Where I live the storm windows are up,
the snow boots dusted off, and the boiler is on. The annual change
from fall to winter is upon us. Change is also in the air in
Washington, where a newly minted Democratic controlled Congress is
holding freshman orientation. Of course, nothing happens till after
the “clink clink” of champagne glasses in January. Still, now is
the time to give “thanks” for the change in the political
climate.
Of course, a change in political
climate does not always equal progress, I know this. I found myself
one day trying to convince Dan to do his gay civic duty and vote
Democratic. “Baby girl,” he started, “you think we all just
vote for the Democrats and everything's peaches and herb?” I had
to admit, Democrats have failed us in the past. Particularly the
sting of former President Bill Clinton's signing of the federal DOMA
(Defense Of Marriage Act) and an undelivered campaign promise to
allow openly gay men and women to serve in the military, instead
opting for the compromise “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” anti-gay
policy.
That's why it's especially reassuring
to hear many Democratic leaders speaking to the gay electorate.
Recently Howard Dean, the chairman of the Democratic National
Committee, said the party needed to encourage greater gay visibility
in the party. “We've got to share power, not just responsibility,
from now on,” Dean said. He was speaking at the International Gay
& Lesbian Leadership Conference, an annual gathering of gay
public officials.
Dean's favorable nature may stem from
recent data showing that gay support might have been the linchpin
that won them control of the Senate. In Virginia, where a tight
Senate race was won by Democrat James Webb, it was the effort to
defeat Virginia's proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex
marriage that drew thousands of progressive voters to the polls.
These voters watered down the margin of victory for the amendment to
only 57%, which is much lower than the average 75% which we have seen
in the past. People who were voting against the amendment also generally voted
for Webb and handed the Democrats control of the Senate for the next
two years.
It's not just platitudes that the
Democrats are speaking, substantial action is being promised. Openly
gay Representative Barney Frank (D-Mass) has already predicted
committee hearings on an employment nondiscrimination bill and on the
military's “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” anti-gay policy. Contrast
that with the current Republican controlled Congress which refused
even holding committee hearings on gay issues.
Most of the gratitude goes to the
American electorate itself. Not only was a proposed constitutional
amendment to ban same-sex marriage defeated in Arizona, the first
ever, but voters also removed five of the most ardent anti-gay
Senators – Pennsylvania's Rick Santorum, Ohio's Mike DeWine,
Virginia's George Allen, Missouri's Jim Talent, and Montana's Conrad
Burns. Their absence will certainly improve the odds of pro-gay
measures passing.
This year change brings hope to gay
Americans. That's a real reason to be thankful.