By: Joe Siegel/TRT Reporter
“It’s still considered a deadly disease.”
Hartley, who lives in Pawtucket, admires Providence Mayor David Cicilline and House Speaker Gordon Fox for bringing positive change to the LGBT community. Cicilline is a candidate for the state’s 1st Congressional District, and Fox is the first openly gay House Speaker in state history.
Hartley believes people in the community can make a difference, as long as they are willing to contact their legislators about LGBT issues, attend hearings at the State House, participate in rallies, and follow what is happening in the news.
The three main issues for the LGBT community right now are securing marriage rights for same-sex couples, educating people about HIV, and creating stronger awareness of the issues facing the community, such as the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”, Hartley noted.
“They need to get involved,” Hartley said. “They need to volunteer their time with either marriage equality or (Rhode Island) Pride. My biggest thing is to get somebody to volunteer once. Once they volunteer, they always come back. Everyone can make a difference by volunteering for whatever ’cause they believe in.”
The best advice Hartley has ever received? “Do it for the cause and not for the glamour,” Hartley said. “I don’t do it for awards or praise. I do it because I believe in all the organizations that I volunteer for. Everything that I have done for the LGBT community I am proud of, in one way or another.”
Hartley acknowledges that bullying is a major problem, not just for LGBT teenagers, but for all teenagers.
“Bullying in general has just gotten out of control, especially with cyber bullying” Hartley noted. ”The kids are smarter than the parents when it comes to technology. Parents need to learn how to use the parental controls on the computer. They need to follow what their children are doing on the computer.”
Hartley knows that as long as people stay active in the fight for LGBT equality, progress can be achieved. The work he continues to do is part of reaching that goal.
“I’ve lived long enough now that I’ve seen the changes that have happened,” Hartley explained. “I know if you’re persistent and you continue your fight, changes can happen. There’s domestic partner benefits now at most companies. 25 years ago that was unheard of. I’m sure that eventually there will be marriage rights here in Rhode Island and throughout the United States.”
Does Hartley consider himself an LGBT hero?
He says no: “I do what I do because it needs to be done.”
