Imnotfeelingit.com

I read with humor the recent article that retold the events that occurred when President Obama invited select Lesbian and Gay activists to the White house. From all reports, attendees laughed and squealed with glee at everything that “Mr. Obama” said. Even his call for the Lesbian and Gay community to be “patient” was met with a nod. And while I understand that the economy is probably a bigger concern, forty years after the Stonewall Riots, haven’t we been patient enough?
 
On June 28, 1969, a Gay club in New York, the Stonewall Inn, was raided by the police, a common occurrence at that time. Often patrons were beaten before being thrown in the back of the paddy wagon. But on this occasions, the patrons decided enough was enough and fought back. This act led to a riot that went on for days. And this event is said to be one of the “flash points” of the Gay Civil Rights movement.
 
That event occurred forty years ago. And to me, the fact that we are still fighting this same fight is an injustice of untold proportions. We are still getting beaten up by the police, we are still being fired from jobs, we are still not allowed to be with our partners in hospitals, Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell is still being on the books, DOMA is still on the books, the Hate crimes bill still is not a national law, and certain members of the public still think they should be able to use violence against us. And the violence part has become personal to me.
 
While answering some email, I was sent a link to a youtube video of a young kid, who was assaulted because she was seen hugging and kissing her girlfriend in public. I call her a young kid because I knew her when she was a kid. At twenty-five, she is a grown woman. The assault was so bad, that she needs to have reconstructive surgery. That some idiot felt it necessary to assault someone isn’t new. It happens all of the time. That Gay people are assaulted isn’t new either. That event OCCURS ALL THE TIME TOO! The FACT that I have known Rhythm and her family since the early 2000’s makes this personal to me.

Listening to her speak, brought back all of things I thought when we shared the same space. She is still the thoughtful, kind, wise beyond her years, person I always knew back then. I went through the photo album and found a picture of Rhythm. And to hear that a “kindred spirit” had been assaulted isn’t cool with me. Not even a little.
 
The Lesbian and Gay community was instrumental in getting Mr. Obama elected. Both with our “shoe leather” and with our dollars. And the CHANGE that his platform ran on is supposed to include everyone. Change is an ACTION VERB, and PATIENCE isn’t. It was the CHANGING of the laws that forced the needed social reforms that African Americans, Latinos, Asians, Native Americans, and Women, are able to stand on today.
 
So forty years later, you have two generations of Lesbians who have been assaulted with one event. Me getting a mental beating knowing that the struggle begun during my lifetime is still in its infancy and has affected a friend, and Rhythm getting a physical beating because the struggle is still going on.
 
Come the elections of 2010 Mr. Obama, our patience may have worn thin. And we will make a CHANGE that your party will feel for YEARS!