For the first time, the U.S. Justice Department has banned the gay pride event that is held annually at the Department. The reason given was that the Bush Administration has never officially recognized Gay Pride month. Last year, the White House stated that Dubya does not believe in “politicizing people’s sexual orientation.”
I wrote a letter to the New York Times this morning in response to the above-linked article:
To the Editor:
According to the White House, President Bush does not believe “in politicizing people’s sexual orientation” (“Justice Dept. Bans Event By Gay Staff,” June 6, 2003).
Unfortunately, sexual orientation has already been politicized. It has been politicized by judges who refuse to give gay parents custody over their own children; by national and state governments that withhold the legal protections of marriage from loving couples; by authorities who arrest and prosecute adults for having consensual sex in their own homes; by employers who fire American workers merely because they are gay; by school principals and school board members who silently condone physical violence against gay students.
Sexual orientation will no longer be “politicized” on the day when people stop punishing each other merely because of whom they happen to love.
I fear my letter doesn’t say anything new and has too much generic rhetoric, but I still hope they print it.
Nicely expressed, man. It doesn’t matter whether the points you’ve raised are stale or not, because for many in this country, they are still concepts that are different and scary and challenging.
I hope they print your letter too! I wish I were able to express myself well enough to write letters to the editor. I’ve always wanted to. I’m glad someone out there is.
Excellent letter! Hope you don’t mind if I share it. :-)
I read this article as well and was spitting mad all day about it. Crossing my fingers that they print your note.
Leif Erricson celebrators can gather at the DOJ (yes, the president recognizes by proclamation Leif Erricson Day!) but there cannot be a gay pride event? Come ON!
I actually got an e-mail on Friday night stating that my letter is being considered for publication in the next few days… so we shall see.