Thursday, March 10, 2011
A New Home!
Hey everyone... I've decided to move this blog to Tumblr, so I can more easily share things like links and events, and so you can ask me questions and submit guest posts! So check it out here: TIWBG Tumblr!
Saturday, March 5, 2011
In Which I Consider Punching Mike Pence in the Mouth.
Well, it's International Women's Day, so I think it is quite fitting for me to spend a little time being pissed off about the state of Women's rights lately. It seems to me that we can't take a step forward in the realm of human rights (lots of progress for the gays), without then taking a couple of giant steps back (attacking Planned Parenthood). Is it so horrible or impossible to imagine a point at which all humans are treated like humans?
I seriously could not be more hurt by Mike Pence right now, the author of the bill to defund Planned Parenthood. Mike is a Representative not only from Indiana, but from the district I grew up in. When I was a kid, I would see him year after year in parades and at other city events, since my family has always been pretty involved in local politics. I've shaken his hand many times. I remember once, when I was maybe 12 or 13, being at some kind of political event and him talking to me and asking me if I would vote for him when I "grew up." Being the shrewd teenager that I was, I coolly told him that I would only vote for him if he was the best candidate. He patted me on the back and told me not to worry. That he had mine and my family's best interests at heart. Really, Mike? Do you really have mine and my family's best interests at heart? Because Planned Parenthood does have mine and my family's best interests at heart, and you're trying to take that away.
I gotta tell you, Mike, I'm not sure where your ideas about PP come from, but I think you need to explore some other sources. You must have this mental image of a young girl carelessly skipping into a clinic, having an abortion, and skipping out with a lollypop and smile. You must think that the thousands of women that make the choice to have an abortion each year do so casually, that they are cruel and heartless women, and that they should be protected from themselves. Has anyone close to you ever gone through an abortion, Mike? Because I can tell you, it's not quite the scenario I think you have in mind. Though I have never gone through an abortion myself, I do have close friends that have, and I don't think it was the careless jaunt you imagine. Indeed, I accompanied a friend to the clinic on the day of her procedure, and as we were escorted by a guard through the pouring rain and into the clinic with protesters screaming hateful things all around us, I felt like my heart had broken in half. I can't imagine what my friend was feeling.
Mr. Pence, the decision to terminate a pregnancy is never an easy or careless one, but unfortunately it is sometimes a necessary one. And defunding an organization that provides safe and easy access to it is not going to stop it. Indeed, it will instead send girls into back rooms and underground "clinics" where they risk their own lives at the hands of untrained and perhaps unscrupulous practitioners.
It seems to me that our government has a demonstrated inability to learn from the past. During Prohibition, when alcohol was illegal, a massive black market was spawned, and organized crime flourished. We see the same thing today with marijuana. It is banned, allowing black markets and drug cartels to wreak havoc. If we defund Planned Parenthood and make it even more difficult than it already is to safely terminate a pregnancy, again the black market will come in fill the void. And I think the result of that could be truly devastating.
That concludes my put-together argument, but I have a few more things to say: 1) It's easy for men like Mike Pence and like the majority of our Congressmen to make and pass laws like this because they aren't women. If they are ever faced with an unwanted or unplanned pregnancy, they could just walk away. They would be assholes for doing it, but they aren't the ones who are truly "stuck" in this situation, and it's ultimately not their decision whether or not to carry the pregnancy to term, so it doesn't make a lot of sense to me that they get to make all the decisions about whether or not it is legal or receives federal funding.
Secondly, I find it increasingly hard to follow the Republican party's logic these days. They claw and tear and clamor and even incite violence to defend the rights of corporations (even giving corporations "human" rights) and unborn zygotes, but if you're an actual, living, breathing human being (especially anyone who's not a WASP), I guess you're out of luck.
How are we tolerating this, America?
I seriously could not be more hurt by Mike Pence right now, the author of the bill to defund Planned Parenthood. Mike is a Representative not only from Indiana, but from the district I grew up in. When I was a kid, I would see him year after year in parades and at other city events, since my family has always been pretty involved in local politics. I've shaken his hand many times. I remember once, when I was maybe 12 or 13, being at some kind of political event and him talking to me and asking me if I would vote for him when I "grew up." Being the shrewd teenager that I was, I coolly told him that I would only vote for him if he was the best candidate. He patted me on the back and told me not to worry. That he had mine and my family's best interests at heart. Really, Mike? Do you really have mine and my family's best interests at heart? Because Planned Parenthood does have mine and my family's best interests at heart, and you're trying to take that away.
