DADT repeal
Dec. 18th, 2010 03:20 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rmAs I am writing this DADT is about to be repealed, and that's fantastic. It's also not enough.
First, this didn't have to go on this long; Obama could have asserted himself in a much more efficient manner. And Obama still has to assert himself. This ONLY takes DADT off the books. Obama needs to issue a direct non-discrimination order to the military.
Second, this process has included a great deal of distaste for our judiciary. As a child, when I learned about the various branches of government, I learned that the courts were always, always, our last, best hope of a just a-political society. Of course, judges are not appointed and elected without politics, and judges are also imperfect, and god knows the Supreme Court makes me angry/nervous often enough. But I believe in the inherent good of the ideal of the judiciary. And our national politics are, at present, demonizing the judiciary from both the left and the right. I find this highly, HIGHLY problematic, and we need step the fuck back from this as a nation.
Third, repeal DOMA. Make sure the spouses and legal partners of LGBT people, and particularly of LGBT service people get the respect and benefits they are entitled to.
Fourth, multiple aspects of our marriage-centric society are problematic. Despite this, we still need marriage equality now.
Fifth, homophobia and misogyny run hand in hand. Rape, homophobia and misogyny run hand-in-hand. We need to look at how we treat women and theoretically feminine characteristics, both in and outside of the military, and get over our shit as a nation.
Sixth, pass ENDA. It is still legal to fire people for being queer in the majority of US states.
Meanwhile:
John McCain, what the fuck? Did you only support DADT repeal when you thought it would never happen? Are you just pandering to the increasing conservatism of your state? Or have your convictions changed? You've embarrassed yourself. Shamed yourself. Shamed our nation on this. Really.
Congress members who voted for this repeal, especially if you once held a different point of view or found this hard to vote for and voted for it anyway? Thank you. Thank you for your courage and self-examination.
People who think this doesn't matter -- this is the first time my national government is ACTIVELY saying I am human, equal, and worthy. You don't know what that's like until you haven't got it.
First, this didn't have to go on this long; Obama could have asserted himself in a much more efficient manner. And Obama still has to assert himself. This ONLY takes DADT off the books. Obama needs to issue a direct non-discrimination order to the military.
Second, this process has included a great deal of distaste for our judiciary. As a child, when I learned about the various branches of government, I learned that the courts were always, always, our last, best hope of a just a-political society. Of course, judges are not appointed and elected without politics, and judges are also imperfect, and god knows the Supreme Court makes me angry/nervous often enough. But I believe in the inherent good of the ideal of the judiciary. And our national politics are, at present, demonizing the judiciary from both the left and the right. I find this highly, HIGHLY problematic, and we need step the fuck back from this as a nation.
Third, repeal DOMA. Make sure the spouses and legal partners of LGBT people, and particularly of LGBT service people get the respect and benefits they are entitled to.
Fourth, multiple aspects of our marriage-centric society are problematic. Despite this, we still need marriage equality now.
Fifth, homophobia and misogyny run hand in hand. Rape, homophobia and misogyny run hand-in-hand. We need to look at how we treat women and theoretically feminine characteristics, both in and outside of the military, and get over our shit as a nation.
Sixth, pass ENDA. It is still legal to fire people for being queer in the majority of US states.
Meanwhile:
John McCain, what the fuck? Did you only support DADT repeal when you thought it would never happen? Are you just pandering to the increasing conservatism of your state? Or have your convictions changed? You've embarrassed yourself. Shamed yourself. Shamed our nation on this. Really.
Congress members who voted for this repeal, especially if you once held a different point of view or found this hard to vote for and voted for it anyway? Thank you. Thank you for your courage and self-examination.
People who think this doesn't matter -- this is the first time my national government is ACTIVELY saying I am human, equal, and worthy. You don't know what that's like until you haven't got it.
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no subject
Date: 2010-12-19 01:21 pm (UTC)When I saw all the people dismissing the judiciary I was severely worried - because that is the route to justice sand equality. I was especially horrified to see the president dismissing the judicial route and fighting the judicial repeal - DADT was dead and had to be brought back to life to risk a less secure method through the legislature.
Fighting for rights in the legislature is not only uncertain and but it's also outrageous. It's outrageous because it says rights have to be GRANTED not that they are being demanded and that an injustice has been done. It is the straight majority magnaminously deciding to generously bestow personhood on GBLT people. The courts is saying this shit is wrong and should not stand, that these rights exist and are being violated, that these people have value and are being devalued
And that sparky makes pompous speeches because he likes 'em.
The fact that ENDA and DOMA are dead for the foreseeable future is beyond depressing. And the fact that a great deal of progressives are now going to say "you got DADT, what more do you want?" already has me hissing
I also boggle at the idea of producing this repeal without a non-discrimination clause. How is this to work - soldiers can come out... but their superiors and colleagues can still discriminate against them?
McCain is a homophobic bigot. And like many bigots, he's savy enough to hide his bigotry. So it's easy to be "pro-gay" on a position until you think it may actually happen. Seen it before, seen it often and it doesn't look any prettier the dozenth time. Or the hundreth. Or the thousandth.
And yet another big I agree on the "it doesn't matter" statement. I never joined the military and never planned to, but when my government banned me from it it was a statement - the government was saying i was a lesser person, of lesser worth, of lesser value of lesser citizenship. It doesn't matter that it was an act of citizenship I was never going to partake in - the highest authority in the country was declaring me inherently unfit simply for being gay. How can that NOT be destructive?