Panel Voices: What should the LGBT community’s New Year’s Resolution be?

George Gramer, Cecil Bethea and Phil Nash weigh in on this week’s question. 

George Gramer

Only one New Year’s resolution? Our community must examine many things. All we need to do is look in our collective mirrors. What are our worst attributes? There are many (and please realize that I am making sweeping generalizations to make a point):

We can be spiteful, elitist, snippy, snide, crude, and impolite.

We can be ageists (on both ends of the age spectrum).

We often expect others to be in Olympic gymnast condition (or the complete opposite).

We discriminate based on weight, height, color, occupation, and education.

We can be overly promiscuous.

We misuse drugs and alcohol.

We limit relationships based on a fetish or a preference.

We hold a mistaken sense of entitlement while ignoring other people’s positions and ideas. Our closed-mindedness is one of our worst failings.

We do not give back. We do not contribute to charities as much as we should, and we do not volunteer enough of our time to worthwhile non-profits.

We do little to change any negative image we have in the press and in the greater community.

We shout when we should whisper, and we whisper when we should shout.

Saint Francis of Assisi wrote, “Where there is hatred, let me sow love.

Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. Where there is sadness, joy.” Let it be so in 2013.

Iowa native George Gramer is the president of the Colorado Log Cabin Republicans. He has two degrees from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Cecil Bethea

It is at least improbable for all gays to agree upon anything other than gay rights. We are too diverse, as is the case with any large group of human beings. If the Supreme Court rules in our favor in the marriage cases, what else shall we, as a group, want?

With “gayness” being of a biological origin like green eyes or red hair, we as human beings disagree upon everything else. Coming from every economic and social level, every nation, every race, how could we not differ amongst ourselves? With growing acceptance, we can live most anywhere we want outside the gay ghettos. Some have even migrated to the suburbs where they are judged primarily by how well they keep up their properties. Any Gay thinking of moving to Last Chance or Cortez should check carefully the attitudes of thee locals before calling the movers.

In years gone by the assimilationists and the separatists argued greatly about which direction to work in. The separatists believed that we should exile ourselves in ghettos having as few contacts with straights as possible. The assimilationists wanted us to be absorbed into the greater society, when the neighbors would say, “Bill and Bob? They are nice but different if you know what I mean.”

Gays should not be able to speak in an anonymous voice. I want every Gay to be an individual, not the result of mass-production. Even those who are submerged in suburbia might wallow in mowing dandelion-free lawns, tending to smoke-filled barbecues, perhaps even in fractious fights at the PTA. Never let us speak with one voice; let us be different – even difficult – Individuals.

Cecil Bethea was raised in the South before joining the Air Force and calls himself a Westerner of Southern extraction.

Phill Nash

Give.

Ever wonder why the LGBT community always moves one step forward, then gets clobbered and sent back to the starting line? Well, look at who’s clobbering us: homophobic religious institutions. What gives them such an edge? Their constituents show up weekly in a place of worship and give money – dozens of times every year.

With this financial support, homophobic religious institutions can hire large, professional staffs. They own universities, radio and TV stations, headquarters buildings in Washington, D.C., lobbyists and staggering sway with mainstream news organizations.

Hell, one homophobic religious institution holds the political and economic monopoly of a neighboring state. Another owns a small nation in Italy and “permanent observer” status at the United Nations. How? A large, committed constituency trained to give.

In comparison, organizations of, by and for the LGBT community are paupers. Our successes are largely thanks to the simple justice of our cause, and a huge corps of motivated volunteers.

That’s great, but not enough. We need strong, professional executive leaders, communicators, fundraisers and administrators. They deserve good salaries, benefits, well-equipped work places and generous budgets to do their jobs.

This year, resolve to give to one or more LGBT causes. Never given before? Resolve to give $100 right now. Then give another $100 before the end of the year. Already giving? Give $100 more. Give locally. Give nationally. Name LGBT organizations in your will.

Give monthly. This is the best way: sign up to give $10, $25 or whatever you can afford monthly from your credit card. You’ll never miss it, and your community will get stronger.

Phil Nash has been writing his way through life since he wrotea book report about a fake novel in 9th grade. Nash has spent most of his career writing for foundations, nonprofits, elected officials, an ambassador and, once upon a time, for Out Front as its editor.