"Define and Empower"

On a whole, I am disappointed with the LGBT movement, especially those gay lites who are running the show.

I am outraged at the cover of this past month's issue of The Advocate entitled "Gay is the New Black: the Last Great Civili Rights Movement." First of all, the slogan that Gay is the New Black is horribly disturbing since this phrase is usually used in regards to fashion. Secondly, the LGBT, not GAY, rights movement is certainly not the only or last civil rights movement. The Black Civil Rights movement is still very much alive and running. Do people actually believe that electing a black president has single-handedly ended racism across the United States? Hell no. There are plenty of radical right-wingers and Christian fundamentalists that have compared Obama to curious George and have called him "little Hussein"...that's racism.

Racism is present in the LGBT community which has been especially evident since the passage of proposition 8 in California. So many members of this community have essentially blamed the black community for this loss. This is based on a stereotype that all blacks are homophobic. Again, this is racist. And the Advocate just tops it off by comparing the oppression and exploitation of black people to gay people. Of course there are similarities and overlaps, but is most certainly not the same. You can't hide your skin color, but you can hide your sexual orientation (although you shouldn't have to).

The issue here, of course, is that some people in the LGBT movement are attempting to take away the focus from other marginalized groups in the United States and beyond. The cover of the Advocate implies that every single other marginalized group in the history of this country has achieved their human rights to the fullest extent. Therefore all energy, time, and money can focus on the oppression of LGBT peoples. Well, this is racist, egotistical, and just plain stupid.

Why must we always divide and conquer? Instead, we should take Audre Lorde's advice to "define and empower." Let's Embrace our differences, educate one another, admit our privileges, and move forward together. There is a serious lack of communication and understanding among marginalized groups in this country. We are too busy fighting, blaming, and insulting one another while the radical right is busy making plans to keep us down here. Fuck that! Let's take charge by fighting to end the exploitation and oppression of all marginalized groups in this country and beyond. We can do it. We just need to realize that we share the plight of oppression and by dividing we are only giving those in power more power to manipulate our lives.