------------------------- Via Workers World News Service Reprinted from the Nov. 22, 2001 issue of Workers World newspaper -------------------------
MICHIGAN: VOTERS DEFEAT ANTI-GAY INITIATIVES By Leslie Feinberg Anti-gay zealots waged a multi-pronged battle against lesbian and gay civil rights in the Michigan elections. But voters dealt these right-wing efforts a triple defeat. The American Family Association--a mild misnomer for a reactionary organization--inspired and initiated the anti- gay measures. These anti-same-sex measures are specifically aimed at lesbians and gay men. But they also imperil bisexuals. Transsexual and transgender people are oppressed because of how they define their sex or express their gender. The right wing has historically linked its attacks on sexual, gender and sex diversity, so a win or loss for one oppressed group in the lesbian, gay, bi and trans coalition has an impact on the others. A victory that pushes back the right wing creates a more favorable political climate for all who are struggling for social and economic justice. Many people on both sides of the barricade--left and right-- closely followed the votes in Michigan because the state had four anti-gay ballot measures in this election, more than any other state in the country. In Traverse City and Kalamazoo, the gay-bashing city charter amendments would have barred those cities from protecting lesbian and gay residents from discrimination. The measures would have made any existing or future protections based on sexual orientation null and void. But voters stepped into the booths and pulled the levers in the direction of social progress, not reaction. Both cities recorded votes that overwhelmingly trounced the bigoted initiatives. The third city in the crosshairs of the AFA was Huntington Woods. But residents there voted up the city's human rights ordinance, making it the 11th city in that state to protect individuals from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The term gender identity protects individuals who are living in a sex other than the one legally assigned to them at birth. But feminine males, masculine females, people who are androgynous, cross-dres sers and other transgender people can use this win to argue for a broader legal interpretation to defend against widespread gender discrimination. And the vote reflected no skittishness: The ordinance passed by a 2-to-1 margin. "The American Family Association has made a tragic miscalculation about Michigan," said Sean Kosofsky, director of policy for the Triangle Foundation. The organization has actively fought these and other anti-gay ballot measures in Michigan since 1994. "Michigan voters have soundly defeated these anti-gay ballot measures and took a stand for diversity and acceptance. This is a clean sweep," Kosofsky concluded. "The AFA's message of discrimination will not fly in Michigan and we strongly encourage them to heed the message from voters and stop their anti-gay crusade." There's just one more anti-gay ballot initiative in the state left to decide. Do the right thing, Ypsilanti. - END - (Copyright Workers World Service: Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but changing it is not allowed. For more information contact Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For subscription info send message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web: http://www.workers.org) ------------------ This message is sent to you by Workers World News Service. To subscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To switch to the DIGEST mode, E-mail to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Send administrative queries to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
