This past year has been an eventful one indeed, the culmination perhaps of an epic decades in the making.
Some of us were there to witness history being made as Barack Obama was sworn in as our Nation’s 44th President. Others of us took part in the National Equality March.
Some events this year were symbolic of how far we have come in the LGBT movement. We watched as Iowa legalized same-sex marriage, as West Point Officer and Iraq War Veteran, Lt. Dan Choi came out on national TV and as Iceland named Johanna Sigurdardottir as its first lesbian prime minister and as the world’s first openly-gay leader.
It’s a pretty safe bet that the Christopher Street bar patrons, and their straight allies, fighting to reclaim a little dignity on a late June night over 40 years ago would never have envisioned that, on another June night, not all that many years later, they and others like them would be honored by the illumination of the Empire State Building in lavender, for the world to see - an example of how just a few can change the hearts of many.
But perhaps just as significant, during the parade commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, were the openly gay and lesbian NYPD officers holding hands with their partners as they marched right past the spot where their predecessors had once been the very face of LGBT oppression.
Decades before Stonewall, right here in Los Angeles, our predecessors were busy leading the fight in the streets of Silver Lake, and tirelessly working to unify us through pioneer gay activism organizations like the Mattachine Society and underground publications like ONE.
The gay rights movement owes so much of its progress to courageous Angelinos, just as our generation owes so much to the generations who have come before us. I think they would be very proud of modern day events like Meet in the Middle, Day of Decision and Lavender Los Angeles.
And just as we can learn from our long and storied past, so too will future activists learn from our struggles. History may indeed reveal that Prop 8’s passage last fall was the best thing to happen to us in 20 years, awakening a new generation of LGBT activists. Off the couch and into the streets!
Indeed, this is an exciting time to be in the movement. The recent signing of the Matthew Shepard Act reminds us that we are indeed gaining ground. We are currently at the very cusp of a whole new era for our community. Marriage Equality, Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and a whole host of other causes are reaching a critical mass and it’s only a matter of time before the scale tips toward full acceptance and equality.
Now, more than ever, we have an opportunity to take the driver’s seat in our own collective destiny and in that of our community.
Although the time has come for me to embark on the next chapter of my life, I can honestly say that my involvement in the Stonewall Young Democrats is perhaps the thing in my life which has been both the most exhilarating and the most rewarding.
We have accomplished much together and we should all be very proud of the progress we have made.
The coming years hold a lot of promise for our movement and for this club. I am excited for the new executive committee and I will continue to watch SYD’s progress with much pride and enthusiasm.
Best of luck to all of you, and best wishes to the new leaders of SYD!
Shawn
Last 5 posts by Michael C
- 2010 Census LGBTQ Community Forum in WeHo - March 3rd, 2010
- Out on the Bimah Panel - March 1st, 2010
- SYD General Meeting: Using Gene Therapy against HIV/AIDS - February 25th, 2010
- SYD membership renewal for 2010 endorsements - February 23rd, 2010
- Hearing of the Joint Committee on the Arts - February 23rd, 2010