Tuesday, December 13, 2011

United States on LGBT People Around the World

For the entirety of my blog, I have been playing a sort of game with myself– how long can I go without making a post about LGBT rights? I have finally lost, but perhaps my readers will find it a winning topic.

On December 6th, President Obama issued a memorandum with seven points on protecting LGBT rights abroad, saying that gay rights were an important part of human rights and stating that they were a major part of the human rights and foreign policies of the United States. A short time after Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made a speech in Switzerland to celebrate December 10th, which marks both Human Rights Day and the signing of the Geneva Convention. She expanded upon President Obama's memo and also announced that the U.S. is making a $3 million "global equality fund" to support organizations who advance these goals around the world.

(Fun fact, which I didn't know before looking at Sec. Clinton's speech: Before the 6-3 Supreme Court decision Lawrence v. Texas, there were still "sodomy laws" in place in thirteen states. Oh yeah, that was in 2003. 2003!)

The response to this speech was overwhelmingly positive. Dan Savage, creator of the "It Gets Better" campaign (and admittedly under fire for some controversial remarks about trans*-people) echoed the sentiments of many LGBT activists when he said "The check I was planning to write to Obama's reelection campaign just acquired another zero." Joe Solomonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, an LGBT rights organization, said that "Today's actions by President Obama make clear that the United States will not turn a blind eye when governments commit or allow abuses to the human rights of LGBT people." Clearly, some big names in LGBT rights are really happy about this new development in gay rights and foreign policy.

The favorable reaction shocked me. Sure, I'm glad that our administration is paying attention to human rights and gay people. But it seemed to me to be kind of a backhanded move concerning domestic politics. Remember, folks, President Obama supports civil unions, not same-sex marriage. This seemed like an almost hypocritical way for Obama to pander to the LGBT crowd without actually taking any decisive stance on the freedoms of his own citizens. The more that I think about it, of course this action is going to be popular– few people are going to say that they think defending human rights is a bad thing. But it really rubs me the wrong way to see an inconsistency between actions at home and abroad, especially when it is so obviously a tactic to get gays to the polls.

I hope that if President Obama is elected for a second term, he will take a more decisive stance on the rights of LGBT people in America.

Friday, December 9, 2011

"Happy Holidays!"

Recently, I turned on the radio in my car, and something compelled me to turn on 93.9 FM, which around my parts is Lite FM. This station is not on my regular presets, but it is one click away from 94.3, which I call Jesus Radio. In between songs, I heard a prerecorded message that said something along the lines of, "From all of us at Lite FM, have a Happy Holidays!"

I actually said out loud, "I am so sure."

I found it ironic that a station that makes a point to play nonstop Christmas music would still say "Happy Holidays." Perhaps I missed something on their website?

It's even on their Google result!

This perhaps-mildly-amusing anecdote hopefully provides a segue into the idea that Christmas in America has really become more of a commercial or secular holiday than a religious one, and this really freaks some people out. Securalization of the season has even been called the "War on Christmas." The timeline for the Merry Christmas vs. Happy Holidays debate is difficult, because there are Christians who say "Merry Christmas" as a first instinct, Christians who say "Happy Holidays" to try and be inclusive, and there are Christians who say "Merry Christmas" with secularization in mind who are purposefully trying to "Keep the 'Christ in Christmas'" or something of the sort.

As it turns out, around 60% of surveyed Americans prefer "Merry Christmas" to 23%'s "Happy Holidays, although when given an option, 45% said it didn't matter. The results followed along age, party, and religious lines, with older people, Republicans, and Evangelical Christians more likely to be supportive of "Merry Christmas" or public displays of religious symbols (although even President Bush wished people a "Happy Holidays" in office). One author quoted in The Huffington Post suggested saying "Merry Christmas" where the vast majority of people are Christian and "Happy Holidays" in more diverse areas.

Yes, the majority of Americans are Christian. But as one 2004 Reason Magazine blogger put it, instead of complaining about secularization, "the answer is in giving more time and attention to religious and charitable activities, not in demanding more Christian symbolism at the place where you shop. Macy's is not a temple." Indeed, the effort in "Happy Holidays"– in what some people perceive as a culture war –is not to belittle or take away Christmas from Christians. The effort is to try and recognize and account for the one-quarter of Americans who aren't Christian.

I identify as Christian and even I find this a little ridiculous. Christians are hardly an oppressed minority in America. We saw it recently with Rick Perry's infamous and homophobic advertisement, in which he proudly stated that "I'm not ashamed to admit I'm a Christian." Big deal! Although he said this before the Rick Perry spot came out (which may be a testament to the extent and ridiculousness of Christians' perceived oppression in America) I think Jon Stewart put this one best– "Yes, the long war on Christianity. I pray that one day we may live in an America where Christians can worship freely! In broad daylight! Openly wearing the symbols of their religion... perhaps around their necks? And maybe — dare I dream it? — maybe one day there can be an openly Christian President. Or, perhaps, 43 of them. Consecutively."

And to all my readers, Happy Holidays.