These lines, adapted from a speech given by Martin Luther King, Jr. at the end of the Selma to Montgomery march in 1965, are a reminder of the certain hope that is shared by all who seek LGBT justice.
“And so I plead with you this afternoon as we go ahead: remain committed to nonviolence. Our aim must never be to defeat or humiliate our adversaries, but to win their friendship and understanding. We must come to see that the end we seek is a society at peace with itself, a society that can live with its conscience. And that will be a day not of straight or gay or transgender humankind. That will be a day of all humankind.
“I know you are asking today, ‘How long will it take?’ Somebody’s asking, “How long will prejudice blind the visions of men, darken their understanding, and drive wisdom from her sacred throne?’ Somebody’s asking, “When will the radiant star of hope be plunged against the nocturnal bosom of this lonely night, plucked from weary souls with chains of fear and the manacles of death? How long will justice be crucified and truth bear it?’
“I come to say to you this afternoon, however difficult the moment, however frustrating the hour, it will not be long because truth crushed to earth will rise again.
How long? Not long, because no lie can live forever.
How long? Not long, because you shall reap what you sow.
How long? Not long, because the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”
Now, as then, I believe we shall overcome.
Showing posts with label civil rights. Show all posts
Showing posts with label civil rights. Show all posts
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Friday, May 9, 2008
Lansing State Journal
The following guest editorial was published in the Lansing State Journal in an abbreviated form in late March.
The season of the year that includes Black History Month and Women's Month seems an appropriate time to reflect on our progress towards equality in America. In the recent movie The Great Debaters, Samantha, one of the college students from an all-black Texas school, boldly argues, " . . . the time for equality is always, is always right now!"The movie is set in 1935. It took nearly 30 years for congress to enact The Civil Rights Act. Michigan's civil rights act was passed 13 years later. It seems Michigan was slow to get it. So how are we doing now? Over time, the federal government and many states added various groupsof people to their civil rights acts such that discrimination based on religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, height, weight, familial status, or marital status is forbidden in most states.Michigan, though, still excludes one of the most discriminated groups in our state from protection. Many estimates would place this collective group at about ten percent of our population. These unprotected citizens of Michigan are those whose sexual orientation, gender identity, and/or gender expression is "different". Accepting the "different" was precisely the catalyst for adding religion, race, color, sex, and handicaps to civil rights protection. It is still what civil rights - and our country - are all about.Jefferson's reminder of the self-evident truth that all "are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness" is still true and yet some persist in seeking to deny these rights to others; others who are different. Coretta Scott King understood this pursuit of civil rights better than most. She boldly proclaimed, "I believe all Americans who believe in freedom, tolerance and human rights have a responsibility to oppose bigotry and prejudice based on sexual orientation." The time for equality is always now. Amending Michigan's Elliot Larsen Civil Rights Act of 1977 to include sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression is quite simply the right thing to do. In addition to fundamental fairness and equal opportunity, protecting the civil rights of this currently unprotected population is pragmatically good for Michigan. Academician and researcher Richard Florida (The Rise of the Creative Class) has made it clear that the current generation of college and university graduates place the honoring of diversity as a very high priority for their lives. The brain drain (and concurrent job drain) from Michigan is at least partly the result of Michigan being an unfriendly state for this diversity. Many businesses, including most of the Fortune 500, have already added diversity protections in their workplaces because they know it is not only the right thing to do, it is also simply good business sense to do so. Yet these workplace pockets of protection in Michigan are not enough. As one who lost her job because of the lack of job protections for simply being different, I know the time for statewide equality is now. The time is now to amend the civil rights laws of Michigan to protect these who are excluded and too often the victims of hate, exclusion, and even violence. The time for equality is always now.