I gotta tell you, Mike, I'm not sure where your ideas about PP come from, but I think you need to explore some other sources. You must have this mental image of a young girl carelessly skipping into a clinic, having an abortion, and skipping out with a lollypop and smile. You must think that the thousands of women that make the choice to have an abortion each year do so casually, that they are cruel and heartless women, and that they should be protected from themselves. Has anyone close to you ever gone through an abortion, Mike? Because I can tell you, it's not quite the scenario I think you have in mind. Though I have never gone through an abortion myself, I do have close friends that have, and I don't think it was the careless jaunt you imagine. Indeed, I accompanied a friend to the clinic on the day of her procedure, and as we were escorted by a guard through the pouring rain and into the clinic with protesters screaming hateful things all around us, I felt like my heart had broken in half. I can't imagine what my friend was feeling.
Mr. Pence, the decision to terminate a pregnancy is never an easy or careless one, but unfortunately it is sometimes a necessary one. And defunding an organization that provides safe and easy access to it is not going to stop it. Indeed, it will instead send girls into back rooms and underground "clinics" where they risk their own lives at the hands of untrained and perhaps unscrupulous practitioners.
It seems to me that our government has a demonstrated inability to learn from the past. During Prohibition, when alcohol was illegal, a massive black market was spawned, and organized crime flourished. We see the same thing today with marijuana. It is banned, allowing black markets and drug cartels to wreak havoc. If we defund Planned Parenthood and make it even more difficult than it already is to safely terminate a pregnancy, again the black market will come in fill the void. And I think the result of that could be truly devastating.
That concludes my put-together argument, but I have a few more things to say: 1) It's easy for men like Mike Pence and like the majority of our Congressmen to make and pass laws like this because they aren't women. If they are ever faced with an unwanted or unplanned pregnancy, they could just walk away. They would be assholes for doing it, but they aren't the ones who are truly "stuck" in this situation, and it's ultimately not their decision whether or not to carry the pregnancy to term, so it doesn't make a lot of sense to me that they get to make all the decisions about whether or not it is legal or receives federal funding.
Secondly, I find it increasingly hard to follow the Republican party's logic these days. They claw and tear and clamor and even incite violence to defend the rights of corporations (even giving corporations "human" rights) and unborn zygotes, but if you're an actual, living, breathing human being (especially anyone who's not a WASP), I guess you're out of luck.
How are we tolerating this, America?
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
In Which the Indiana Dems Make Me Proud
Wow, what a turn of events. I've spent the last few days berating Hoosier politics for passing or attempting to pass a series of stunningly unsavory bills. But today the Hoosier Dems of the House made me proud.
Taking a cue from their fellow legislators in Wisconsin, Indiana House Democrats have decamped to Illinois, and possibly Kentucky. Apparently they need to go to a state with a Democratic governor to avoid being arrested and sent home... and that's some 007 shit, y'all.
When the House opened session this morning, only two of forty Dems were present, the minimum needed to procedurally ensure that the Republicans don't do anything without quorum. The reason for the mass exodus of course being the labor bills up for a vote that could take away the collective bargaining rights of unions and a host of other measures that would essentially strip them of most of their power. And that is bad, bad news for working Joes like you and me.
There's been a flurry of debate on the practicality and wisdom of such a move, with many people on both sides of the aisle believing that this is a massive cop out on the part of the Dems, that it's not fair for them to simply refuse to play ball, and my personal favorite, "I want a lawmaker who actually shows up for work! I can't just not go to my job!" To those people I say: STFU, you have no idea how important this is.
It is about damn TIME that Democrats started to stand up for themselves and for their constituents. It is about damn TIME that measures be taken to protect the middle class. And it is about damn TIME for us to tell Republicans that their power-hungry, money-grubbing, war-mongering joyride is over. "Us" not even being just Democrats, "Us" being any intelligent, right-minded person who can see our current political situation for the utter shitshow it has become.
