The cultural significance of Congress’ move to overturn “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is so great that I think the comparison with Brown v. Board of Education is warranted. This should be a moment of great pride for many good Americans who have worked hard to move the national attitude so far so fast.
Just seventeen years ago, in 1993, a majority of U.S. citizens opposed gays serving in the military, Mark Shields recently pointed out in his recent appearance on the PBS NewsHour. Today, there is a three-to-one margin supporting gays openly serving—75% of Americans. Among women, the support is 80%.
Certainly that kind of sea change in America and in our cultural thought is gigantic and something we don’t often see. It’s positive and profound.
Much of the credit goes to the small but very determined efforts of a lot of individuals and groups on the local and personal level. The courage of many individuals who do not stay in the closet but instead come out and say who they are and that they have just as many rights as any other person does has earned the respect of their neighbors. Also groups like Lancaster Pride and their annual festivals have made an impact by going far beyond saying, “We’re here, we’re queer, get used to it,” have instead sent a message of unity and love and acceptance. Their message has been that it’s important that we learn to live and work together and not just tolerate each other but love each other and respect each other.
I hope that some of us straights, including straight Christians like me, have had some small and humble role in this shift. I was, for instance, deeply touched by the scenes of an Evangelical Christian man confessing the sins of the church to gay men and women at a pride festival in the excellent documentary Lord, Deliver Us From Your Followers.
This kind of cultural change does not come easily and is not to be taken lightly. The cultural impact of the Supreme Court’s decision in the 1950s to overturn the segregation of public schools was gigantic by simply allowing and in fact forcing children to interact with one another. Just as the military has been a force in a similar way, creating brothers out of blacks and whites who served together, I think we’ll see a similar impact of gays and straights who serve together, and see a breakdown of this idea that manliness and homosexuality are opposing forces.
One Lancaster resident whose efforts on this front I would like to single out and celebrate is Mark Stoner, who was recently recognized in the Central Penn Business Journal‘s twenty-fifth anniversary issue as one of the most influential minorities from the midstate from the past twenty-five years.
Thanks for mentioning Lancaster Pride. Can I post a link to our fb page? http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=23286463440
thanks,
Erica
Erica, I’m more than happy to be able to share a link to the Facebook group with my blog readers. Thanks for including it, and for all the good work you’re doing.
What’s the reaction to this military-related news been amongst the Lancaster Pride crew?
Thanks Daniel — for the thoughts and your link to Lancaster Pride, but did you have to post my pic? You make me blush. There are a lot of other deserving local people — and a lot of local efforts that people should know about.
Pennsylvania has traditionally been a state on the forefront of human rights, but we’re lagging behind on this issue. Throughout most of the state people can still be fired from a job or lose a home just because someone thinks they might be gay or lesbian. It’s important that the full spectrum of opinions — especially from people of faith — are part of the local discussion. One new faith group trying to spread the word is Embrace, http://bit.ly/embraceLanc
It’s important that all are treated equally, whether in or out (pun intended) of the military.
Mark, someone’s face had to brighten up this blog! While I know there are lots of other people who deserve accolades and credit, I don’t think that diminishes the fact that you have done a lot of good for our community and especially for many unjustly marginalized people within it.
Embrace looks like a great initiative. Thanks for the heads up on that and the link.
there has been a local effort in Lancaster to contact our legislators and encourage them to support the repeal…my church – First Reformed UCC – has a member who is being investigated under DADT…another local grassroots organization – Rainbow Rose Community – has been around for several years working on equality issues including DADT, adding orientation and identity to the PA Human Relations Act and working on the defeat of the so-called Marriage Protection Amendment…it might be helpful to bring like-minded folks to the table to see how we can cooperate and communicate 😉
Loved this quote from Rev. Kent E. Kroehler of Lancaster: “The denomination may be conflicted on same-sex issues, but the church doesn’t have to be conflicted on hospitality.”
Nice article about a wonderful man and his church. http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/257639