by Kerry Lobel,
Executive Director,
The National
Gay & Lesbian Task Force
Eye
on Equality is a monthly column about national and state-level political
events. It often provides a behind-the-scenes look a social movements
and trends. The column is written by Kerry Lobel, Executive Director,
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.
June 5, 1998
Disney tops the entertainment
food chain. Ask Ellen. Ask Flip Benham and his pals from Operation Rescue.
They are demonstrating this weekend to protest Gay Day at Disney.
I'm no stranger to Flip and
his friends. I lived in Arkansas from 1985 to 1994. Bill Clinton's presidential
campaign and the first year following his election resulted in a swarm
of visitors to "Arkansas: The Natural State." (Arkansas used to be called
the "Land of Opportunity," but that is the subject for another column.)
Most memorable were the visitors
who helped us understand the linkages between issues. First, Little Rock
was targeted by Rev. Otwell from Texas. He and 40 of his followers picketed
first Governor and then President-elect Clinton's home church. They targeted
lesbians and gay men, people of color, doctors who provided family planning
services, and people living with HIV nd AIDS with their wrath.
For three months, Sunday
after Sunday, we gathered 100 counter-protesters across from the church.
We were subjected to taunts and physical threats. Worst of all, week after
week, we watched the children of Otwell followers hoisted on top of coffins
and encouraged to shout AIDS phobic chants.
By the time Flip Benham,
Operation Rescue, and other demonstrators came to picket and block entrance
to family planning clinics, we were ready. We had molded ourselves into
the Arkansas Liberty Alliance, a coalition representing social, political
and religious organizations. We had hands-on training from the Fund for
the Feminist Majority. Some of the most ardent foes of women's right to
choose were on the scene. Randall Terry, Joseph Scheidler and others attempted
to divide our town. Importantly, few people took the bait.
Most heartbreaking were the
scenes of children yelling threats and taunts as we escorted women to clinics
for family planning services.
Moving fast forward to today,
Operation Rescue has announced that intends to hand out religious pamphlets
and "minister" to gay visitors at the Magic Kingdom, protest two Barnes
and Noble Bookstores, and picket two family planning clinics in Orlando.
Orange County, CA deputy sheriffs are expected to stand by in riot gear.
Flip Benham says that it
hurts him to think of people "shaking their fists at God." What really
hurts Flip is the notion that Americans in growing numbers support civil
rights for gays and lesbians, support women's access to reproductive health
services, and that bookstores offer children and adults the tools they
need to think critically about issues facing our society.
It hurts me to think of children
entering Disneyland and Walt Disney World subjected to the Flip Benhams
and those of his ilk. But it hurts me even more to think of the children
of the demonstrators -- children that are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered
or questioning -- learning to hate themselves and
learning that to love they'll
have to leave their families.
As a recent report issued
by NGLTF's Policy Institute indicates, the rate of disapproval of homosexual
relationships has dropped precipitously over the last ten years. By shining
a light on our families, Flip and friends provide us with a tremendous
opportunity to do what our communities have done best -- educate
those around us through living lives based on love, respect, and
accountability to our community.
Founded in 1973, the National
Gay and Lesbian Task Force works to eliminate prejudice, violence and injustice
against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people at the local,
state and national level. As part of a broader social justice movement
for freedom, justice and equality, NGLTF is creating a world that respects
and celebrates the diversity of human expression and identity where
all people may fully participate in society.
Web site at http://www.ngltf.org.
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