These walkouts are so much more than the Dems just refusing to play ball, or just not showing up for work. Do you think they are taking a vacation over there in Illinois? Sipping martinis and blowing raspberries at the Republicans from across the state line? No. They are "in caucus" in Illinois because if they stayed in Indiana, Gov. Daniels could call on the National Guard to round them up and literally force them to come to the Statehouse and vote. That's some pretty serious business, folks. This is the Democrats refusing to let their constituencies (who are largely made up of the working class people who would be most affected by these bills) be hurt by a bill that they otherwise could not stop. Republicans have an absolute majority in Indiana: they have the House, the Senate, and the Governor. If the bills passed the House (which they most likely would, given the Republican majority), then they would almost definitely pass the Senate (another Republican majority), and then be signed into law by (Republican) Governor Daniels. So walking out was really the only viable option.
Earlier today I heard the Dems in both Indiana and Wisconsin accused of "taking Congress hostage" with their walkout. Again, I have to say: STFU. Republicans have been holding Congress hostage at the national level for going on two years now. Anyone remember that little thing called a super majority? There is no effing reason why a super majority should be necessary to pass any little act of Congress, yet the Republicans have made it so. What about filibusters? You know, the tactic the Republicans have employed over and over since Obama took office? The one they used in that cute little temper tantrum they threw a few months ago to prevent any bills from coming to a vote until the Bush tax cuts were renewed? Look, neither party is innocent of the use of dirty tricks and unconventional tactics of avoidance, but I, for one, applaud the Dems for finally growing a pair.
Ugh. I've worn myself out with this tirade. Thoughts, anyone?
UPDATE: I just read that Gov. Daniels has signaled for the Republicans to drop the labor bills. Here's hoping they listen.
Taking a cue from their fellow legislators in Wisconsin, Indiana House Democrats have decamped to Illinois, and possibly Kentucky. Apparently they need to go to a state with a Democratic governor to avoid being arrested and sent home... and that's some 007 shit, y'all.
When the House opened session this morning, only two of forty Dems were present, the minimum needed to procedurally ensure that the Republicans don't do anything without quorum. The reason for the mass exodus of course being the labor bills up for a vote that could take away the collective bargaining rights of unions and a host of other measures that would essentially strip them of most of their power. And that is bad, bad news for working Joes like you and me.
There's been a flurry of debate on the practicality and wisdom of such a move, with many people on both sides of the aisle believing that this is a massive cop out on the part of the Dems, that it's not fair for them to simply refuse to play ball, and my personal favorite, "I want a lawmaker who actually shows up for work! I can't just not go to my job!" To those people I say: STFU, you have no idea how important this is.
It is about damn TIME that Democrats started to stand up for themselves and for their constituents. It is about damn TIME that measures be taken to protect the middle class. And it is about damn TIME for us to tell Republicans that their power-hungry, money-grubbing, war-mongering joyride is over. "Us" not even being just Democrats, "Us" being any intelligent, right-minded person who can see our current political situation for the utter shitshow it has become.
These walkouts are so much more than the Dems just refusing to play ball, or just not showing up for work. Do you think they are taking a vacation over there in Illinois? Sipping martinis and blowing raspberries at the Republicans from across the state line? No. They are "in caucus" in Illinois because if they stayed in Indiana, Gov. Daniels could call on the National Guard to round them up and literally force them to come to the Statehouse and vote. That's some pretty serious business, folks. This is the Democrats refusing to let their constituencies (who are largely made up of the working class people who would be most affected by these bills) be hurt by a bill that they otherwise could not stop. Republicans have an absolute majority in Indiana: they have the House, the Senate, and the Governor. If the bills passed the House (which they most likely would, given the Republican majority), then they would almost definitely pass the Senate (another Republican majority), and then be signed into law by (Republican) Governor Daniels. So walking out was really the only viable option.
Earlier today I heard the Dems in both Indiana and Wisconsin accused of "taking Congress hostage" with their walkout. Again, I have to say: STFU. Republicans have been holding Congress hostage at the national level for going on two years now. Anyone remember that little thing called a super majority? There is no effing reason why a super majority should be necessary to pass any little act of Congress, yet the Republicans have made it so. What about filibusters? You know, the tactic the Republicans have employed over and over since Obama took office? The one they used in that cute little temper tantrum they threw a few months ago to prevent any bills from coming to a vote until the Bush tax cuts were renewed? Look, neither party is innocent of the use of dirty tricks and unconventional tactics of avoidance, but I, for one, applaud the Dems for finally growing a pair.
