Hello All, I am home today sick. For me, this is a sad moment. I don't look for times like this to take stands they just seem to come to me.
When I was young I was assaulted many times as a queer. I didn't even know what that meant. There are certainly many people like Melvin who are in the left and feel they are leftists. To them I am morally wrong. To what extent that affects my ability to be on the left I don't know. But we can't build a left that includes gay people that sees them as morally wrong. They must keep their mouths shut, don't ask don't tell because there are so many who disapprove. The same process affects disabled people. I grew up feeling sad, depressed if you will. In those days denial was ubiquitous. I think my depression was a combination of being vulnerable and abusive conditions. At any rate don't ask don't tell also ruled my life about that. One of the key factors in dealing with depression is to be able to talk about depression to other people. The very high suicide rate among gay young people is an outcome still of how the deadly combination of moral disapproval and silence combines to kill. I do appreciate Lou's comment here. A real revolutionary movement recognizes forms of oppression and does something concrete to change conditions for those oppressed. We all grew up in reactionary climates. I grew up to a large degree hating 'queers' even though in fact I was one. I had good reason to change that opinion, but lots of gay people just reflect the prejudice around them and hate queers just as much as any 'hetero. One left prejudice is that homosexuality is a reactionary element in society. Another prejudice (not left) is homosexuals are pedophiles. Can't be trusted around children. A person can change but they must listen to a cry for justice. The disability rights movement goes a step further and asks about the rights of people who have cognition outside of the 'norm'. For various reasons people with prejudice and rigidity fall into an area like a disability. That abuse instills rigidity, that emotional disabilities make it hard for many people to participate in able bodied social structures. For example Bill Choisser, http://www.choisser.com/faceblind/ , who is face blind cannot see emotions in the face, cannot hear emotions in the voice. What is his right in a society that considers certain ways of being the norm? So nothing is ever simple about oppression. But a social movement that liberates people cannot hold onto prejudice against homosexuals. A wedge issue is an issue that seeks to portray itself as being for rights when it actually divides the movement. In the U.S. Christian fundamentalism is morally outraged against homos, so they think if Homosexuals accept Jesus Christ and their moral system then all will be well. But a wedge is simply a way to bring divisions into social settings. I am for couple rights I just don't like homos. I'll give them their rights along with everyone else. They are still 'wrong' in my view. My only answer to that is the whole working class is the whole working class. We cannot build a socialist society that does not acknowledge all the different elements that build a society and builds a whole society. Thanks, Doyle
