Dear Mr. President
A few weeks ago, Lisa Rock sent President Barack Obama the below letter every other day for a week awaiting a reply:
You stand on the shoulders of your African-American brothers and sisters who have died for the civil-rights movement. I am a 40-year-old woman who has been with the same partner for 16 years.
We recently had a son. Every single day, my lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered brothers and sisters are denied rights because of who they are. They are denied housing, hospital visits, tax benefits, job protection and countless other rights simply because of their sexual identity. Every day you, as the president, are able to serve because of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Have the courage to stand up and afford us the same rights today, not in what you hope will be a second term, but now. Because today, someone was killed for being gay; someone was denied visiting a dying partner at a hospital; today someone was fired from a job for being LGBT; today, someone was dishonorably discharged from the military after serving their country honorably because of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Today, someone was denied social security benefits after having lived with a partner for over 20 years; and, today, someone died for this country you have been elected to serve and their living partner will not receive their military benefits nor be acknowledged by the military for ever having existed.
Today, someone who is LGBT will be slandered, taunted, even beaten up because of who they are. Today, a couple who lives in a monogamous, loving relationship is denied the same rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness by being denied the right to wed that person they love.
My son should grow up to see his two mothers who both work full-time, pay their taxes, vote and contribute to countless community activities and charities as his legally married parents. Tomorrow, these same things will continue to happen until you have the courage to stand up for what you know in your heart should not be a political issue but one of honor and integrity. You would still be drinking from a separate water fountain were it not for those who had the courage to stand up for you. Show us—don't tell us—that you support us like we did you by having over 80% of LGBT Americans elect you. Show the courage you claim to have and speak for us, today!
Rock received the following response:
Dear Lisa Rock:
Thank you for taking the time to share your views. I appreciate hearing from you and value your input. My Administration is working to address the serious challenges our Nation faces. Some say we are moving forward on too many issues too quickly, but given our unprecedented circumstances, swift, deliberate action is needed. I am committed to taking immediate steps that generate job creation and economic recovery, and I am determined to make investments that lay a new foundation for real and lasting progress.
To build this new foundation, I have called for health care reform—this year—that reduces costs, protects health care choices, and assures quality, affordable care for all Americans. I am committed to building a clean energy economy that creates millions of jobs, helps to achieve energy independence, and reduces pollution as we tackle the effects of global warming. To prepare our children to thrive in the global economy, we must guarantee every child a complete and competitive education. We need to secure our homeland against threats by preventing terrorist attacks while planning for and responding soundly to emergencies. We also have an obligation to rein in our budget deficit by cutting wasteful spending and ineffective programs. We can do all this, and change the way business is done in Washington, by building the most open, transparent, and accountable government in our history.
Ultimately, the only way to solve the problems of our time is to involve all Americans in shaping the policies that affect our lives. Thank you again for writing. I encourage you to explore www.WhiteHouse.gov, which is regularly updated and more interactive than ever before.
Sincerely,
Barack Obama
To be a part of our agenda for change, join us at www.WhiteHouse.gov .
Work force
Dear Editor:
I normally don't take offense at the opinions expressed about the shortcomings of the Pride Parade: too many politicians, too many businesses, not enough drag queens, not enough leather queens, too many drag/leather queens who don't reflect everyone in the community, etc. I've heard these concerns ever since I moved to Chicago over 20 years ago, and I believe that the parade continues to be a healthy expression of the diversity of the LGBT community.
However, I feel compelled to respond to the recent complaint voiced by R.M. Schultz ( "The real deal," July 29 ) against one group of participants in particular. Mr. Schultz felt that it was "a waste of my time to watch a flat-bed truck full of Commonwealth Edison employees ( none of whom looked at all gay to me ) drive by." As just one of the many LGBT employees of Exelon and ComEd, and as one of the over 50 Exelon and ComEd employees, partners, friends and family members who participated in the parade, I'd like to clarify a few points for Mr. Schultz.
First, please find a skilled professional to have your gaydar checked—it's seriously out of adjustment. It's true that we had many straight participants with us, but the two dozen or so G's, L's, B's and/or T's in our group would be very amused to know that someone thinks they are butch/femme enough to pass as straight at a gay-oriented event. The LGBT community has a history of welcoming people from the fringes of society. Can't we also include "ordinary-looking" utility workers?
Second, the Exelon/ComEd representation at the parade was put together by a group of employees—both LGBT and straight allies—who are proud to be working for a gay-supportive company and who want to share this pride with the rest of our community. We work for a company that recognizes the value that LGBT employees bring to the work environment, and that supports many organizations in the LGBT community. Exelon/ComEd and other Chicago corporations provide financial support to organizations like the Center on Halsted, Howard Brown Health Center/LCCP, and Equality Illinois. Instead of complaining about corporate participation in the parade, we should be applauding our existing corporate benefactors and encouraging more corporations to support our community.
Finally, I find it ironic and a bit sad that I have to defend ComEd's participation in the parade in a gay publication. Nobody at ComEd has ever asked me to explain why the company should sponsor a group of employees marching in a queer parade. Why should I have to explain that to another queer?
Joe Powers
Oak Park
I love a parade
My lover and I had the opportunity to watch the Gay Pride Parade this year for the first time in a long time. We were usually part of a corporate group in the parade. Both of us were able to find some shade on Halsted—if you can believe that—and enjoy some wonderful floats and marching contingents.
I especially loved two of the floats in the parade. The first one was in celebration to the 40th anniversary of Stonewall, and the second float was for the Gay Republicans. I think the goal of the organizers of the parade over the years has been to have the parade reflect the community that supports it. You are off to a great beginning in celebrating our diversity. With each year our parade becomes more of a rainbow of people no easy task giving the political dynamics of our communities.
As I move into the fall of my life I continue to be amazed by this community, and its foot soldiers of care past, present, and hopefully those to come.
To the organizers I would like to say thank you for all your hard work. To the critics of the parade I would like to also say thank you because you cared enough to give voice to your concerns.
Finally, thank you Richard Pfeiffer, for making sure for the last 40 years we have been able to celebrate ourselves in a way that respected the memory of Stonewall.
Sincerely,
Joe Murray
Race-off
The Community Planning Group ( CPG ) of Indiana has voted to remove white gay men from the priorities for public funding of HIV/AIDS projects in Indiana, while retaining African-American and Hispanic Gay men as priority populations. This advisory group defines the priority populations that the Indiana State Department of Health ( ISDH ) must use to solicit HIV/AIDS service providers in Indiana for project proposals for HIV prevention in the state. This decision was made even though the State of Indiana's 2008 epidemiology report shows that the number of cases as well as number of new diagnoses for white MSM ( men having sex with men ) continue to outnumber combined African-American and Hispanic MSM cases by more than two to one.
While no one questions that African-American and Hispanic gay men are appropriate priorities, the exclusion of Indiana's largest at-risk population from HIV/AIDS funding priorities will significantly reduce the resources available for HIV prevention among white gay men. This change in policy and the resulting redirection of funding risks increasing the rate and numbers of HIV/AIDS among white gay males. It is bad public policy for Indiana, and is an error that must be corrected by the Community Planning Group. Read supporting facts and learn who to contact to voice your concern at www.TSAGL.org/HIVissues.
Gary Essary
Tri-State Alliance
Evansville, Ind.
