I had to re-blog this fantastic blog by David Mixner!
This week begins a series of looking back at 2011 and giving my thoughts on the year in a number of different ways. Today we begin with the LGBT community and what a year it has been for us. The list could go on and on so please feel free to add your recollections of the year in the comment section! Here goes:
The Year's Biggest Victory: "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" officially becomes history.
The Best Speech on LGBT Issues: Secretary Hillary Clinton's Geneva Speech
Best Presidential Order: President Obama's Presidential Memorandum interlocking American Foreign Policy with LGBT human rights.
Best Victory In The States: New York becomes a marriage equality state.
Best Change of Heart: The Justice Department calling for an end to DOMA.
Most Effective Organization: The Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund for an astounding success rate in electing openly LGBT candidates.
Emerging Powerful LGBT Leader: Mayor Annise Parker of Houston
News in 2011 that makes us look forward to 2012: Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin announces she is attempting to become the first openly LGBT person in history elected to United States Senate.
Most Surprising Political News: Congressman Barney Frank announces he is leaving Congress.
Most Effective Straight Allies: Two New Yorkers with Governor Andrew Cuomo directing the successful marriage equality campaign and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand for staying on top of the effort to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
Another Historical Appointment: Jeremy Bernard appointed as the first man and first LGBT person as White House Social Secretary. They are still talking in Washington,D.C about his famous Rose Garden Dinner.
Best LGBT YouTube Moment: The Australian marriage equality spot plus the wonderful videos of long term couples getting married in New York!
Requiring the Most Patience: The slow pace of the case to repeal Proposition 8. The California Supreme Court, most likely deliberately, took its time getting a simple opinion back to the Federal Court. Thank God for the Foundation for Equal Rights in keeping everyone's eye on the prize. Thanks again and again Chad Griffin.
The Most Outrageous Villains: The entire field of Republican Presidential candidates who take outrageous positions against LGBT rights while all Americans want are jobs, not hate.
Most Disturbing Trend of the Year: The epidemic of hateful and dangerous legislation sweeping Africa against the LGBT community. Death is now on the table as an option for handling LGBT citizens.
People Who Never Disappoint: Alan Cumming, Judith Light, Rory O'Malley, Gavin Creel, Neil Patrick Harris, Elton John , Ellen DeGeneres, Bruce Cohen, Dustin Lance Black, Cheyenne Jackson and so many others.
Most Fun Unforgettable Moment: Neil Patrick Harris hosting the Tony Awards!
Most Persecuted LGBT American Citizen: Bradley Manning who has been in isolation and without a trial for seventeen months.
Most Unexpected Supporters: The massive amount of Wall Street, Republican and major donor support from conservatives that was organized by Ken Mehlman and Mayor Michael Bloomburg and was a major factor in the passage of marriage equality in New York.
Wow Moment: An openly gay man became the Prime Minister of Belgium for the first time in European history.
The Most Heart Warming Moments: Seeing American LGBT soldiers come out of the closet and marching in Gay Pride Parades, going to events with partners and for the first time being honest with those they serve with in the military. It went flawlessly without a major incident, as the Democrats insisted it would and the Republicans insisted it would not.
The Wait A Minute Moment of the Year: The United States Marines were the most vocal opponents of repeal of DADT and the best implementers of the repeal once it happened.
The Best "About Time" Moment: Witnessing our Transgender brothers and sisters being taken seriously as an issue, the first appointment in Federal Government and becoming more and more visible. It has been inspiring and long overdue.
Five Things To Look Forward To In 2012:
1. Winning the Proposition 8 Case.
2. Senator Tammy Baldwin
3. An active major league gay male jock coming out of the closet.
4. Winning in Maine, Minnesota, Maryland and North Carolina on marriage equality.
5. The Republicans and their hate based approach are defeated at the polls in November
[Blog credit to David Mixner]
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