I am extremely honored to have been invited by a group of students at California State University in Chico to speak at their Day of Silence Rally. 3:30 PM Butte Building for you local readers.
Whatever will I say?
I have been thinking a lot about bullies this week in preparation.
Like the economic bullies who have created a system where white, gay males earn 14% less than white, straight males. Lesbians do better compared to other women - but only because ALL women earn less than men ... in jobs with exactly equal requirements of education and experience. America's bosses value male over female, white over color, and straight over gay. THAT is a form of bullying that is VERY difficult to overcome. ENDA will help but not cure.
And why is poverty and unemployment still a consequence for a transgender person deciding to transition? It is simply wrong.
Then there are the bullies who choose what is taught, what we know of our history. Think back to high school and college. What were you taught about America? About the world? If you are anything like me, you learned about the acts and thoughts of mostly white, straight males. but were not people of color Americans from the get go? Where are the stories of women in our history classes? The history of gays and lesbians? It is as though no person of color, no woman, no gay person ever existed. And the choice to ONLY teach the history of white straight males is a horrible way of bullying ALL students.
Then there is sex education of our youth. I had NO sex education in any school - a bit about genetics, but that was it. Even in 2010, the government still funds abstinence only education ... even though study after study - even Congressional studies - demonstrate without a doubt that abstinence only sex education results in unplanned pregnancies. THAT is the result of this educational model - unplanned pregnancies. Yet still we fund it and refuse to fund valid, accurate information about sex for our kids. Abstinence only education is bullying. Do not doubt it.
In many schools, the maxim "boys will be boys" still applies. Authority figures turn a blind eye to the most horrid abuse imaginable. "That's so gay" continues to mean one does not like something. "Faggot" "Queer" "Homo" "Dyke" "Lezzie" - these names continue to be thrown at children daily in thousands of school across this nation. And authorities walk away - boys will be boys.
Of course there is the tragedy of boys and men taking the name calling to new levels - physical gay bashing. It still happens ... and these obvious hate crimes are still minimized and oveer looked in the USA. Sean Kennedy of South Carolina was beaten to death by a young man. But since he is a good boy otherwise from a good family let's be merciful. The murderer served mere months in jail. Months ... because the victim was faggot and we don't too kindly about those people.
Institutional bullying has risen to new heights in recent months. The Roman Catholic Church has a problem. Now I define their problem as having priests who molest children and the Church responding inappropriately to these crimes. But that is NOT how the Vatican defines the problem. Oh no. In the true nature of bullies, the church defines itself as the victim - not the perpetrator. These christianists attempt to define the problem as the exposition of its horror - not the horror itself.
An Italian bishop this week explained that the problem was actually the Jews ... it is the Jews who are stirring up this problem for the Church - after all, they are "christ killers." And the number 2 guy in the Vatican, the Secretary of State - a combination of Hilary Clinton, Joe Biden, and the Secretary of Defense - defined the problem as "homosexuals." He lied and said studies link homosexuality with child molesting. NO reputable study has ever made that link. He lied. but it is much easier to scapegoat the gays than to face the sin of cover up's and child abuse.
How come we have not heard anyone from the Church ask "why do child molesters become priests?" THAT question is never asked. No one dares to confront the bully that is the christianists of the Church. After all, these straight, white males OUGHT to get their way and be left alone. THEY know best.
Even when they seek to denigrate and ostracize our families. In California, the christianists mobilzed their treasure, their employees, and their flocks to lie - to manipulate - and to defeat Proposition H8. Even this month, presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee equated the loving family of a same sex couple with polygamy and incest. How dare this bully throw around his lies in order to subjagate our gay families!
For that is what bullies do - with words, with taunts, with lies, with violence - they seek to stay on top and to keep all others under their thumb. Gay families just are not as good as straight families. BS
And then there is the Butte County Sheriff's Department. Our local institutional bully. Yes, that is a harsh indictment. But here are the facts.
I will tell the story of Steve.
So what do we do? We have to stand up to the bullies and live our honest lives.
We come out!
We engage!
We protest!
Yes, I think I will speak about these things today. I am SO honored to have been asked to be their only speaker. So honored.