Ugh. I've worn myself out with this tirade. Thoughts, anyone?
UPDATE: I just read that Gov. Daniels has signaled for the Republicans to drop the labor bills. Here's hoping they listen.
Monday, February 21, 2011
In Which I Am Upset About Immigration Laws and Labor
Oh, Indiana. You are killing me right now! It's like I go to France and suddenly you can't keep your shit together anymore! Ok, in reality of course it has nothing to do with me being in France, and to be honest you've never been very good at keeping your shit together, but I must admit that my frustration with you is compounded by the fact that I can't physically be there to bitch about these things to your face. And, you know, attend some rallies and stuff.
First of all, SB 590. WTF Indiana? For those of you who don't know, SB 590 is basically a copycat bill of the bill in Arizona that, among other things, allows police officers to ask for proof of citizenship or legal residency if they have "reasonable suspicion" that the person they are detaining is in the US illegally. "Reasonable suspicion" of course being code for "brown skin." In effect this bill is just a way to legalize racial profiling. The Indiana form of the bill will also bar the use of any language other than English for almost all government business and transactions, meaning the state would have to shut down its Spanish language portal for printing government forms, etc, in Spanish, and it would bar the state from printing any foreign language ballots as well. Maybe they will at least use Spanish when they post all the "He-Man Hispanic Haters Club" signs at all the state borders. Is there a good Spanish translation for "No Spics Allowed?" No matter, I'm sure Gov. Daniels will come up with something good. He'll have plenty of free time on his hands once of all the Indiana businesses that run primarily on immigrant labor are shut down, which this new bill also requires. So let's see, that would be a huge percentage of farms (I'm especially thinking of Red Gold in Richmond), many, many landscaping and construction companies, fast food, restaurant kitchens, cleaning services... pretty much anything that we Gringos are to rich/lazy/high class to do for ourselves. Not to mention the fact that it doesn't really make a whole lot of sense to try to pass a copycat of a bill that is currently entangled in some fierce federal litigation, does it? Seriously, Indiana, I'd like to be able to give you a little more credit, but you're making it awfully difficult right now.
For more information on SB 590, check out this article by Hispanically Speaking News. And if you'd like to (GASP!) actually do something about it, you can attend the March Against Racism tonight in Bloomington. The march kicks off at 5:30pm at the Sample Gates on IU's campus (intersection of Kirkwood and Indiana Aves), and goes until 7:30. You can find the Facebook event page for the march here.
In related news, it seems that the Indiana legislature is really just trying to destroy the state's entire labor force in one fell swoop. Protests have been going on all morning at the Indiana Statehouse in response to three anti-labor bills currently being discussed. One will prohibit automatic payroll deductions for union dues, one will end collective bargaining for teachers with their contracts, and one is the "right-to-work" bill who's Wisconsin twin has been raising hell in Madison for the last week.
According to union leaders, curtailing automatic payroll deductions for union dues will depress union wages, and in turn depress the wages of non-union workers as well. Because America's working class could certainly use another pay cut about now, right? As for messing with teachers and their rights to collective bargaining, I feel like that is akin to pissing off the people who handle your food, only on a much larger scale. You're pissing off the people who handle your children. The people who, when you think about it, probably have the largest influence on what this country will look like and how it will be run 20 years from now. And it seems to me that the result of that would be much worse than a hair on your sandwich or a booger in your burger. Backers of the "right-to-work" bill claim it will prevent Indiana from losing jobs to the 22 states that already have "right-to-work" bills, which essentially curtail or greatly diminish the power of labor unions in unionized companies and industries. According to Rep. Jerry Torr (R-Carmel) in this Indy Star article, "at least a third of businesses looking to move or expand only look at right-to-work states." Good, so let's contribute to the problem, rather than be a part of the solution. Clearly these business are looking to move or expand in places where the labor laws work more in favor of the companies, rather than the employees, so that the companies don't have to worry as much about silly things like a living wage or safe working conditions, and can focus more on their bottom line. And those pesky labor unions get in the way of that. So by all means, Indiana, let's jump on the idiocy bandwagon here, pay our workers less, treat them worse, and depress our economy even further. It's a classic argument, Indiana, but it bears repeating: just because everyone else is doing it doesn't mean you have to. If 22 other idiots jumped off a bridge, would you do it too? You're standing on the edge right now, and I don't think there's a safety net.
