I think that some good points have been made. Personal conversation really counts, and can help to build bridges and to create tolerance amoung many folks.
Also, we can connect with activists and leadership in other locales -- not only urban, but suburban and perhaps even rural and in outstate cities-- to try to expand and reinforce existing networks for peace and justice.
I wonder if it would be helpful for local political, religious, and activist leaders to connect with other leaders -- suburban metro, outstate MN especially -- to make a formal statement in support of GBLT folks. I believe that it may be helpful for us to find ways to especially express support for those who work in schools, serve in the military or public service, and politics. Additionally, I believe that local groups like Rainbow Families and even PFLAG can do much to demonstrate that for many of us deep "family values" include a strong support of full civil rights for GBLT people and their families.
The original "Gay Drain" posts opened an important conversation continued in the "Urban Archipelago" posts. I think the issue of GBLT civil rights is a very important part of the dynamics of Minneapolis culture and life as well as a very important part of how Minneapolis relates to the rest of our state. I think that Minneapolis plays a unique role in Minnesota political life and culture, and that the issue of GBLT civil rights is actually a very important aspect of our city's identity. I hope we can find constructive ways to express this aspect of our city's identity in pro-active ways.
When GBLT friends of mine express fear for their families and when many GBLT people openly express real concern that they may lose civil rights and so many of the gains even in terms of personal safety over the next couple of years, this becomes a real issue for me. I read through several well-written articles in the latest issue of Lavender today -- Jacob Reitan's article "Claiming Morals and Values as Our Own Issue" was well worth the read, as was Michael Krause's article. The latter I was unable to find online(???) but the former is at:
http://www.lavendermagazine.com/artman/publish/article_97.php
Others may see the hardwon, relatively recent gains in civil rights and social acceptance -- the ability to choose to be "out" without so much fear of reprisal -- made by our GBLT friends as unassailable: I believe that this is unfortunately not necessarily so. Like it or not, GLBT rights are now a key political "scare issue" used to manipulate and mobilize support for an ongoing draconian transformation of our country into a much less free and less just and more violent nation. In combination with other racist and sexist "scare tactics" this is used to frighten people into accepting increasingly authoritarian government actions as well as the effort to starve Minneapolis as a center of progressive political and cultural life.
The highly politicised fundamentalists of Minnesota have barely begun their battle to encode "fear and prejudice" into the fabric of our Constitution, our government, our culture, and our lives. We need to prepare to defuse the violent message of religious fundamentalisms which are used as tools for political control and manipulation. Read Leviticus. Slip into the services of one of the many conservative churches in town. Evaluate the media dominated by religious fundamentalism and corrupt crony capitalism. Minneapolis is uniquely placed to help take on a leadership role in the coming years. This is about basic, fundamental human rights and values which too many of us have taken for granted. Minneapolis can make a positive difference.
The unique role of Minneapolis as a safe haven for GBLT people is already an important element of local and local/state politics. We do not exist in a political vacuum. It would be wise for us to understand and evaluate the political landscape within which Minneapolis is located, and to work to ensure that the very hard-won gains of the last forty or fifty years are protected.
Are there specific ways we can support our City Council, Mayor, and local representatives in State government like Scott Dibble in public expressions of support for the GBLT community -- not in isolation from other GBLT folks (and their friends and families!) around the metro and state, but rather in open solidarity with them?
-- pedaling for peace and justice from Kingfield -- Gary Hoover
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