An ominous undertone pervaded hearings on Civil Marriage and Anti-Discrimination in Maryland last week.
Gloomy gray skies and rain prevailed outside the Miller Senate building. Inside the Judicial Proceedings Committee a storm of hateful discrimination raged.
Let me assure you it was far more frightening to be seated inside, part of an edgy, restless audience than standing outside, cold and alone in the rain.
The Bilerico Project - and my own words - were used to exploit.
A former gay-leader was cited to deny transgender equality.
A child was booed for her civil rights analogy, a plea for marriage equality.
And an oppressed minority played the oppressor.
It was a sad day; a mournful moment of déjà vu in the Free State and for LBGT citizens across America.
Proponents and opponents of LGBT equality furiously rocked the boat over interpretations of civil rights, riding a turbulent sea of emotional upheaval in a contentious, tug-of-war rematch.
The annual battle in Annapolis renewed late in the day, long after many of the 11 bills on the docket and 117 speakers scheduled to testify had come and gone.
SB 583 proposes protections in employment, public accommodations and housing based on gender identity. But not if the Family Research Council, Maryland Citizens for a Better Government (notmyshower.com) and the Association of Maryland Families have the final say.
Ironically, it was the transphobic words of a longtime gay activist Ron Gold that were readily exploited, made-to-order for the fundamentalist coalition, denying gender identity and the need for anti-discrimination protections.
It was quick and effective strike. A short bio established Gold's credibility as a longtime gay rights leader. Wasn't I surprised when the opposition cited my own blog post, "The Delusion of Transphobic Labeling" as evidence of Gold's respected position within the LGBTQ community:
"There may have been a place of respect for Ron Gold in the LBGTQ community..."---partial blog reference from the Bilerico Report cited by MCBG/Not My Shower.
Taken in full context my words are anything but an endorsement. The full opening text actually reads:
"There may have been a place of respect for Ron Gold in the LBGTQ community once upon a time long ago, but that place is now far, far away. Mr. Gold's days as a gay leader are done, long gone after his Bilerico Report diatribe against the T-community. At least they are in my definition of a leader."
Ron Gold, gay icon, exiled from the Bilerico Report for writing "No to the Notion of Transgender", turned unwitting martyr for the righteousness of LGBTQ discrimination. The opposition's tainted sermon of half truth was more than disturbing. Like witnessing a mother or father in nature eating its young, it was impossible to digest the carnage without being disgusted.
Civil Marriage is a Civil Right
The concept of civil marriage as a civil right also came under attack from the ultra conservative coalition. In the balance rested the 7-day-old opinion of the Maryland Attorney General recognizing out-of-state, same-sex marriages.
The future of in-state, same-sex marriage was also at stake.
The Association of American Families, a not-for-profit organization associated with Focus on Family and bent on the same heteronormative, discriminatory family model, described its contingent gathered to fight same-sex marriage:
"Mega Church leaders from Baltimore City, Anne Arundel, Prince George and Montgomery counties took the day off to stand for marriage in our state's capital. About 60 Pastors, ministers and congregants from prominent churches all across Maryland gathered..."
SB 852 targets the Maryland Attorney General's favorable opinion. The bill would invalidate same sex marriage recognition, legally performed out-of state. HB 1079 goes a step further, aiming to create a constitutional amendment, establishing marriage between one man and one woman as the only domestic legal union valid or recognized in the State.
13-year-old Maya Deane-Polyak, daughter of Gita Deane and Lisa Polyak took the podium on behalf of marriage equality. "I believe that someday, my moms will be granted their civil rights just as women fought for equality and just as African-Americans fought for their rights," she said.
Her words of hope were met with jeers of disdain, catcalls of indignation from the pre-dominantly African-American contingent of opposition.
Anger was swiftly tempered by Elbridge James, a high ranking Maryland official of the NAACP and director of the Maryland Black Family Alliance. He carried a message of equality on behalf of both civil rights organizations.
James underscored the NAACP's commitment to the civil rights of all Americans, an endorsement of civil marriage equality for same sex couples and anti-discrimination protections for gender identity. He informed the hearing that the stance of the NAACP was the position of civil rights champion Julian Bond of Georgia. He informed the audience this was the position of Coretta Scott King.
James, himself a black American, followed Maya Deane-Poyak to the podium. At first he seemed to agree with the dissent of his fellow African-Americans in the audience. "You're right", he proclaimed "Our civil rights are different..."
"Just as Jewish civil rights were different or Native American civil rights and Asian and Mexican American civil rights and women's rights, the rights of the disabled and elderly Americans."
Talk about the power of words. The silence was deafening.
Different civil rights issues every one. Civil rights abuses and atrocities in different times to be sure. But civil rights issues all the same. Each a gross violation of civil rights guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
There's an old saying that a row boat can't travel in two different directions at the same time. We're in it together for the long haul, for better or worse, whether we're gay or straight, black or white, transgender or cisgender, practicing an organized faith or following an innate sense of spirituality.
Or as the great Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, "We may have all come on different ships, but we're in the same boat now."