Gay rights when?

This past Sunday marked National Coming Out Day. The event, now 30 years old, marks the anniversary of the first march for gay and lesbian rights in Washington.

It is meant to be a cause for celebration and diversity in our nation’s struggle for equality in marriage.

But while thousands of gay rights activists flooded the streets of the nation’s capital to promote their lifestyle, there still remains an unanswered question: Are demonstrations such as these actually doing anything to promote their cause?

Representative Barney Frank says “no.” As the first openly gay member of Congress, he feels that demonstrations such as these for gay rights are “a waste of time at best.”
He argues that while the protest may be a feel-good activity for the GBLT community, it will not have much of an impact on lawmakers because the majority of them are back in their home states for Columbus Day.  

He suggested that proponents of gay rights lobby their representatives so that anti-discrimination legislation can be passed in Congress. This should be a wake-up call for those in America who want to see more laws passed in favor of gay rights. It may not be as dramatic as a protest, but writing or calling your senator can do a world of good in the fight against discrimination.

It is the tactic employed by the National Rifle Association and the American Association of Retired People, and they are the most successful special interest groups in the country.

Already, many in the GBLT community are criticizing the Obama administration for not doing more in the name of equality. Specifically, there have been questions surrounding the president’s commitment to repealing the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military.

Barack Obama tried to assuage these concerns this past Saturday at a dinner for the Human Rights Campaign, saying, “I appreciate that many of you don’t believe progress has come fast enough ... do not doubt the direction we are heading and destination we will reach.”

He added he would like Congress to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, which inhibits states from recognizing partnerships and determines benefits.

But the president offered no timetable or specifics concerning his plan to overturn “don’t ask, don’t tell” or promote these changes in Congress.

It is true that some progress is being made. Legislation just passed in the House that will make it a federal crime for persons to physically assault someone based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.

With an administration whose leaning is toward a liberal left, now is the opportunity for the GBLT community to get off the streets and on the phones to lobby their representatives for the rights they deserve.