I don't think you understand something

[ruggerson]

You have radicalized us.

We had been attempting to lead our lives, get to work on time, raise our kids, feed our pets, mow our lawns and make sure our families had the same rights as yours.

Nothing too terrible about that, right?

But then Prop 8 happened. (Not to mention it's sister monstrosities in Florida and Arkansas.)

And Prop 8 actually stopped people from forming full, legal equal families. We had a constitutional right stripped away from us by masses of lying bigots, backed by insane, wealthy churches.

And we realized that we have been told to wait for decades now. We have been told, even by the liberal political party in our country, that our rights must be subjugated to a broader agenda, so don't capsize the boat. The country is not ready yet. If there are crumbs left over, you'll get them.

You see, you did this. You radicalized us.

And Rick Warren is nothing but rubbing salt into an open wound.

If you can't see that, then that's your problem, not ours.

Obama's presidency is a very welcome thing for many of us. We understand its historic significance. And if he doesn't move fast enough, or makes mistakes, we will push him to do better.

And, yes, many of us know how to multi-task and work on getting people back to work, our troops out of Iraq and getting healthcare reformed. All at the same time we'll be in your face about getting our equality. Imagine that. Not AFTER those other things get done, but at the exact same, damn time.

We will not shut up.

Our straight friends and allies won't be silenced.

None of us are going away.

We are going to get full equality in this country that we love, and if it takes making many of you feel very uncomfortable while we go about it, too fucking bad.

You have radicalized us.

There's no going back this time around.

[jonnyblitz]

1. ..

:kick:

[FreeState]

2. Amen - and one thing even Obama has not realized yet is those marches

You know the marches where hundreds of thousands of people marched just weeks ago? Yeah those. Guess what? They were organized online - via Facebook and email.

That would be the same Facebook and email lists that for the last two days now have been non-stop informing people about Mr. Warren.

We are energized. We are organized and we are fucking sick and tiered of being used. No longer will we stand by while our nations churches call us pedophiles. No longer will we stand by while our elected officials give credence to the very hate that destroyed many of our youth, spewed from the pulpit.

[reggie the dog]

6. the religious conservatives want you all to die

that is why they support treating you like shit when you are teens in the hopes that you will just kill yourselves. Quite "holy" of them.........:-(

[EFerrari]

3. K&R

:kick:

[grantcart]

4. That is exactly why Warren is beyond consideration

[reggie the dog]

5. I agree with you 100%

You deserve equality. I prone gay marriage and adoption rights in my 2 countries, France and the USA. Anything less than full equality makes you second class citizens and free societies must have NO second class citizens. I really do not understand why people are so scared of you having a marriage, you already live in couples like heteros. What would happen? Has Boston gone to hell because of gay marriage? Or Madrid? Or Brussels, or Amsterdam?????

[RandomKoolzip]

7. Right fucking on.

"Our straight friends and allies won't be silenced."

No, we certainly won't. :thumbsup:

[jonnyblitz]

8. I appreciate your thoughts and support.

thank you.

[RandomKoolzip]

9. Thanks. I wish I could do more.

:fistbump:

[Hepburn]

28. Totally in agreement.

Taking away civil rights is WRONG...and, no, this straight, white, senior female is NOT going to be silent about it!

[Starbucks Anarchist]

39. Seconded.

[CreekDog]

10. Sometimes a bad event is a catalyst for good changes

let's hope. :hi:

[enigmatic]

11. I stand w/ you

Always. :thumbsup:

[LooseWilly]

12. Cheers.

:toast:

[Chovexani]

13. Preach!

The fundies are going to rue the day they ever even thought up Prop 8 by the time we get done raising cain.

[ruggerson]

59. ...

:hug:

[AtomicKitten]

14. .

[FrenchieCat]

15. Go for it!

Human Right are a most worthy of a fight.

And you are correct, we cannot turn back..... :thumbsup:

[Skittles]

16. I UNDERSTAND, RUGGERSON

YES INDEED

[JohnnyLib2]

17. That's the way I've seen things happen from the 60s on.

:kick: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[tkmorris]

18. Fookin' A

I'm not gay but I haven't been this pissed about an issue in quite awhile. Bush just tired me out, it got to the point where nothing he did surprised me. This though, from OUR president-elect? This is just bullshit.

