Nicole Lashomb, TRT Editor-in-Chief
Photo: TRT Archives
By: Nicole Lashomb*/Editor-in-Chief–
In modern politics where the conservative movement is losing ground as the country moves in favor of supporting LGBT rights, the rhetoric of such Conservatives has become more than manipulative and is consistent of falsely reversed victimization. Somehow, although these anti-equality Conservatives have equal rights under the law and no one attempts to strip them of their rights, they claim that they are the ones being persecuted by others who assert that they are bigots. Ironic, isn’t it? Even more confusing and grossly ludicrous is when those same Conservatives profess to love and support the LGBT community. Yes, the same community that they rally against to deprive it of its rights and take hostage the lives of many through declarations and actions that demoralize the human spirit. I’ve personally heard it and maybe you have too — Hate the sin, not the sinner.
Most often, these types of imprudent and conflicting statements and actions stem from religious leaders and their congregations like San Francisco’s Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone.
“We love you, we are your neighbors, and we want to be your friends, and we want you to be happy,” he said via a sermon as he directly addressed the LGBT community. “Please understand that we don’t hate you, and that we are not motivated by animus or bigotry; it is not our intention to offend anyone, and if we have, I apologize; please try to listen to us fairly, and calmly, and try to understand us and our position, as we will try to do the same for you.”
A group of people that discriminate against others are bigots, even by the most basic definition of the word. And, yes, it is offensive in the same way it would be if the LGBT community tried to invalidate and overturn heterosexual marriage and write-off their children. I’m confident that they would not be interested in hearing our “position on it.” Discrimination is discrimination, no matter how you try to sugarcoat it with “love” or not.
It is impossible to “love” the LGBT community and want it to thrive when those same opponents work endlessly to ensure that it is not seen as equal, that our marriages, sexual orientation and gender identity are invalidated, that believe we are not worthy of being parents despite many scientific studies that have proven them wrong, and that condemn us to hell. Those words and oxymoronic actions are hateful, prejudicial and intolerant bigotry at its best. Being a member of the LGBT community is not a position, nor an opinion, it is our identity.
Just as any movement in American history, one day we will be equal, whether it is through a Supreme Court ruling or an executive order by the President’s administration, as it was through the Emancipation Proclamation. Although the Constitutionality of DOMA is currently under review by the Supreme Court, it is my hope that the Justices also consider the historical context of its construction. Following the Constitution as originally transcribed has proven to be erroneous and dangerous. Groups like women and African Americans would still not be freed people, as it was declared so many years ago.
*Nicole Lashomb is TRT’s Editor-in-Chief. She holds an MBA from Marylhurst University and a Bachelors from SUNY Potsdam. Contact her at: editor@therainbowtimesmass.com.
