Thursday, May 02, 2013

Now What?

Rhode Island will become the sixth New England state to have marriage equality! I am proud to be a New Englander; we have led the way for not only marriage equality but also for LGBT rights.

Now that all the New England states has marriage equality, now what? Will the LGBT organizations that fought for our right to marry die out from lack of funding, will GLAD (Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defender) close their doors because the donations dry up?

Here in Connecticut Love Makes a Family close their doors once we got marriage equality, they were our strongest ally in a quest for the gender identity and expression anti-discrimination law; however, once we got marriage equality all of their bread and butter donation dried up and they had to close their doors. All of their five, ten and twenty dollar donations stopped… we got what we want and we don’t care about any trans-rights!

All six states have marriage equality but only five states have anti-discrimination laws that cover trans-people; New Hampshire is the lone hold out (The "Live Free or Die" state seems to have a problem with equality.). Will the lesbian and gay organizations that have been supporting trans-right have to close their doors because lack of funding?

I also worry that the equality organizations will be closing their doors at the same time the anti-equality organizations are getting stronger and there will be nobody left to oppose them. I know here in Connecticut the religious conservative group is still active in trying to overturn not only marriage equality but also trans-rights.

1 comment:

  1. Diana -

    The groups that closed their doors when marriage equality was enacted in their states were foolish - as long as there is a significant minority who want to reverse the clock, they must always be vigilant. Sadly, closing down the organizations makes it impossible to repoen shop quickly and mount a defense of hard earned rights....

    This is why I advocate the T's in LGBT's start becoming active advocates for their own rights, and find ways not to piggyback off the LGB's. We have different needs, and have not gone as far into the mainstream as they have. So it is easy for them to forget their friends of convenience. Yet, we shouldn't resent their departure, because we must learn to advocate for ourselves.....

    M

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