Village Voice: "Does 'Gay Inc.' Believe in Free Speech?"

Both parties seem weird. Also the "aid" flotillas are a joke.

 

I think this quote is more representative of the whole article:

LGBT activism is dominated by white, middle-to-upper-class, cis men. It has historically, and certainly recently, ignored the problems faced by poor LGBT people, PoC, transpeople, and so on. One of the best points made is that HCR sees people as primarily consumers, not workers. Citing the example of various LGBT groups supporting Starbucks after it publicly supported same-sex marriage:

One of the most important principles in social justice activism is intersectionality. Members of multiple minority groups experience oppression on multiple fronts, and these oppressions interact. Social justice groups that fail to recognize this inevitably end up only focusing on policies that benefit the most privileged members of the minority. This has historically been a significant problem with American feminism, which has (to take one of many examples) often ignored the issues faced by African-American women that white American women do not experience.

When we fail to acknowledge the needs and concerns of minority LGBT people we exclude them. We say, "There is no place for you at our table, your problems are irrelevant." This is entirely unacceptable.

 

Nothing in the article is false that I can tell, and most if not all of the criticisms are on the mark. There are just three glaring problems with the argument that is being made.

Reality, history, and the facts.

The reality is that LGBT people come from every social class, every religion, every race, every tribe, every nation, every gender, every economic bracket, and any other group label that can be imagined. In some cases, perhaps even many cases, some of the desires of these groups are in direct opposition to one another. The perfect example of this is the divide between liberal and conservative members of the LGBT community; though another good example are the pro-Palestinian activists and the pro-Israel activists. Another good example, are the extremely wealthy people who make our political activism possible and those that they employ. That's the reality.

The history is that there has never been a successful cultural movement in the History of the United States that has divided itself up into numerous factions. The most successful movements in history focused like a laser on a handful of clear and simple issues. It was understood what they wanted, and they fought like hell to get it. In our case, it is equality under the law and in society. We want to be seen as equals to straight people, both under the law and by society at large. We are opposed to things that undermine that, such as the denial of the equal right for LGBT people to get married. These are things that benefit everyone in the community, whether they are rich or poor, and irregardless of whether or not they are Pro or Anti Israel.

The fact is the inevitable outcome of both reality and history. If you take sides in minor disputes, then you create divisions within the community. If you create divisions in the community, you are less able to push the agenda that benefits everyone in the community regardless of their personal differences and difficulties.

This doesn't mean the personal differences and difficulties aren't valid. It is simply the necessary pragmatic approach needed to ensure victory. Nothing prevents LGBT people who wish to organize a discussion against Israel. Nothing prevents LGBT people who wish to organize on behalf of workers rights.

What is being prevented are these groups from attempting to hijack the movement and work toward goals that would divide the community, which would in turn limit the ability of "Gay Inc." to work toward the benefit of all LGBT people. It does not, in any way, negate the importance of other issues.

 

While I think Lucas is an idiot, I also don't support the Against Apartheid crap going on in a place like a Gay and Lesbian Centre. Sorry, but a protest at an Israel culture day happened at my school which was ridiculous and so too do I think that sort of thing should not happen at such a centre. Please note I do not really support either side, I just support the side that those types of political aspects do not belong in a place of education nor a place of support for the gay and lesbian community.

 

I also want to voice my displeasure with Lucas. I skip every advocate.com peice he rights. This was a guy who once made the case that more gays should vote republican because 'the republicans wont regulate the porn industry'... yes, repeat that line in your head a few times and let it sink in.

He is a total douchebag, and honestly, I think he is both as ugly physically as his personality. Before I learned to ignore his posts, I saw some fairly shallow and demneaing towards lgbt things that he had written, and it just got to the point that the moment I see he is the author, I click 'back' on my browser and move on. He looks like a 60 year old man who got too much plastic surgery, so now he perpetually looks windswept.

Also, did I tell you that he is a total douchebag?