First of all, SB 590. WTF Indiana? For those of you who don't know, SB 590 is basically a copycat bill of the bill in Arizona that, among other things, allows police officers to ask for proof of citizenship or legal residency if they have "reasonable suspicion" that the person they are detaining is in the US illegally. "Reasonable suspicion" of course being code for "brown skin." In effect this bill is just a way to legalize racial profiling. The Indiana form of the bill will also bar the use of any language other than English for almost all government business and transactions, meaning the state would have to shut down its Spanish language portal for printing government forms, etc, in Spanish, and it would bar the state from printing any foreign language ballots as well. Maybe they will at least use Spanish when they post all the "He-Man Hispanic Haters Club" signs at all the state borders. Is there a good Spanish translation for "No Spics Allowed?" No matter, I'm sure Gov. Daniels will come up with something good. He'll have plenty of free time on his hands once of all the Indiana businesses that run primarily on immigrant labor are shut down, which this new bill also requires. So let's see, that would be a huge percentage of farms (I'm especially thinking of Red Gold in Richmond), many, many landscaping and construction companies, fast food, restaurant kitchens, cleaning services... pretty much anything that we Gringos are to rich/lazy/high class to do for ourselves. Not to mention the fact that it doesn't really make a whole lot of sense to try to pass a copycat of a bill that is currently entangled in some fierce federal litigation, does it? Seriously, Indiana, I'd like to be able to give you a little more credit, but you're making it awfully difficult right now.
For more information on SB 590, check out this article by Hispanically Speaking News. And if you'd like to (GASP!) actually do something about it, you can attend the March Against Racism tonight in Bloomington. The march kicks off at 5:30pm at the Sample Gates on IU's campus (intersection of Kirkwood and Indiana Aves), and goes until 7:30. You can find the Facebook event page for the march here.
In related news, it seems that the Indiana legislature is really just trying to destroy the state's entire labor force in one fell swoop. Protests have been going on all morning at the Indiana Statehouse in response to three anti-labor bills currently being discussed. One will prohibit automatic payroll deductions for union dues, one will end collective bargaining for teachers with their contracts, and one is the "right-to-work" bill who's Wisconsin twin has been raising hell in Madison for the last week.
According to union leaders, curtailing automatic payroll deductions for union dues will depress union wages, and in turn depress the wages of non-union workers as well. Because America's working class could certainly use another pay cut about now, right? As for messing with teachers and their rights to collective bargaining, I feel like that is akin to pissing off the people who handle your food, only on a much larger scale. You're pissing off the people who handle your children. The people who, when you think about it, probably have the largest influence on what this country will look like and how it will be run 20 years from now. And it seems to me that the result of that would be much worse than a hair on your sandwich or a booger in your burger. Backers of the "right-to-work" bill claim it will prevent Indiana from losing jobs to the 22 states that already have "right-to-work" bills, which essentially curtail or greatly diminish the power of labor unions in unionized companies and industries. According to Rep. Jerry Torr (R-Carmel) in this Indy Star article, "at least a third of businesses looking to move or expand only look at right-to-work states." Good, so let's contribute to the problem, rather than be a part of the solution. Clearly these business are looking to move or expand in places where the labor laws work more in favor of the companies, rather than the employees, so that the companies don't have to worry as much about silly things like a living wage or safe working conditions, and can focus more on their bottom line. And those pesky labor unions get in the way of that. So by all means, Indiana, let's jump on the idiocy bandwagon here, pay our workers less, treat them worse, and depress our economy even further. It's a classic argument, Indiana, but it bears repeating: just because everyone else is doing it doesn't mean you have to. If 22 other idiots jumped off a bridge, would you do it too? You're standing on the edge right now, and I don't think there's a safety net.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Peggy Welch Update
Well, well, Welch.
