The following graphic is by the National Organization for Marriage in its latest fundraising appeal. My guess is that NOM meant for it to show the lgbt community as menacing warriors, but I don't take it as that.
The graphic doesn't insult me. On the other hand, it empowers me. I see it as typifying a community who was beset with anti-marriage equality fever in 2004 and suffered many losses from the Prop 8 vote in California to many smaller but nonethless equally bruising battles.
However, the lgbt never lost our resolve. We never allowed ourselves to succumb to defeat. No matter how many times we were beaten and Maggie Gallagher or Brian Brown would mock us, we never gave up. We - in the words of a famous pro wrestler whom I adore - "sweat, bleed, and paid the price."
And now, we are where we need to be. Not where we want to be, but at a much better place than where we were.
So no, NOM's graphic depicting the lgbt community as menacing warriors don't insult me and it shouldn't insult anyone else in the community.
We should own up to the distinction with pride. Hell, we earned it.
2 comments:
I am reminded of "Doctor Horrible's Sing-a-long Blog", in which the 'bad' guy is really a decent fellow seeking the power to make the world a better place while the 'good' guy only fights for truth and justice when it is convenient and will bring him prestige. In the end, the 'good' guy is disillusioned, while the 'bad' guy achieved his goal and changed the world. It's not a perfect comparison, but it does answer their question. Who has the greater resolve? The ones fighting for the right reasons, the ones fighting for the right to love.
Pretty much reminds me of the fact that was can take on the bullies, and not be afraid of a bloody nose.
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