Thursday, November 10, 2005

Austin TV News Ponders the New Ban

(Link) Why isn't the queer movement for equality as strong as the Civil Rights Movement was? A clue: If you feel safe and happy and free, you may fool yourself into thinking everybody else is, too.
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LNewsEditor said...

JIC Post:
From KXAN TV

The overwhelming passage of the gay marriage ban constitutional amendment Tuesday has proponents savoring victory.

Opponents argue that the gay and lesbian community gained valuable organizational momentum from the campaign, that will keep the gay marriage issue alive.

But in some Thoughts From the Porch, Jim Swift wonders if anyone should even bother.

(The following is a transcript of Thoughts From the Porch.)

The voters who lined up well into the evening Tuesday didn't just kill gay marriage in Texas, they buried it so deeply in the state's antiquated constitution, it may never see the light of day again.

Anti-amendment leader Glen Maxey says: "Everybody's been asking me, 'What happens tomorrow?' I'll tell you what happens tomorrow: Gay men and lesbians across this state will get up. They'll feed their kids; They'll put their kids on a school bus. They'll go to work; They'll pay their taxes."


There is one thing, though, they will not do. They will not stand up in mass and demand, once and for all, that other people stop treating them like they were some sort of cancer.

"Keepin' It Weird" play at Zachary Scott Theatre
Actor says: "Former State Representative Glen Maxey."
Actor says: "In 1991, I decided to run. "Ann Richards said, 'Don't do it, don't do it, don't do it.' Why? Because you might win; then what would you do?"

Zachary Scott Theatre Artistic Director Dave Steakley says: "Gays and lesbians are so integrated throughout every neighborhood of Austin; we're not ghettoized in this community. And so, because there's broader acceptance and people feel a certain level of safety here, then, 'Well, life's pretty good,' and I think it just makes us really lazy."

Rev. Jesse Jackson says: "Put your hands together and show your love for Sister Rosa Parks."

The irony here is that in the middle of the gay marriage ban amendment campaign, civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks died, and a nation rose up in quiet tribute and appreciation.

Swift says: "What I'm missing is a Rosa Parks in this outfit. You know, where are the sit-ins, where are the marches, where are the protests, where are the day-in-and-day-out in-you-face, 'You're gonna treat me right?'"
Maxey says: "Well, you know, there's a whole bunch of reticence about, you know, that confrontational politics."

Swift says: "But I think many of us are kind of waiting, you know, where is that outrage? You know, if you all don't care---"
Steakley says: "Why should I?"
Swift says: "Why should I?"
Steakley says: "Absolutely."

Maxey tells supporters: "When we stand proudly, when we stand up with dignity, stand up with courage, we will never be defeated.

Applause.

"Thank you very much, keep up the fight."

The bottom line is: in order to keep up a fight, you've got to kick up a fight to begin with.

Protesters chant: "You gotta fight for your right to get married."
Protesters chant: "To get married."

11/10/2005 10:47 AM

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