Over the last 40 years our own GLBT community has been diligently advancing a movement.  In 1969 that movement was birthed in a bar called the Stonewall Inn and since then we have made great strides in spite of the setback of HIV/AIDS and an apathy that has been growing stronger over the past decade-and-a-half or more.  The reasons for the apathy are great in number and aren’t going to be the primary focus here today.  But the way to fight that apathy and move forward in leaps and bounds in our community seem to be the greatest dividers within the GLBT community today.  I ask why.  What group of individuals is fueling this division.  And finally, how can we overcome and accomplish our common goal of equal rights in this nation for GLBT citizens?

I do not tell you this to find pity, receive congratulatory remarks, or for any other altruistic reason.  Instead, the point of telling you this is to ask why the younger generation that is preparing to stand up and take the reins of a movement that has been under way for over 40 years is so quick to dismiss the ways and methods of individuals and organizations that are battle tested and have proven their effectiveness in bringing about a great deal of social change.  How is it that the newbies think the ways of the past have little-to-no relevancy and should simply be swept aside as if they were inarticulate theories of action that have no place in the advancing of our station as a community in this country.  It is because of the work that has been done thus far that the younger generation can even feel free to stand up so young and say what they have to say with much less fear of retribution than their forbearers.  It is the way of all societies throughout the course of history for the younger, or newer, generation to take cues from the individuals who have come before them.  The passing of the torch is the sharing of knowledge and experiences that have led our society to the place it is now.  And it is more than ignorant to cast aside the enormous strides and advances that have been accomplished as failures or shortcomings.  In fact it is reckless and should be seen as intolerable. 

At the moment there seems to be three schools of thought in the GLBT community in regards to how we win our equality.  All three of these groups seem to be represented to some extent here in the DFW metroplex.  The first group is made up of those who believe our equality can only be won in the streets by shouting things like “We’re here, we’re queer, get used to it”.  The people that fall into this particular group rely on attempts to tear down the more established groups around them in an effort to advance their way of thinking.  And even though their plan contains absolutely no follow thru after they insight outrage at an issue they are certain that their way is the only way to win equality for the GLBT community.  The second group contains individuals that work hard behind the scenes to win that same equality.  These people are too busy networking to make their mission known to the voting public or even the rest of the GLBT community. So while they are doing things that help advance our movement, they are doing nothing to fight the apathy that drags us to the ground like a cancer that is sucking the life out of us.  And finally we come to the third group.  The third group is the smart one.  This group of people is made up of those who protest vigorously and remain on point the whole time to bring the maximum amount of attention to the issue at hand before going to work in front of and behind the scenes to educate and work with the people who are making the decisions on whatever important issue we may be working on at the time.  This group of people is not interested in the credit for the initiative but rather is only interested in what impact they have on the movement overall and how they can partner with as many organizations as possible who share their position and goals for the advancement of GLBT people to a place of equality in our country. 

So which of these three groups is right?  The answer is not “all three”.  Only people who fall into group number three will ever help bring about great, lasting social change.  There is no question about it.  If only we had more people in this country and indeed this city who fell into group number three our movement would be a lot better off.  I’m a three…. What are you?