lifeonq.com

The New York Times Buries Gay Prop 8 Protest Story

I am getting more than a little irritated by the mainstream media’s coverage of the anti-gay marriage amendments in California and elsewhere. Leafing through my Sunday New York Times this morning, I got hotter than my coffee to search for an article on the protests, only to find it buried on page 25. I wrote a Letter to the Editor to let them know that LGBT Americans are paying attention to their lack of coverage and interest in the issues that affect our lives. Here’s the content of my letter:

“To the Editors:

As a New York Times subscriber, blogger and lesbian, I am writing to express my disappointment in your coverage of the National Day of Protest Over Proposition 8 (“Across U.S., Big Rallies For Same-Sex Marriage,” page 25, Sunday, November 16, 2008). I had scoured the paper last Sunday looking for coverage of the passage of Proposition 8 in California (and the other anti-gay measures on ballots in Arkansas, Arizona and Florida) only to find an AP article printed deep into the paper. The editors apparently didn’t even see fit to assign a Times reporter to the story. I was very frustrated and disappointed. Then I heard about Saturday’s protests, and decided to attend the protest here in Atlanta as an outlet for my outrage (attended by an estimated 1,500 people, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution).

Again this Sunday, I checked The New York Times for articles on the protest. After well more than 100,000 LGBT Americans and fair-minded, freedom-loving heterosexual Americans braved wind, cold, rain and fire to protest the passage of Proposition 8, I would have expected more prominent coverage. Checking the front page, I finally spot a teaser for an article on the Rally for Gay Rights in the lower left-hand corner—the location of lowest-priority in newspapers. The teaser referred to page A25. Leafing past Sports, Arts & Leisure, Travel et. al., I finally located the article on page 25-which turns out to be page three of the National section.

Over one million people signed on to the Join the Impact social network in one week, according to the (ad hoc, volunteer, average citizen) social network organizers. Protests were planned in more than 30 American cities and in 10 foreign countries. How does such a large, national movement get relegated to page 25, behind a story on beer-drinking and whether or not President-elect Obama will have to give up his Blackberry?

Regarding the article itself, I found it to be generally fair yet somewhat downplayed in at least one regard: Estimates of protest participants on the Join the Impact website are (as of this writing) between 119,757 and 132,952. (See: http://jointheimpact.wetpaint.com/page/Attendance+Totals+(How+Many+Attended+in+Your+City).

Estimates are still coming in from around the country. It is, in my opinion, a more accurate characterization that protesters numbered well over 100,000, rather than the “tens of thousands,” as you reported.

Ironically, I subscribed to your paper at Atlanta’s Gay Pride Festival this summer. I have been a reader of the print and online additions off and on for years. If your coverage of the groundswell of protest over anti-gay marriage bigotry continues to be buried, what does it say about your editorial judgment in general? Do nationwide protests by hundreds of thousands of Americans not meet your criteria for news? Or is there some other, more political reason for your disinterest in and disrespect for LGBT Americans?”

You can read the Times article on the protests for yourself here. If you feel any media coverage of Prop 8, Join the Impact or other LGBT issues is biased or buried, I strongly urge you to consider writing a letter to the editor.  It really does make a difference.

Update: Georgia Joins the Impact to Protest Against Anti-Gay Prop8 Amendment

The protests in Georgia in conjunction with Join the Impact are gathering steam, with several other Georgia cities planning protests tomorrow (Saturday Nov. 15) at 1:30 p.m.  Protests are being coordinated nationwide to send a visible message of the gay and lesbian community’s displeasure over the passage of Proposition 8, the anti-gay marriage amendment approved by California voters on November 4th.  Details are also coming together for the Atlanta protest, to be held at the Georgia State Capitol building.  You can go to Join the Impact’s Georgia page for the details, which I’m summarizing for you here. (You can also check my original post on the protest here.)

At the Atlanta protest, several LGBT leaders and activists are scheduled to speak, including:

• Dr. Margaret Ayer
• Kathy Kelly of MEGA Family Project
• Radio personality Melissa Carter of Q100
• Jeff Graham of Georgia Equality
• Rev. Paul Turner
• Paul Schappaugh of Truthwinsout.org

Please make note that there have been several different locations floating around for the Atlanta protest.  The protest will be held at the capitol building at 214 Capitol Ave, SW, in Atlanta.  Just look for the gold dome.  Other Georgia cities are getting involved as well.  Here are locations for other Georgia Prop8 protests:

A check of the Facebook page for the Atlanta protest shows a count of 268 confirmed attendees and another 263 maybe’s.  Of course, not all who plan to attend will visit the Facebook page or choose to confirm.  There are also 545 “not attending” replies and 823 “awaiting replies.”  In short, rain or shine, there should be enough queers on the capitol steps to send a shiver up Sadie Field’s spine.