It seems I am not the only one who was a little unpleasantly surprised by Peggy Welch's vote in favor of amending Indiana's constitution to ban same-sex marriage, and not the only one to let my feelings be known. This article by Indiana Public Media confirms that Welch has received a flurry of letters, phone calls, and emails in the days since the House vote. In case you didn't see it on Facebook, here is the text of the email I sent her:
Dear Ms. Welch,
It has come to my attention that you voted in favor of the recent bill to amend Indiana's Constitution to prohibit marriage-like unions between same-sex couples. This leads me to respectfully question whether or not you are truly and fairly representing the interests of your constituency. Bloomington has one of the largest gay populations per capita in the United States, and is well known as one of the few safe havens for GLBT people in an otherwise very conservative state and region. And this extends well beyond the confines of the University community. Have you ever enjoyed a delicious meal at FARM Bloomington? Have you ever sampled the sweets at Blu Boy Cafe and Cakery? Shopped at the farmer's market on a beautiful summer Saturday? Attended a concert or play at the Buskirk-Chumley Theatre? Ms. Welch, without Bloomington's vibrant and active gay community, many of these fixtures of Bloomington life would not exist at all. Bloomington's great openness and diversity are what make it special, and what attracts thousands of students, visitors, and new residents to the city every year.
In addition, you may not realize that this constitutional amendment can and will have negative effects on Bloomington's heterosexual community as well. It could prevent unmarried hetero couples from visiting their significant others in the hospital, it could prevent unmarried hetero couples from being protected by domestic violence laws in the case of partner abuse, and a whole host of other things. It's easy to pass a bill targeting a population you are not a part of and may not like, Ms. Welch, but did you stop to think about this bill's impact on others? On straight people like yourself?
Ms. Welch, as a fellow elected official in our state's government, I understand that your job is not an easy one. However, I would like to take this opportunity to respectfully remind you that our job as elected officials is to represent the interests of our respective constituencies, whether or not those interests are perfectly in line with our own personal beliefs and agendas. I believe that by voting to pass this constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, you have done your constituency, and perhaps your own prospects for re-election, a grave disservice. I urge you to consider this with every voting decision you make in the future.
Thoughtfully,
Sara P. Whitmer
Former Bloomington resident
Precinct Committeewoman, Marion County
Welch says in the above IPM article that her vote is "consistent with her faith," and that she believes she is "accurately representing the view of her constituents that marriage should only be between a man and a woman." Yeah. Ok. Lady, you are a Democrat. In BLOOMINGTON. Really?!?
The article also says that Rep.Welch will begin replying to letters, calls, and emails on the topic at the end of next week. In the meantime I have submitted my own letter to both the Indianapolis Star and the Bloomington Herald-Times. I can't wait to hear what she has to say.
It seems I am not the only one who was a little unpleasantly surprised by Peggy Welch's vote in favor of amending Indiana's constitution to ban same-sex marriage, and not the only one to let my feelings be known. This article by Indiana Public Media confirms that Welch has received a flurry of letters, phone calls, and emails in the days since the House vote. In case you didn't see it on Facebook, here is the text of the email I sent her:
Dear Ms. Welch,
It has come to my attention that you voted in favor of the recent bill to amend Indiana's Constitution to prohibit marriage-like unions between same-sex couples. This leads me to respectfully question whether or not you are truly and fairly representing the interests of your constituency. Bloomington has one of the largest gay populations per capita in the United States, and is well known as one of the few safe havens for GLBT people in an otherwise very conservative state and region. And this extends well beyond the confines of the University community. Have you ever enjoyed a delicious meal at FARM Bloomington? Have you ever sampled the sweets at Blu Boy Cafe and Cakery? Shopped at the farmer's market on a beautiful summer Saturday? Attended a concert or play at the Buskirk-Chumley Theatre? Ms. Welch, without Bloomington's vibrant and active gay community, many of these fixtures of Bloomington life would not exist at all. Bloomington's great openness and diversity are what make it special, and what attracts thousands of students, visitors, and new residents to the city every year.
In addition, you may not realize that this constitutional amendment can and will have negative effects on Bloomington's heterosexual community as well. It could prevent unmarried hetero couples from visiting their significant others in the hospital, it could prevent unmarried hetero couples from being protected by domestic violence laws in the case of partner abuse, and a whole host of other things. It's easy to pass a bill targeting a population you are not a part of and may not like, Ms. Welch, but did you stop to think about this bill's impact on others? On straight people like yourself?
