There are issues that I have with this blog post. I agree, that as an adult, choice is the greatest gift. Our actions define us. I have spoken and written about this at length. Who we are is our choice. How people treat us is only marginally our choice, for you see, we have control only of our own actions.
Ms Etheridge declares that it is our choice in how people see and treat us. This is an arrogant perspective born in the privilege of power and position. In the real world, ONLY people like Ms Etheridge has a manager to "reach out to Pastor Warren." Real people don't have managers, and real people don't have calls answered by people like Mr Warren.
Ms Etheridge calls on us "as we consider marches and boycotts, perhaps we can consider stretching out our hands. Maybe instead of marching on his church, we can show up en mass and volunteer for one of the many organizations affiliated with his church that work for HIV/AIDS." This might be a credible option if his church didn't specifically exclude gays.
The plague that began to sweep the gay community 25 years ago was not fought by helping the churches that sought to oppress us. ActUp invorated direct action. They protested in the halls of government, the FDA, the Centers for Disease Control, and yes the Churches. Those people and institutions that seek to oppress, obfuscate, subdue and subjugate deserve all non-violent protests. When the most intimate of my relationships, that with my husband, is attacked, those people and institutions that contributed directly or indirectly are deserving of every non-violent assault on their peaceful exercise of their lives and activities.
While not specifically apologizing for Rev Warren, Ms Etheridge does advocate that the man, having seen his"open heart, she says, "He explained in very thoughtful words that as a Christian, he believed in equal rights for everyone." Words are meaningless without actions.
The Question:
How has Rev Warren advocated for equal rights? Has he called for the passage of The Uniting American Families Act? Has he called for the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell?" What has he said or done for the LGBT equality? Ms Etheridge speaks of his regrets. Where are HIS statements of regret? How has HE made amends?
The problem with Ms Etheridge's public advocacy is she has seemed to become an apologist for someone who gave power and credence to the hate movement behind Prop 8. In an effort to effectively advocate for civil equality, she has mis-stepped. While I'll always appreciate advocates. Apologists are something I can do without. I DO appreciate her speaking to our shared inequalities; however, I deny her the right to accept any apology from anyone -especially someone who has failed to demonstrate an equally public atonement
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