Here are excerpts from the the event organizer’s comments about the protest tomorrow:

• We would suggest public transit and carpooling if at all possible.
• There is a second event, a candlelight vigil at the corner of 10th St. and Piedmont Ave. at 5:00 pm. We are encouraging everyone that attends to protest to make their way to the vigil around that time. Keep in mind:  According to Georgia laws, signs are required to be less than 2 feet x 2 feet.
• This is a protest for equality and civil rights among the LGBTQ community.
• It is part of a nationwide protest with events being planned in cities in all 50 states as well as several international protests planned
• This is not anti-religion, we have invited local churches that support our efforts and equality to attend and expect several to be represented
• This protest is not funded by or organized by any group or organization. It is a grassroots effort that started with one concerned citizen and has quickly spread. It encompasses every creed and walk of life, race, religion and social statuses.
• Several local LGBTQ organizations have stepped up and will be collecting names and contact information (Georgia Equality, Mega Family Project. Others yet to come) and we will be working with them to ensure this movement does not fizzle out.

There are also some similar guidelines from the national Join the Impact organizers:

• Make sure you don’t bring anything that would be considered a weapon - I know this sounds like common sense, but few people realize that the sticks they use for their signs have to be no thicker than 1/4? or else they are considered a weapon.
• I want to make sure that we are always always always focusing on peaceful demonstrations.  Please remain respectful of your neighbors and reach across the aisle to our opponents (I’m sorry for that extremely trite phrase considering how it’s been hammered into our heads this election year).  This is an amazing opportunity to continue the conversation and drive change.  Please keep promoting peace, respect, and outreach.

For me, I’m not really concerned about the “peaceful protest” emphasis.  Don’t let concerns about crowds deter you.  Don’t let rain deter you.  Just go.  Just go and bring a sign and bring your friends and be seen and be counted.  Just stand up for yourself.  Just stand up for all of us. Even if you don’t have plans to get get gay married personally, in the near future or ever, aren’t you more than a little sick and tired of being a second-class citizen?  Aren’t you more than sick and tired of being demonized?  So Georgia queers, get out of the closet and onto the streets tomorrow afternoon at 1:30 pm.

Gay Atlanta to Join Protest Against California’s Proposition 8

Groups are organizing around the country to demonstrate the LGBT community’s disappointment over the passage of the anti-gay marriage measure, Proposition 8, in California, as well as anti-gay marriage amendments that were also approved by narrow-minded voters in Florida and Arizona.  Of course, we here in Georgia have been living under an anti-gay amendment to our state constitution since the recent unpleasantness of 2004.

Protests will be held on Saturday, November 15, and there are at least two events getting organized here in Atlanta in conjunction with a national effort called Join the Impact.  The protests are being synchronized around the country to occur on Saturday, November 15 at 1:30 pm Eastern time.  The locations are also coordinated–most are planned at local city halls, although the Atlanta-area protest will be staged at the Georgia State Capitol.  (Get directions here.) Don’t be confused by older references to the protest location as Atlanta City Hall.  As you check the protest Websites, be sure to look for the most recent information, because details are evolving. Keep up with the latest details on the Atlanta protest on the Join the Impact Georgia page.  And you can RSVP for the Atlanta protest on Facebook.  If you need more information, send an e-mail to eliminateprop8@gmail.com.

There is also a candlelight vigil being planned following the protest at the corner of 10th Street and Piedmont Avenue in Midtown Atlanta at 5 pm.  There is also a Facebook page for this event.

Isn’t it time the LGBT community demonstrated our numbers and our resolve for equality?  Even if, like me, there’s no one if your life right now that you would like to gay marry, wouldn’t you like equal protection under the law?  Please plan to attend.  Bring signs.  Bring your friends, gay and straight.  Be a community organizer, and spread the word.  Tag this post so others can find it or send an e-mail to your friends. (You can use the “Bookmark” button at the bottom of this post to accomplish either.)  Visit the Join the Impact Website and the Georgia pages there and on Facebook.