Ms. Welch, as a fellow elected official in our state's government, I understand that your job is not an easy one. However, I would like to take this opportunity to respectfully remind you that our job as elected officials is to represent the interests of our respective constituencies, whether or not those interests are perfectly in line with our own personal beliefs and agendas. I believe that by voting to pass this constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, you have done your constituency, and perhaps your own prospects for re-election, a grave disservice. I urge you to consider this with every voting decision you make in the future.
Thoughtfully,
Sara P. Whitmer
Former Bloomington resident
Precinct Committeewoman, Marion County
Welch says in the above IPM article that her vote is "consistent with her faith," and that she believes she is "accurately representing the view of her constituents that marriage should only be between a man and a woman." Yeah. Ok. Lady, you are a Democrat. In BLOOMINGTON. Really?!?
The article also says that Rep.Welch will begin replying to letters, calls, and emails on the topic at the end of next week. In the meantime I have submitted my own letter to both the Indianapolis Star and the Bloomington Herald-Times. I can't wait to hear what she has to say.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Defining "Normal"
Last but not least in the realm of "gay-related-things-that-tick-me-off," I was reminded again today that no matter how much political progress we make/have made recently, we are still a long way from the majority of straight people realizing that we are "normal." That we want lives and careers and families just like them, and that it is entirely realistic and logical to hope to establish these things in the near future (and, my dear straight friends, I use "they" as a term of differentiation, but not as a term of alienation; I love you all). I think that all too often hetero people see themselves as the "norm," and everyone else as "other," rather than recognizing that they, too, have a sexual orientation, that they're not just the "default." I think the same thing happens to white people... sometimes we forget we have a race, and that white skin was not just the automatic setting from which everything else diverged. I see the orientation-related version of this most often when approaching a bar/club situation with a group of people of varying orientations. I understand completely that many of my straight friends experience a certain level of discomfort in a gay bar. Often it is completely unrelated to any kind of homophobia or fear of being hit on by a member of the same sex, but instead a matter of "how am I supposed to conduct myself in this situation?" or "it's not fun for me when there is no one I can hit on/dance with/talk to, etc." But what I suspect they don't think about or realize, is that that's how I feel in a primarily straight bar. I feel that same sense of discomfort, of not knowing how to interact with those around me, of not knowing who in the crowd is "safe" to interact with, who will "get" me. Even though I have many straight friends, I think they will agree that in a bar situation it's... different. That having gay friends may make them more comfortable in a primarily gay bar, but it by no means makes them feel "at home," or like they are on their own "turf." And I generally feel the same way in a hetero bar. I also feel similarly about being hit on by members of the opposite sex as my hetero friends might feel about getting hit on by gays. Anyway, my point here lies somewhere along the lines of considering our positions as members of various majority and/or minority groups, and giving some thought to whether or not we frequently behave as if our orientation/race/religion/whatever is the "norm" or the default, and that everyone else is "other." I know I have frequently been guilty of treating race this way, and it's something I've really been giving a considerable amount of thought and expending a considerable amount of effort to change.
Another example related to sexual orientation happened in one of my classes today. It was a 4th/5th grade class, and we were working on vocabulary relating to members of the family. The students' assignment was to read a description of a family and match the appropriate first names with the appropriate titles in the family (Mary is the mother, John is the father, etc.). One of my students, having misunderstood the gender of a name (Lindsay, I believe it was), accidentally placed the name in the "father" spot, next to the mother, Camille. I simply asked the student to try again, but the classroom teacher, a girl about my age, stopped to explain that you can't have two women as the parents because that doesn't make sense. And my students all giggled about it, finding the prospect of two female parents to be completely silly. And I know it was all innocent, and that no harm was meant by it, but that didn't stop my stomach from dropping a little bit when it was said. I'm not "out" at work here in France, and I didn't say anything, in the interests of appropriateness and professionalism, but I think situations like this are just another example of the majority group's assumption that they are the norm. And I hope that will change someday.
Ok, that's the end of my big fat gay rant. Hetero friends, what do you think about all this stuff? Gay friends, what do you think? I'm not trying to frame this as an us-vs-them situation, but rather an opportunity to compare notes on our perceptions of each other, and maybe have some productive discussion about it?
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