*****I Ponder This Movement*****

Our movement is no longer a movement for real liberation. It is rather a conglomeration of corporate funded-non-profit organizations clamoring for funding,  equal access to marriage, and the military, all the while assimilating as quick as possible. The larger vision of social change and liberation of humanity across all borders  has vanished.We suddenly became a movement again (within our own borders) last week when a large number of lgbt groups stood together against the idea of removing the Trans community from the ENDA bill. From here I can only say thanks, but also must say its about time. For how many years have we heard equality and justice for all? For how many years have we only really flown that slogan on our banners for g & l people. So, now the light shines from within or so we think, let’s get lovely dovey and make some whoopie, while that sun shines all around us. We are all aglow as we have met the enemy and it was one of us. Out, out damn spot, away, away HRC, we sing. But a question that begs to be asked is what else has this lgbt movement to catch up with? What else is missing, what chunk is out of the whole picture? What have we thrown by the way side and forgotten about?  How about some of this, how about pondering beyond the embrace of our own community, how about the following.   I like what Freedom Socialist said in their PRIDE a few yars back. “As Queers we know that the very same people who declare war against us are waging war against millions of human beings no different than us. We know that war, racism, poverty, funding cuts from critical people’s programs, tax cuts for the wealthy, workers and  immigrant rights and attacks on our civil liberties are our everyday issues.” We at QWB fight for this idea to be brought into the mainstream lgbt movement. We know that we do not live in isolation from other communities that struggle for justice. We are within all communities.  United with all who struggle will bring we bring us closer to justice for all.  But many in the lgbt movement have folded the flags of world wide justice. The idea that we are here there and everywhere so therefore all issues are ours has been lost. We are taking on the worse that the mainstream has to offer and lolling around in it. Not only the worse that mainstream /straight culture has to offer but we are forgetting our place in the world. We are forgetting where we came from. We do not want to rock the boat, (I can swim and promise to bring a tube for you) ruffle the feathers (honey take a tip from proud Mary) upset the apple cart, ( make pie and sauce) or any other thing that seems to be out of the way. “I hope no one will point at me.”  Blend in. Many people now see the lgbt movement (thank the goddess for Queers) as a single issue movement. But we must remember that no single issue battle can ever achieve lasting change on its own. “Our liberation will be total and irreversible only if it is achieved within the context of social revolution. Never will Trans/homo-phobic prejudice be defeated through reformist means.” 1 Many g & l people now enjoy a seat at the masters table. As Radical Women say “ They now love the master and join with the enemy.” They know how to act. They are the straight g & l, they can monkey so well. They sit far away from most of us, enjoying theirs, and making deals for themselves and their pals. They are the comfortable class. They will say, we are your friends, you may think they mean it, but they will do us in as fast as we can say the word, queer. Out of fear I suppose. But we will look at them and say, miss leaders. We do not follow you.  One thing that bugs me is somehow we have lost the idea that we should fight for fundamental economic and social change. Gay Shame in San Francisco brought up some very good points about The Human Rights Campaign. Take a look over the posting we did for them. (their site is listed on our sidebar, look them up, you’ll be glad you did) As Gay Shame asks, “is this really what we want, this type of vision, this type of equality?” A movement that says, look I got mine and fuck you little old brown bitch sitting at the sewing machine, who cares Miss working class waitress.  Do we want this wrapped vision of equality that leaves most of the world behind.(and it isn’t only HRC’s name we can call out here) Do we want a turn your head movement to what people all around this world face every day. This was never my vision that today’s movement expresses nor was it the vision of our early rights movement. Study it sometime. See what our people believed see what many of us still believe. You will be surprised and hopefully you can change your mind and set our movement once again– Queer.  I once carried a sign that stated, “Fight for the Soul of Our Movement.” I carry it again today.

(1) Daniel Guerin