Some Gay-Rights Activists Regret Focus on Marriage

[dbackjon]

Even as it celebrates victories in the push for same-sex marriage, America's gay-rights movement is experiencing self-criticism and internal divisions over its approach to other thorny issues.

Some activists say the nationwide marriage campaign, while worthwhile, has diverted energy and resources from causes that may be harder to market — such as rights for transgender people and advocacy to combat HIV and AIDS.

"I wish we were spending a little more time working on these other issues and not just making marriage the centerpiece," said Terry Stone of CenterLink, a nationwide coalition of more than 200 community centers that serve lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people.

Stone said the latest survey of the community centers' patrons found that their top concerns were anti-gay bullying at schools, transgender rights, HIV and AIDS issues, and the need for more laws against anti-gay

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/gay-rights-activists-regret-focus-marriage-19703206

[closeupready]

1. Even now, there are gay people who lament the fall of the Closet,

Stonewall, and Gay Pride - for any number of reasons, mostly personal and relating to some kind of mental dysfunction in thinking or feeling that life would be better, even for gay people, if we returned to the days when gay people could be arrested merely for associating with other gay people.

In the same way, there will be some who say gay marriage was a mistake. I'm not saying that the people or groups referred to in the opening post are dysfunctional or regressive; to the contrary, I think they make valid points.

I do take issue with the mischaracterization of the push for gay marriage and the idea that we can't run and chew gum at the same time.

[William769]

2. I don't know who these people are but I totally disagree with them.

We are nothing without equality in the eyes of the law. Marriage equality has been the single most issue to bring us what we so rightly deserved since birth.

Once we are equal under the law every where the rest will easily follow. There has been a national campaign on anti-bullying (yes that includes our community also), as someone who has AIDS I am very pleased with how HIV/AIDS has come since it's infancy, Transgender well thats another story (although even though we still have far to go in this battle it's being fought on the local levels in many many communities).

Our single most important battle being fought right now is to bring people out of their closet (visibility is everything).

I had friends that when we talked about Gay marriage in the 90's, they said it would never happen in our life time (oops).

I have been fighting for marriage equality since 1993 and will continue to fight for it above all else until it is legal in all 50 States (I may not use it but it's the right thing to do to advance our community for equality).

I realize there are several in our community that want nothing to do with marriage & thats ok, but for those that do, they should not be denied the recognition or the tax breaks that it affords just to name a few.

[Fearless]

3. Seriously?

A rising tide lifts all boats!

By gaining acceptance in the mainstream culture of (urban and some suburban areas of) America, we are also shining a light on HIV/AIDS. Shove us back in the closet and then you'll see the 1980's all over again.