I cherish the DU and admire Skinner, but I will not come to the DU on Inauguration Day.

David Zephyr

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Sat Dec-20-08 02:57 PM
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I cherish the DU and admire Skinner, but I will not come to the DU on Inauguration Day.

As John Lennon wrote,

I don't want to spoil the party so I'll go,
I would hate my disappointment to show,
There's nothing for me here,
So I'll just disappear,
I don't want to spoil the party so I'll go.

I can only speak for myself, but I will not be here on inauguration day. It would be too awkward and I would feel in the way.

When Rick Warren gives his "prayer" with an approving and smiling President Obama standing right beside him --- as they are televised together to billions around the world --- it will be hard enough to watch that betrayal. And I certainly will not care to see the inevitable "get over it" smug posts by the newly emboldened homophobic reactionaries here at what I still want to believe is a progressive blog.

One doesn't have to be a soothsayer to know the past is prologue. It's clear to me that a pattern is established and that those who have gone out of their way these last few days to aggressively criticize the GLBT community here for daring to speak out against this high insult will no doubt be freely offering their condescending advice to us that "it wasn't that bad" or "it was just two or three minutes" and wagging their fingers at us without measure just as they have done these past days.

I've never been one to go along to get along. I have fought back --- even with my fists if necessary when I was a gay teen in Texas and later at 17 living on the streets here in Los Angeles after being shown the door by my Christian family --- against bullies and those who maligned or hurt those weaker than themselves. It is just my nature.

The Democratic Party became a home away from home for me and, as many here know, I have worked for decades in our struggles for civil rights for all minorities, for economic, social and environmental justice. I have given my time, my money, my heart and at many times at great cost to my companion all these years. I am proud of all of that.

But there's a time when decorum and decency requires a respite in fighting. On Inauguration Day, there are only three choices that I see with regards to being here: 1.) Be quiet and suffer the snide comments and keep it to myself as the great indignity of watching an an avowed enemy of every gay boy and girl in this country is honored on high with Obama next to him; 2.) Engage in intra-postal squabbles with those here who are blind to this great injustice and some who seem to really be licking their chops in sadistic pleasure at our dilemma; or 3.) to follow John Lennon's counsel and "disappear" during the Party.

I'll disappear so as not to spoil that party. And when the party is over, I'll be back.

And when the fireworks are bursting proudly that evening over the White House, and as the choruses are singing Glory, Glory, Hallelujah, and while Rick Warren and Barack Obama toast each other in self-congratulatory reverence, I know that I'll also be proudly with my loved ones wondering what we ever did to deserve such betrayal by someone who once spoke about the "Audacity of Hope.

So, let me be the first old queer to say: Congratulations Rick and Barack! I hope you enjoy your day.