Gay Pride & Gay Civil Rights Pride

Late in life Frederick Douglass wrote that what he was proudest of was not his achievements in the fight to end slavery or to seek justice for African Americans.  It was his role at the Seneca Falls Convention for women’s rights where he gave the keynote speech in favor of the right to vote at the request of Elizabeth Cady Stanton.  The only controversial issue at the convention, women’s suffrage only passed 28-25 and Douglass was one of the best orators of his time.  He was proud of his role because it was completely altruistic:  as a male he had nothing to gain.

One of the roles I’m proud of is that I can say that I’m probably one of the only straight males on the planet Earth who has been actively supporting LGBTI rights for forty (40) years.  Most LGBTI people cannot even say that they’ve been actively supporting their own civil rights for that long.

In 1970, I founded a debate club at Pacoima Jr. High (now Pacoima Middle School).  One girl wanted to join the club.  Other males were objecting and were accusing her of being a Lesbian.  She denied it.  I insisted she be allowed to join and said I didn’t care if she was a Lesbian or not:  she had a right to be in the club.  That same year I argued on behalf of the rights of Gays, Lesbians, and Trans people.  I argued that eighth grade sex education classes should teach that these were perfectly reasonable, normal lifestyles.  I got into an argument with my ninth grade English teacher Mrs. Haberland, who conceded that maybe we should get rid of the laws against Gays and Lesbians, but she thought that cross dressing in public was disgusting and it should remain illegal.  I of course took the opposite position on Transvestism.

In 1978, I was campaigning for Lieutenant Governor at University of California at San Diego when I was approached by the girl I’d stuck up for at Pacoima Jr. High.  She was now out of the closet, active in support of LGBTI rights, and reminded me of how I was the only guy who stuck up for her eight (8) years earlier.  I hadn’t even remembered until she reminded me but now I’ll never forget.  Ever.  As long as I live I’ll be proud of my record of supporting my LGBTI brothers and sisters in the movement for their civil rights.

Now that same sex marriage seems to be on its way to being legally vindicated by Judge Vaughn Walker’s decision, I can feel deep pride in my role of support for many LGBTI causes and issues over four (4) decades of activism.  It was written by Ambrose Bierce that “Radicalism is the conservativism of tomorrow, injected into the affairs of today.”  What was once a radical and scorned position that I took in 1970 when I campaigned for the Peace and Freedom Party’s “Long Beach Platform” adopted that year is now mainstream, accepted, and even a bit conservative in some circles.

“Cautious, careful people, always casting about to preserve their reputation and social standing, never can bring about a reform. Those who are really in earnest must be willing to be anything or nothing in the world’s estimation, and publicly and privately, in season and out, avow their sympathy with despised and persecuted ideas and their advocates, and bear the consequences…” — Susan B. Anthony