Homeland INsecurity

[November 3rd, 2004] If Constitutional Amendment 36 is defeated, don't read this column. Go out and act like a Red Sox fan. All Oregonians who believe in equal rights for all have earned the right to savor our hard-fought victory.

But if what happened is what I think happened--even though, due to press deadlines, I wrote this long before the polls closed--then it's time for all of us to figure out what needs to happen next.

In Oregon, marriage will now be legally defined as a union between one man and one woman. My first impulse is to spit in the face of every asshole who felt they were morally justified in voting intolerance into our state's constitution. But I don't think I have enough phlegm in me to do the job.

Short of physical violence, I'm left with the daunting prospect that I must conjure up the spirit of heroes like Martin Luther King Jr. and Bella Abzug. These champions knew that when it came to fighting the good fight, in order to extend the rights of a democratic society to women and African Americans, they had to keep marching--no matter what was flung at them.

And here, my dears, is where fear has hit this queer.

The bad guys have won, at least for now, and I don't think they will stop at marriage. Deep within their hearts, a lot of straight people, frankly, thank we are sinners, and that's why they spread all those lies about how gay marriage would be taught in schools. Is there anything that will stop them from denying us the right to see our partners in the hospital, or the right to be covered under a partner's health plan? Or even, more basically, the right to file joint tax returns?

My gay friends and allies, now is the time for all of us to pull ourselves out of despair and find a way to channel all that pent-up passion, not on the next available guy or gal, but on making sure this amendment doesn't stick.

More than with Measure 9 (or son of Measure 9), we became political with Measure 36. And despite Tuesday's setback/defeat/whatever, we must stay politically active. If we don't, then we're no better than all those who voted yes.

Here's what you can do: Tell your friends, family and anybody else who will listen how this hurts. Support those elected officials, such as Multnomah County Commissioners Maria Rojo de Steffey and Lisa Naito, who understand what a huge step backward Oregon has just taken. Call out those politicians who did nothing to stop this amendment. That means I don't want to see Terry Bean host any more soirees for U.S. Sen. Gordon "two-faced" Smith, who earned gay and lesbian support by championing human rights and strengthening the protections extended by the federal hate-crimes law. But his political betrayal in this campaign means he should never see another pro-queer penny in his coffer, ever again.

And if you want to run for office, by all means, do it. Your state needs you to help us become the Oregon of the future, a place that once again embraces the contributions of people of all persuasions.