Be there.  Or continue to be the victim of bigotry and hate.

Join the Impact Atlanta Protest Details

Keith Olberman Takes Straights to Task Over Gay Marriage Vote

I have never understood why the African-American community joined forces with the religious right to campaign for intolerance and discrimination in our country.  It seems to me the height of hypocrisy. Our country began with the creed that all men were created equal.  Then (at least in theory) all women too (except for the equal pay thing).  Then African-Americans were given legal status as full human beings, rather than property.  Previously they had been counted as a fraction of a person.  Then African-Americans were given the right to vote, and now see the dream of their inspirational leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., realized in the election of Barack Obama.  But that’s the end of the dream for black people, apparently.  All men (and women) (of any color) are created equal, but not the gays.  It is the African-American (and Latino) turnout in California that is cited as the cause of the passage of the anti-gay marriage proposal, Proposition 8.  And so here’s must-see: Keith Olbmerman’s reaction to the vote on Proposition 8 in California, where he takes heterosexual America, and the African-American community in particular, to task for their vote:

Should Melissa Etheridge Pay California Taxes?

Somebody, give Melissa Etheridge some water.  While you’re at it, pour me a glass. Etheridge is burning mad about the California gay marriage ban, and I am right there with her.  She wrote a post on The Daily Beast blog where she suggests that California can forget about getting any tax payments from her, and the federal government too.  I think that’s a great idea.  If gays and lesbians don’t have equal rights, why should we pay equal taxes?  Maybe it’s time more of us got fighting mad.  A few well-located protests, a few fire hoses and police dogs might make the African-American community think twice about becoming the oppressor.  Here’s a quick excerpt from Etheridge’s blog:

“When did it become okay to legislate morality? I try to envision someone reading that legislation “eliminates the right” and then clicking yes. What goes through their mind? Was it the frightening commercial where the little girl comes home and says, “Hi mom, we learned about gays in class today” and then the mother gets that awful worried look and the scary music plays? Do they not know anyone who is gay? If they do, can they look them in the face and say “I believe you do not deserve the same rights as me”? Do they think that their children will never encounter a gay person? Do they think they will never have to explain the 20% of us who are gay and living and working side by side with all the citizens of California?

I got news for them, someday your child is going to come home and ask you what a gay person is. Gay people are born everyday. You will never legislate that away.”

You can read Melissa Etheridge’s blog post in it’s entirety here.

One Step Forward, Three Steps Back for Full Equality in the 2008 Election

I still have not taken off my Barack Obama t-shirt.  I don’t think I have ever been so excited, relieved and encouraged by a Democratic candidate for president.  I was a Clinton loyalist in the 90s, and had a difficult time choosing between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama in the primaries.  I ultimately decided to support Obama, because I was afraid Sen. Clinton would rally Republicans who have made an industry out of hating the Clintons, and because I sensed something radically different in Obama.  His campaign reminded me of the Howard Dean campaign that so engaged me in 2004.  Yet, here we are just a day or two after the election, and my hope is now mixed with disappointment.

The 2008 election cycle ultimately had a bitter, bitter, bitter sweet outcome for gays and lesbians.  Even as a gay supportive candidate was elected president, three states passed anti-gay marriage amendments.  Within 24 hours of hearing the President-elect say the word “gay” in his acceptance speech–within the first 90 seconds of his remarks–we learn that California, Arizona and Florida have now written their bigotry and hate into their state constitutions.

Reports are that it was the large turnout of minority voters in support of Obama that helped ensure the loss of gay rights in three more states. How ironic it is that it was the votes of people who have been the victim of discrimination that enacted more discrimination.  How ironic that the movement that Martin Luther King, Jr. started would be realized in this way.  (Dr. King was not anti-gay, nor was his wife Coretta.) How ironic that Californians voted to give chickens more leg room, but don’t think gay people should have the right to visit their partners in hospitals or include their partners in their wills after their death.

How ironic that a candidate supported so strongly tirelessly by the LGBT community would bring out an anti-gay vote.  I am still heartened by Barack Obama’s victory.  But now I’m also disheartened by the continuing crusade to deny gays and lesbians basic rights.  I guess that means my heart is in pieces.