The season of the year that includes Black History Month and Women's Month seems an appropriate time to reflect on our progress towards equality in America. In the recent movie The Great Debaters, Samantha, one of the college students from an all-black Texas school, boldly argues, " . . . the time for equality is always, is always right now!"The movie is set in 1935. It took nearly 30 years for congress to enact The Civil Rights Act. Michigan's civil rights act was passed 13 years later. It seems Michigan was slow to get it. So how are we doing now? Over time, the federal government and many states added various groupsof people to their civil rights acts such that discrimination based on religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, height, weight, familial status, or marital status is forbidden in most states.Michigan, though, still excludes one of the most discriminated groups in our state from protection. Many estimates would place this collective group at about ten percent of our population. These unprotected citizens of Michigan are those whose sexual orientation, gender identity, and/or gender expression is "different". Accepting the "different" was precisely the catalyst for adding religion, race, color, sex, and handicaps to civil rights protection. It is still what civil rights - and our country - are all about.Jefferson's reminder of the self-evident truth that all "are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness" is still true and yet some persist in seeking to deny these rights to others; others who are different. Coretta Scott King understood this pursuit of civil rights better than most. She boldly proclaimed, "I believe all Americans who believe in freedom, tolerance and human rights have a responsibility to oppose bigotry and prejudice based on sexual orientation." The time for equality is always now. Amending Michigan's Elliot Larsen Civil Rights Act of 1977 to include sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression is quite simply the right thing to do. In addition to fundamental fairness and equal opportunity, protecting the civil rights of this currently unprotected population is pragmatically good for Michigan. Academician and researcher Richard Florida (The Rise of the Creative Class) has made it clear that the current generation of college and university graduates place the honoring of diversity as a very high priority for their lives. The brain drain (and concurrent job drain) from Michigan is at least partly the result of Michigan being an unfriendly state for this diversity. Many businesses, including most of the Fortune 500, have already added diversity protections in their workplaces because they know it is not only the right thing to do, it is also simply good business sense to do so. Yet these workplace pockets of protection in Michigan are not enough. As one who lost her job because of the lack of job protections for simply being different, I know the time for statewide equality is now. The time is now to amend the civil rights laws of Michigan to protect these who are excluded and too often the victims of hate, exclusion, and even violence. The time for equality is always now.
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Heros Needed
I don’t feel like a hero. To my shame, I was a reluctant activist. I would write congressmen and senators and give to civil rights organizations, but it was all behind the scenes. The actions taken against me by the university where I worked gave me the kick in the pants (or skirt) I needed. Now I expect to be as active and vocal as I can as long as I can.
This week I had two incidents that shook me a little. At Transgender Michigan’s Pride in the Park I had three different people come up to me and tell me that I was a hero to them. Then yesterday, someone wrote to me, “Thanks again, Julie - The world has long needed a strength like you.” I don’t feel like a hero. What makes others think that? I have reached two tentative conclusions. First, every movement needs leaders who – like it or not – are perceived as heroes. Second, we need - desperately need - more heroes.
What made me a “hero”? It was a little over a year ago when I sat in a rocking chair in our living room with a handgun in my lap. I had composed an email to be sent that began with the words, “By the time you read this, I will be dead.” Then God broke through. I had a lot of friends praying for me during those very dark and difficult days. I believe their prayers saved my life. As I sat wrestling in my mind, I realized I loved my wife and kids (and grandson) too much to end my life. And in that moment I decided to not let hate and discrimination claim another victim. I chose to live and I chose to do all that I can to keep hate and discrimination ruining or ending as many other lives as I could.
So I began to tell me story and Joanne often was able to share her story as well. In God’s providence the story was told and people listened. For over a month I averaged 2-3 media interviews a weekday; including everything from student newspapers and local media to Fox News, Newsweek, and the Wall Street Journal. I was getting 80-100 emails a day from people encouraged by the story to be vocal, active, or supportive. All I did was tell my story and seek to live as authentic a life as I could. I guess that made me a hero. I don’t feel like a hero, but if that is what I am, more are needed. Want to be a hero? Tell your story and/or encourage others to tell theirs. You will be a hero . . . at least to me.
This week I had two incidents that shook me a little. At Transgender Michigan’s Pride in the Park I had three different people come up to me and tell me that I was a hero to them. Then yesterday, someone wrote to me, “Thanks again, Julie - The world has long needed a strength like you.” I don’t feel like a hero. What makes others think that? I have reached two tentative conclusions. First, every movement needs leaders who – like it or not – are perceived as heroes. Second, we need - desperately need - more heroes.
What made me a “hero”? It was a little over a year ago when I sat in a rocking chair in our living room with a handgun in my lap. I had composed an email to be sent that began with the words, “By the time you read this, I will be dead.” Then God broke through. I had a lot of friends praying for me during those very dark and difficult days. I believe their prayers saved my life. As I sat wrestling in my mind, I realized I loved my wife and kids (and grandson) too much to end my life. And in that moment I decided to not let hate and discrimination claim another victim. I chose to live and I chose to do all that I can to keep hate and discrimination ruining or ending as many other lives as I could.
So I began to tell me story and Joanne often was able to share her story as well. In God’s providence the story was told and people listened. For over a month I averaged 2-3 media interviews a weekday; including everything from student newspapers and local media to Fox News, Newsweek, and the Wall Street Journal. I was getting 80-100 emails a day from people encouraged by the story to be vocal, active, or supportive. All I did was tell my story and seek to live as authentic a life as I could. I guess that made me a hero. I don’t feel like a hero, but if that is what I am, more are needed. Want to be a hero? Tell your story and/or encourage others to tell theirs. You will be a hero . . . at least to me.
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