Gay Pride and Politics

Gay pride and politics. Where do you separate the two? And can they be separated?

For me, every single presidential election that I've been able to vote in has been to put my energy into getting the guy elected who is "least bad". I have voted based on who I think will be best for the environment, people, families, and jobs. I have voted for who I believe will be the best leader for our country.

As a gay American, I have never been able to vote for any candidate who would strive for our equality, who would denounce hatred towards our community, or who would acknowledge our relationships and our need for the protections of marriage. And this year, that has not changed.

I'm a member of the Human Rights Campaign, and they have endorsed Senator Kerry for President as well, and they sent me a letter asking me, as a member, to support him as well. This is the quick, short letter I sent back to them. I received no reply to my letter.

Jun 22, 2004 2:22 PM

I received your email newsletter last night of your endorsement of Senator John
Kerry.

I've been with my life partner for 30 years now. My question is this: If Senator
Kerry just can't seem to bring himself to endorse full marriage for me and my partner,
why the hell should I support him?

Good question, isn't it? Civil unions just don't cut it anymore.

Sincerely,

Bill Cannon
A member of HRC

Am I supposed to endorse someone who won't even acknowledge that we are equal in our relationships, just to keep the present President from getting re-elected? I guess that is the strategy, but I know I'm not alone. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that this presidential election year is no different than all the others have been, as far as my community is concerned. I had just hoped, with all the publicity over our relationships in the last year, that John Kerry could at least acknowledge us as equals.

I will end up voting for John Kerry, despite this issue I have with him. I know he will be better than the schmuck we have in there now. He has vowed to end the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy in the military. We will see what happens with that one. I can see nothing happening once he gets in office and it will be just another broken campaign promise that we should all be used to by now.

I didn't do much for gay pride this month. This is of course Gay Pride Month. But I didn't attend any of the celebrations in Connecticut, Massachusetts, or New York. I don't like large crowds and for the most part, I don't connect to a lot of the politics of many gay organizations.

But one thing did catch my eye this year. For the first time ever, gay married couples have participated in the San Francisco Gay Pride Parade. That's worth noting. It's more symbolic than anything else. It shows that our community has fully endorsed gay marriage along with many of our straight friends. People outside of the gay community, many of who view people in gay pride parades as a bunch of freaks, it will make little difference, other than to make them once again think about the issue of gay marriage. I suppose that has merit as well.

SAN FRANCISCO - The party still had its traditional leather-clad legions and dramatic drag queens, but Sunday's gay pride parade featured marchers even more radical - married same-sex couples.

Gay and lesbian newlyweds hoisting poster-sized reproductions of their marriage licenses had a starring role at San Francisco's 34th annual parade. They were joined by Mayor Gavin Newsom and others who helped promote same-sex unions in the history-making wedding march at City Hall earlier this year.

Newsom, 36, the straight, Irish Catholic Democrat who thrust the marriage debate onto the nation's agenda by directing his administration to certify marriages for gays and lesbians, shared grand marshal duties alongside veteran gay rights activists. (source)