The Almanac ([info]pseudohistorian) wrote,
@ 2009-06-10 10:24:00
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Current mood: discontent
Entry tags:equalism

Straight Ahead and On the Track Now
Winnipeg: One Gay City!

Having missed out on Winnipeg's Pride March over the past couple of years (for a number of reasons), I want to be doubly sure I make it this Sunday...

In the meantime, the status of various GLBT issues in North America is the same mixed bag as it was at this time last year. One (pleasantly) shocking turn of events was discovering that President Obama actually proclaimed June as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month:

I call upon the people of the United States to turn back discrimination and prejudice everywhere it exists.
I couldn't have said it better myself.

There are plenty of places in the States where discrimination and prejudice in this area need to be turned back, too. While same-sex couples there are still struggling to get the same immigration rights and adoption rights as their heterosexual counterparts, and some public schools are blocking pro-GLBT websites, marriage rights continue to be a primary battleground--with the good news out of New Hampshire seemingly cancelled out by the upholding of the same-sex marriage ban in California (and you all know how I feel about that).

Lest we Canadians look upon those problems and pat ourselves on the back for being so much more enlightened, I would remind you that Alberta just passed a law allowing parents to pull their children out of class when lessons on sexual orientation are being taught.

Things might be all right where I'm sitting, but they continue to be worse elsewhere--for our neighbours to the south as well as so many other parts of the world.

And that's why I need to show my support at Pride this year.

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[info]seweccentric
2009-06-10 04:10 pm UTC (link)
I think we'll see significant change in our lifetime. Something to consider - the average US Congressman is 56 and the average senator is 62. That's an entire generation older than us. When our generation (presumably working their way up the ranks in smaller offices at this very moment) grabs hold of those positions, you'll see the change. Because even amongst my most conservative friends, none of them are anti-gay.

ETA - what I mean is, people don't let go of their convictions so easily, but they do grow old and die. And doesn't it seem like every generation is more liberal than the one before? Which is kind of ironic, in a way, because everyone says they want to leave the world a better place for their children... and so they do, just not by their design.

ETA(again) - also, Canada has a MUCH higher voter turn-out rate on average. That's where Americans are really hurting their causes the most. The average voter (here) is just shy of 50. If that number were closer to 40 you'd see much different results in politics. Marching is great, voting is greater. And it seems that message only gets out every 4 years (here).

Edited at 2009-06-10 04:37 pm UTC

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[info]pseudohistorian
2009-06-11 05:49 pm UTC (link)
I hear what you're saying about the demographic shift in the States...younger Republicans seem to be closer to the Meghan McCain model, so either the GOP will shift their social policies to accept GLBT equality, or those younger people will eventually vote Democrat (and/or take office as Democrats). Either way, the social policies progress. :)

I've been more optimistic on this front lately as I watch all of New England accepting same-sex marriage (and even Iowa doing the same :)), but because there are also forces pushing in the other direction, I know there'll be many legal battles to come. :/

Voting is greater, and you'll recall my urging people to do so during the Canadian/American elections last year...but while I do vote with these issues in mind, the specific GLBT rights I referred to have (fortunately) already been granted in my jurisdiction. :)

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[info]seweccentric
2009-06-11 10:55 pm UTC (link)
Of course I'm going to miss the Pride parade here (the 27th) but turns out i'm also going to miss the one in London (july 4th) - the day we fly home. that would have been cool.

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[info]pseudohistorian
2009-06-12 08:08 am UTC (link)
I know how you feel...when I finally left Sydney, after spending months in Australia, I missed their Pride (one of the biggest in the world) by just a couple of days. :/

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