There are a lot of us ruggerson, and we are on your side. The time to sit down and shut up has passed. Let's get this thing done, whatever it takes.

[Norrin Radd]

19. kr

[Chulanowa]

20. So fucking do something

Look, I'm as big a fan of bitching on the internet as anyone. But if you're really pissed about this - which obviously you are, and more people could stand to be - then please, yes... shut the fuck up.

Shut the fuck up and close down the interstate with your number
Shut the fuck up and show up at the Inauguration to make yourself heard there
Shut the fuck up And tear some fucking new ones on whoever has it coming

Milling around informing other DU'ers of how pissed you are is probably cathartic as all hell. Fuck's sake we've spent every day since November 4th with someone on DU calling for Obama's head and I'm not forseeing an end in sight, so it must be fun. But that's not going to resolve the issue.

Stop talking, start doing.

[LostinVA]

22. Oh, telling us to "shut the fuck up" several times is sooo supportive

:eyes:

[Chulanowa]

26. Well, if that's all you choose to see, then you're willingly limp

I'm simply stating that screaming at everyone on a messageboard will accomplish diddly squat. You want to accomplish something, you have to actually do something with your outrage rather than just... well... whine about it. Even if all you can do is write letters, run the damned pen dry.

By the by... Weren't you very vociferously defending the trampling of a woman's civil rights two days ago? Now you're up in arms about Rick Warren? Tell me, have you turned over a new leaf, or do you only give a shit when it's your camp getting jerked around?

[Maven]

32. She is a woman, and I highly doubt she was "trampling on a woman's civil rights"

Since LostinVA's cred when it comes to equality is ironclad.

So I'm calling bullshit on that charge.

That said, I understand what you're trying to say.

[Solon]

23. Actually, if you want it to be organized, places like DU are the ideal places to organize such...

actions. "Milling around informing other DU'ers" is the first step to do so.

[Chulanowa]

27. I agree

Your tactic, in particular, of calling every single poster on DU a homophobe for not hating Obama as much as you over this, however, is probably not the best way to "get the word out"

Please take a moment to use the search function. Back in early november,the GLBT community managed to get massive support in opposition to Proposition 8 and its relatives in Florida, Arkansas, and... was it Arizona or Colorado? Apologies, the non-California ones got relatively small coverage. Protests and actions were organized, people did stuff, and it seems at least a little accomplished.

Compare to this Rick Warren stuff. We have folks like you rushing around in a huge hurry to call everyone else a bigot. We have straw men popping up like there's a Wizard of Oz tryout in town. We have a whole lot of outrage and apparently no direction.

End result? A lot of people acting like assholes on all sides (and I can't claim innocence there, myself). Speaking from extensive personal experience, being an asshole isn't a very good way to get one's goals met.

[Solon]

34. I won't claim innocence either, but a lot of people are particularly hateful towards GLBT people...

and so I see red and go off on them. I make no apologies for that, and frankly these people, quite a few of them, have a history of minimizing ALL GLBT concerns, that makes them, at the very least, suspect in my eyes.

[ruggerson]

53. I guess you didn't watch much teevee

the week after the election. We were in the streets in almost every city. And that's just the beginning.

[LostinVA]

21. Bravo!

[terrya]

24. Another superb post from you, ruggerson. Recommended.

[AllentownJake]

25. I'm straight and I'm with you

I stand by all of you and will be a radical on this issue as well.

[pecwae]

29. K&R-standing with all of you.

[alcibiades_mystery]

30. Would that we had some actual radicals

Perhaps while you're being radical we can get you on board for real transformation of the state and economic apparatus as well.

The radical LGBT folks I know are against heteronormativity in all its forms, and understand it to be a function of capitalist, patriarchical social organization. You've been "radicalized" towards at best a mild reformism, which is fair enough given the outrageous inequality of the current situation, but I'd prefer to reserve the term "radical" for those who actually analyze and attack the root of the problem, rather than playing footsies with the state apparatus. The root of the problem of the way multiple sexualities are treated in contemporary society is not marriage law, but heteronormativity. Marriage law is a symptom, to be sure, but then so is marriage, full stop. When Michael Warner talks about "the trouble with normal," he might just as well be saying "the trouble with equal."

