2006
Getting Ahead on the Backs of Our Ancestors
While in no way attempting to compare, or minimize the importance and significance of either,it is important to point out the similarities between these issues in order to fully recognize the hope that exists for the LGBT community as a result of the trail blazing struggle of Civil Rights leaders, and activists, as initiated decades ago. LGBT discrimination, like racial discrimination has existed for more years than many of us have been alive, yet it wasn’t until 1954, when The Supreme Court ruled on the landmark case Brown vs. The Topeka Board of Education, when they unanimously agreed that segregation in public schools is unconstitutional, that true leaders felt supported enough to become more outspoken in the pursuit of equality. That ruling paved the way for large-scale desegregation and initiated the overturn of the 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson ruling that sanctioned “separate but equal” segregation of the races, ruling that “separate educational facilities are inherently unequal.” However, it is important to understand that while these issues both revolve around civil rights and liberties, they carry obvious differences, at the core. The fact that an African American can only hide his/her heritage if light skinned enough to pass, the LGBT person has a choice in who knows; it is largely the ability to hide or deny their identity or sexual orientation that keeps our potential leaders operating behind the scenes rather than out front. Like the Civil Rights leaders of decades ago, limited exposure seems to be a necessary evil in not only protecting their lives, but their livelihoods. However, with lesbian and gay celebrities being thrust or stepping out of the closet each day,committees such as The Equality Forum are taking such radical steps as publicly profiling members of our community who have made a representatively positive impact on the world, the lifestyle is become increasingly more acceptable, which subsequently makes it less and less necessary to remain closeted. Finally I’ll add that the well publicized and extremely visible LGBT movement is still relatively young, however, it seems inevitable that it is only a matter of time before a true LGBT leader is identified by the community, and accepts the challenge to take up the reins and lead our people North.
