>&;* ••••••- 1 % cnniFcrBrunner i *%ptainG FTCD .^Lft in a Hayes ercswaiDO ' i _L SHe (JUIT CUTTinG? June 2009 • vol 14 issue 1 ainTnoBODYDeaD samanTHa PULL OUT caLenDar everYTHin.G prmeHOLiDaY •// "74470"25134 k &LOCaLCeLgBriTYMOXY mnsnuK by Wayne Besen fought the battle of the sexes to the victories in four states - and count­ point of exhaustion. Let's not even ing. The latest polls show that al­ In an online discussion forum, a re­ get started on the nasty dust-ups most half of Americans now spected activist recently lamented over transgender issues. support the freedom to marry. the decentralization of gay com­ munity advocacy. He made a pow­ Such disorganization is even more We also have to remember that not erful case that we would be better conspicuous when contrasted with long ago, the major GLBT organiza­ off if our efforts were more regi­ the conformity of our opponents. tions ran from religion. It was gay mented and unified. When growing up, these (mostly) religious activists that thought churchgoers were rewarded for fighting for acceptance within de­ "Our communal problem is that the obedience, while our very exis­ nominations was a worthy battle. LGBT community is so fragmented tence was considered disobedient. While not achieving the same suc­ that we are constantly a cacophony To survive as a GLBT youth, one had cess as marriage equality, there of voices rather than a choir," the to learn to question authority and have been successes - most no­ advocate wrote. He went onto be a freethinker. These traits make tably the Episcopal Church con- make the point that division can for incredibly interesting dinner firmingEugene Robinson as Bishop lead to defeat in the political arena. guests, but create havoc for politi­ of New Hampshire. We have also "We celebrate diversity of opinion cal organizers. seen the rise of groups that chal­ within our community but that does lenge faith-based bigotry, like Faith not work in politics." There is no doubt that the diversity in America and SoulForce. of organizations and mushrooming The community leader raised an­ of messages has hurt our move­ The controversial campaign by ac­ other point worth contemplating as ment on many levels. It has been tivist Mike Rogers to "out" clos­ legislation that affects the gay nearly impossible for any leader to eted politicians who favored community winds its way though gain traction - and thus legitimacy. amending the U.S. Constitution to Congress and will likely end up on The closest we have come to a ban gay people from marrying Obama's desk: "So, who will the larger than life leader is San Fran­ would also never have occurred in President listen to? Is it the Human cisco Supervisor Harvey Milk. How­ a centralized movement. Some Rights Campaign...or a host of ever, he achieved far more might argue that his exposing of bloggers? Sometimes, I wish we prominence after he was assassi­ Republican hypocrisy helped un­ could go back to a time when we nated (and later canonized by Hol­ dermine the GOP's legitimacy as had less ability to communicate. lywood) than he ever did while the party representing "family val­ Then, there were fewer voices to be alive. ues." heard and less confusion about who was representing the commu­ The discordant voices and actions Moreover, conformity also makes it nity." have unfortunately provided fodder difficult to turn around a sinking for our adversaries. They have end­ ship. The nation is headed on a new A Fractious Movement The problem with this analysis is less tapes of nudity and nuttiness - path, but hierarchical and rigid that a golden age of GLBT unity that have made it easier to portray GOP leaders are still obsessed with Is the gay community too never existed. The early 1950s ac­ GLBT people as the miscreants they tax cuts, abortion, Ronald Reagan tivists clashed with gay individuals claim we are. and opposing gay couples marry­ who preferred quiet, "private ing. segmented to be affective? lives." Activists who wore suits and That said, there is a strong case to ties to protests rejected the new make in favor of the diffuse nature The gay movement is untamed and radicalism of the 1960s and 1970s, of the movement It can lead to in­ freewheeling, like New York City, exemplified by the Stonewall rebel­ novation and questioning of exist­ while the Religious Right is tightly lion. ing paradigms. For example, we controlled, like Singapore. Each can't forget that the push for mar­ model has its advantages, but also JP^ Never-ending battles have also riage equality was considered its shortcomings. In a diffuse been fought over the role of sexual wildly "off message" only a decade media age that resembles the Wild liberation. Some activists have ago. If our movement had been West the more agile and fractious claimed that our movement is more centralized, marriage would movement may finally have the about sexual freedom, while others have seemed too radical and never upper hand. have preached assimilation and seen the light of day. However, mar­ found the overt displays of sexual­ riage activists and impatient same- © 2009 Wayne Besen. All rights reserved. ity at Gay Pride parades offensive. sex couples pushed the envelope. AnythingButStraightwww.waynebesen.com Additionally, our movement has This has given us game changing WE'RE Doyi_E WEBB AND KIM HENDREN. WE'VE BEEN TELLING ARKANSANS THAT REPUBLICANS WILL FIGHT TWE INFLUENCE IN GOVERNMENT OF LESBIANS..V ...AND i Jl^lildlndill^W/ 63% JEWS. GANOBAM'A'FIXITfllKr? ^ ouunuL:SOURCE: GALLUPuHLLur TURNS OUT WE WERE DOING "THE Z.WHOL E mUCMG IN COPE BUSINESS COMPLETELY BACIQVARPS! CATEGORY JAN 20 '09 MAY 20'09 DIFFERENCE AMERICAN DEAD 4.226 436 70 AMERICAN WOUNDED 30,934 31249 315 IRAQI CIVILIAN DEAD 98,605 100,379 1,774 NATI0NALDEBT $10,605,968,804,933 $11,284,110,407,424 $678,141,602,491 DAYS IN OFFICE 1 120 120 1111102009 Yes.tlieLTironliisliraclaiuIunderhisarmsisrainbowcolorpdaniliinkenuit. outlo oki'o hi 111Lus.com I xw ressea up ana n "I love to read. Unfortunately, as I entered my 40's, it was becoming place to go... more difficult, especially with fine print or dim lighting. I went to Revision because I heard about $40 adoption special the technology and innovation they use in their procedures. Thanks to Revision, i can read without glasses! Thank you, Visit Pet Palace in Hilliard Revision. I see the difference." to meet some special cats looking for new homes. These cats from the Capital Area Humane Society range in age, color and personality — so you are sure to find your perfect match! 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Polka music hurts. •ine 2009 mon [limliinf Tomaid the Thiid Branch Jennifer Brunner has experience as a jurist and an executiue and is nam determined to reach the US Senate by Michael Daniels ment, and I've proven that throughout my ca­ versial at the time, the Drug Court now boasts Fisher is on record as favoring civil unions but Photo: Danner-Morris reer," she says. about its success on the Franklin County Courts not full marriage equality. [Note: this is not to website: "The TIES Program began operation in say that Fisher is not an ally of the GLBT commu­ In the spirit of this column's name, I'm going to True, I say to myself, Brunner has worked with April 2004 by Judge Jennifer L. Brunner (ret) nity. He most certainly is. Brunner is simply even start this piece by stating up front two things. #1: both Democrats and Republicans on a host of is­ after two years of planning. A steering commit­ more so.) I'm 100% behind Jennifer Brunner's candidacy sues, but I also know she's not afraid of a fight. tee was created and support was enlisted from for the US Senate, and #2: interviewing Bniimer community leaders and the Common Pleas "I'm also acutely aware that there have been sometimes feels like I'm interviewing my older She recently received the John F Kennedy Li­ judges.