[Maven]

31. Fucking A. No more waiting.

[Starry Messenger]

33. Yes.

I don't understand why people can't see how serious this issue is. Stripping away constitutional rights? For the way you are born? This shouldn't be rocket science.

Gay rights=human rights. Supporting human rights is patriotic. :patriot:

[Bluenorthwest]

35. Re-radicalized

And reactivated. The lovely lecturers who tell us we should organize know not our history. They do not even know that every shred of equality and acceptance that we have gained, indeed that any minority has gained, has been hard won over years of activism.

They have no idea what we have accomplished, and how strong is our resolve. If they did, they would ask for lessons instead of delivering lectures.

So today I join you in saying something I have not said since those days, and thought I'd not have to say again among Democrats.

We're Here. We're Queer. Get Used To It.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

36. rec'd

[rucky]

37. Any plans for inaguration?

I fully support any collective action for gay rights. It's as much-needed and well-deserved as a woman's right to choose. This paternalistic bullshit has to end - the mainstream should not dictate a damn thing about any GLBT issue.

woah... I guess it's radicalized some straight folk, too.

[FreeState]

43. There is a lot planned:

http://queersunited.blogspot.com/2008/11/listing-of-prop-8-protests-and-rallies.html

Saturday, December 20th
Light Up The Night - Nationwide, candle light vigil
http://jointheimpact.wetpaint.com/page/Quick+Links+States+%3E+Cities


Saturday, Jan, 10th

Put a blue bulb in your window, on your porch light, or store front to show support for Equality.
http://blue4equality.org/



Monday, January 19th

Million Person Equality March - Sacramento, CA
Capitol Building, Sacramento
Get your hotel reservations now. Sign up for teams: equalityactionnow.org


(There is much more at the link above)

[John Q. Citizen]

38. Good, it's about time.

[bunnies]

40. k&r. Well said. nt

[SwampG8r]

41. hell feezes over as i type

i agree 100% with ruggerson
i am straight but i will be much more active in human rights (thats god damn right! HUMAN RIGHTS)activities here in florida
how can we forget that when one man is held down humanity is held down?
how can any of us act like life is right when our brothers and sisters,literally many times,are being denied the common decencies of life?
i will no longer sit idly by enjoying the perqs of my straightness while others are denied

so go ahead spray me with teh gay

[SeaLyons]

42. Bravo!!!!

:applause:

This straight lady supports you 100%.

[glowing]

44. I'm with you.

[krabigirl]

45. Right on! This straight woman supports you 100%.

But I'd be lying if I said I didn't see this coming from Obama.

[AlCzervik]

46. You have my support always.

in for a penny, in for a pound.

[sniffa]

47. .

:thumbsup:

[Politicub]

48. Silence=Death

Yours is a fantastic post that puts reality in sharp relief to the appeasers of bigotry. We will not be silenced.

And to anyone reading this who wants GLBT folk and their allies to twiddle their thumbs as to not rock the democrat boat - FUCK YOU.

"I'm past the point of no return." - Mother Jones

[Neshanic]

49. That's as pure as it gets. K&R. You ROCK!

[NorthCarolina]

50. Great post, thanks n/t

[sellitman]

51. Error: You've already recommended that thread.

Error: You've already recommended that thread. Error: You've already recommended that thread. Error: You've already recommended that thread.Error: You've already recommended that thread Error: You've already recommended that thread. Error: You've already recommended that thread. Error: You've already recommended that thread.Error: You've already recommended that thread.

[Blarch]

52. Welcome to the radical left.

that makes four of us. :hi:

[makinguphumans]

54. *********Contact OBAMA CIVIL RIGHTS TEAM NOW PLEASE*:

http://change.gov/page/s/civilrights

[David Zephyr]

55. K&R.

Fuck Rick Warren and all of his apologist here.

[PVnRT]

56. K&R

[IndianaJones]

57. excellent. nt.

[Bjorn Against]

58. This is a definite K&R.

Fight hard and don't ever stop fighting, you have my back and I will join the frontlines with you in this one.

[LeftCoast]

60. K&R

:kick: