Sometimes I read some of the conservative blog sites and opinion columns, taking in the perspective of those who question the need for marriage equality, those who are against discussing same sex relationships in sex education or the thoughts of the opponents of anti-vilification laws. Reading these websites and newspaper columns sometimes makes me outraged, but more often than not they make me laugh.
Perusing a blog by one outspoken critic of marriage equality I was stuck by the use of language, phrases like the ‘militant homosexual agenda’ and ‘radical social engineering’ and ‘crusade to destroy marriage’. Powerful words and words that are hard to equate to the people who promote, manage and plan the campaigns for these things – nobody I’ve met from GALE WA or Equal Love seems to be militant, radical on a mission that equates with the Crusades. The flipside of the debate though is just as selective of its words; ‘gay marriage’ became ‘same sex marriage’ and now ‘marriage equality’.
But if there is a gay mafia, according to the latest updates from the far right here’s what were supposed to be doing.
1. Infiltrate all churches
2. Take over the schools
3. Find proof that all historical figures were gay.
4. Position ourselves throughout all media channels
5. Take over a political party
6. Promote androgyny through the fashion industry
7. Encourage more people to join our cause through elaborate parades
Work out who is doing what and get back to me.
It seems everywhere conservative pundits look, there are gay people. Now there is a simple reason for this – gay people are actually everywhere. In preparing this month’s HOME themed issue it’s been refreshing to see that the visible GLBT community is not found living in the predictable inner city spaces but in the suburbs and the countryside too.
This month marks 42 years since the Stonewall riots, a moment to reflect on how far the gay rights movement has come, and how far it still has to travel. At a recent local debate on same sex marriage the majority of the discussion focused on political maths, highlighting that elections are won and lost in the philosophical middle ground and outer suburban metropolitan seats. Maybe in 2011 it’s the suburban gays who will matter the most.
Graeme Watson
Editor
