Strange bedfellows, indeed

As I have continued to get myself involved in situation after situation and controversy after controversy, I have increasingly realized that sometimes, taking a stand on a certain issue puts you into bed with some strange allies.

I first learned this lesson while working with the Student Government Association at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. During hte 2005-2006 academic year, I served my first of two years as the Chairman of our Student Senate Legislative Committee (arguably, one of the most influential positions - along with the executive officers and Finance Committee Chair - in Student Government). The President placed me and a friend, serving as a Senator at the time (and who had once represented the College Republicans in Student Senate proceedings), on a University committee to study our campus’ so-called “free speech zones.”

Since the start of my academic career at UNCG, I had run into the rantings of UNC-Wilmington professor Mike Adams. An un-apologetic, die-hard conservative who had more than his share of opinions on every topic under the sun, Adams joined in on the free speech controversy at UNCG. Surprisingly, I agreed with everything he had to say. Surprising, you ask? Yes, it was: Adams had regularly spoken out against UNCG and other UNC System schools with LGBT student groups and programs. Needless to say, I had hardly ever agreed with him on anything, at least not until that point.

A year later, in March 2007 while I was away from UNCG on the Soulforce Equality Ride, I’d find myself agreeing with some strange allies once again. The College Republicans at UNCG would hold their annual Morals Week and included a “Straight Pride Day.” Of course, they come under attack from many students and folks associated with the University. Controversy sparked. I was told about it - from both the side of my LGBT friends involved with the LGBT student group and from the side of one of my closest friends, that same student Senator who served with me on the University free speech committee and who had represented the College Republicans in Student Senate. I had to agree with my Republican friend: The College Republicans’ opinion might not be one with which all people agreed, nor necessarily one with which I agreed, but they still had every right to speak their mind and have their views known, despite others’ efforts to silence them (in an unrelated Morals Week activity, some students had shown up to a forum almost completely naked, screaming profanities and almost shutting down the event).

Once again, I find myself sitting between two different communities and two different sets of interests. With the situation regarding Tyler Whitney, I spoke out against what I saw as vile, cruel and inappropriate language. I called on those within the LGBT community who were making these comments to stop and to show respect to the God-given dignity and integrity of each and every person “wonderfully and fearfully made” by God. I also called on those leaders who themselves run websites where these comments appeared, to moderate the comments, as this type of vile, obscene language was totally indecent and not fit for an intelligent, public debate or discussion.

On one side, I have more conservative-minded folks supporting my decision to not engage in attacks against Whitney. At the same time, I have more conservative-minded folks questioning whether or not I really meant it. Again, at the same time, I have more liberal and progressive-minded people calling me an “Uncle Tom” and a “shill.” Even again, I have at the same time more liberal and progressive-minded folks telling me that I am “coddling” the oppressor, and that I should not be “offering an olive branch” to what they consider a group akin to the KKK.

Today, I read news that Jeff Gannon had come out in support of Whitney. How is that I find myself on somewhat of the same side as a person like Gannon… a person that in the normal business of the day, I’d probably never agree with? I don’t necessarily agree with every point he raises, but in principle, I do agree that Whitney shouldn’t have become the subject of such a large public focus and scrutiny.

All sorts of folks have come out of the woodwork. From each and every side of the political spectrum, I have been called this or that, or accused of being or doing this or that.

I once said, that if I’m getting blasted from both sides of the political spectrum, that I must be doing something right.

Here is where I stand: I do not play politics by labeling myself as this or that. My political views are shaped and formed by a variety of sources, including my faith and my experiences living in this world. Sometimes, I’m radically left. Sometimes, I’d say I curve to the right. Sometimes, I stay right in the middle of the road. And… sometimes I could really care less. What matters to me is that I stay true to who I am and to what I believe is right and just.

Does this mean that what I believe today or yesterday will be the same as what I believe tomorrow or next year or in the next 20 years? Absolutely not. What it does mean is that I am growing, learning and continuing to define and re-define who I am, what I believe and what is most important to me.

I’ve learned a lot in this latest controversy. I hope what I have learned helps me to better know who I am and what I stand for. I’ve learned a lot about LGBT folks who identify as politically conservative. I’ve learned about where their beliefs come from and why they believe it. Perhaps I still don’t agree with everything they say, but at least I am attempting to understand their point of view. The same goes for those opinions coming from the progressive side of things.

And… one last point… I am firmly convinced of the fact that our political process is in a huge state of disrepair. For a person to feel as though he or she is no longer a part of a community - whether progressive or conservative - that he or she firmly identifies with, just because they happen to disagree with one point of that community’s “agenda,” is wrong. We live in America, folks… and we are all able to form our own opinions and because we live in America we have the ability to not be forced into “toeing the party line.” We can disagree on this or agree on that and, guess what… we can all still get along. That is, if we return to showing people the dignity and integrity that all people have from birth.

And that is something I promise, here and now, to show more of: Respect, kindness and courtesy towards others is what defines a truly open and welcome environment for each and every person. For us to sit down at the same table and truly act like fellow Americans wishing only the best for our communities and nation, we must sit down with each other while showing mutual respect. We can still disagree, but we can do it politely and with some civility.

Previous Posts:

• BTL follow-up: Whitney story sparks national debate June 22, 2007
• DailyKos: InterstateQ.com is a ‘right-leaning blog’ June 21, 2007
• Friend of Tyler Whitney: Gays are “poor creatures [doing] Satan’s work” June 18, 2007
• The “outing” of Tyler WhitneyJune 14, 2007

Posted in Anti-LGBT, LGBT, LGBT Youth, Politics, United States |