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All this calling us (members of the GLBTQ community at DU) racists that seems to happen on a daily basis around these parts lately... the latest round is particularly disturbing to me.
Immediately cease all mentions of the fight for racial equality and the struggles pertaining to that fight.
(and yes, I'm trying to be funny to try to lighten the mood a little in this very annoying period here at the DU. Whether I am being funny or not is debatable, but I am trying.)
I would rather equate our struggle to the women's movement anyway, with its long and varied history and still very much a struggle to this day. We can't have us gays using the imagery and same WORDS - WORDS I tell you, that other struggles have used. It would just be icky. But as a card-carrying feminazi, I welcome everyone to the fight against fuckwadery. The more fighting for the equality for all, the better, I like to think.
There is plenty of imagery, metaphor and allegory we can share with the fight for freedom for women. Plenty of great slogans, too!
Some heroic efforts I would like to call your attention to:
The right for women to be recognized as persons in their own right, and not as chattel belonging to their father, then husband The right for women to own property To be educated To sign contracts To receive loans without a male cosigner THE RIGHT TO VOTE The right to be recognized as human (since the default of human is still male - oops, still working on that one.)
Since the roots of misogyny and homophobia, IMO, are the same (women are less than men, men who supposedly act like "women" are worse still) I think it's a nice fit. And I welcome my gay brothers to the struggle. I have no problem sharing these heroes for the rights of ALL HUMANS with you.
Jane Adams Margaret Fuller Elizabeth Cady Stanton Susan B. Anthony Ida B Wells Julia Ward Howe Alice Paul Margaret Sanger Sojourner Truth (probably one of my heroes of all time)
I could make a really long list, but I won't - I'm sure you have your own.
My favorite movie of all time is Iron Jawed Angels - if you haven't seen it, you really must - it will get you in the mood to fight for our rights - and fighting is what it's going to take, make no mistake about it. Not one group of oppressors in HISTORY has ever just handed over equality to those they see as their lessors. Even if they are formerly oppressed. (How many of the anti-immigrant movement are actually descendants of Irish Laborer immigrants? Too many to be ironic - it's just pitiful. Especially the ones in my own family. Sigh.)
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