make me want to continue the fight. Peter Rosenstein can be reached at peter@prosenstein.com. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 16, No. 2 March 10, 2006 |