Pardoning cowardice

Democratic gubernatorial hopefuls Mark Taylor and Cathy Cox are skipping this weekend's Atlanta Pride festival, drawing predictable condemnation from local gay leaders.

Chuck Bowen, executive director of the state's largest gay rights organization, Georgia Equality, said he is  "disappointed" that neither Democrat will attend this year's Pride festival, one of the largest events of its kind in the nation.

"There will be 250,000 people in [Piedmont Park] this weekend, and it's a tremendous opportunity for them to meet Georgians from across the state and hear what we have to say," he said.

"Instead, they're turning their backs on a large constituency."

Regrettable, perhaps, but understandable. Quoting myself, in a column I wrote for The Los Angeles Times a few years back, "The gay movement hasn't matured; it's grown stale. Pride marches have turned into shopworn cavalcades of been-there, done-that decadence."

Don't you know the GOP would exploit that to the hilt? It's easy to imagine a campaign commercial featuring Cox or Taylor speaking in front of a group of bears in leather jockstraps. Democrats have a hard enough time appealing to an increasingly conservative electorate without those sort of distractions.

And should people who wear leather jockstraps in public expect to be taken seriously? Granted, they're not representative of the majority of Pride celebrants, but the minority is well represented by -- shall we say -- the outrageously flamboyant. I'm not for discrimination of any kind -- and that includes the more freakish elements of the GLBT pie -- but if you want "the establishment" to recognize, sometimes you have to play the game.

Besides, is this weekend even about politics? For some, yes, but most are just out for a good time.

Reality may be inconvenient, but we avoid it at our peril. The gay community's justifiable struggle for relevance also requires a look inward. We may compare our crusade to the civil rights movement of the 1950 and 60s, but can we honestly say we comport ourselves with the dignity of those who marched on Selma?

Comments

[Andisheh Nouraee]

I'm disappointed in our Sec. of State.

How am I going to sell all of the"Gay Georgians For Cox" t-shirts I ordered?

Seriously though, if S.O.S. Cox really wants to succeed as a politician, she's gonna have to learn how to flip-flop a little more skillfully.

[Andisheh Nouraee]

I'm disappointed in our Sec. of State.

How am I going to sell all of the"Gay Georgians For Cox" t-shirts I ordered?

Seriously though, if S.O.S. Cox really wants to succeed as a politician, she's gonna have to learn how to flip-flop a little more skillfully.

[duane]

sometimes I think you have a little self hatred for gayness. This weekend is about pride and being proud of who we are... if leather jock straps get the job done, then they get the job done!

[Andisheh Nouraee]

Duane - It's pretty clear to me that the Malcontent's point here isn't about gayness, but about political practicality.

The sad fact is that we live in a very socially conservative state. Gay voters should fight for the issues that matter to them, but they also need to come to terms with the fact any candidate who identifies him/herself too closely with gay voters is doomed statewide.

In five years the situation might change, but in 2006 in Georgia, there will be no gay-friendly candidate for governor -- only a very anti-gay Republican candidate and a less anti-gay Democratic candidate.

In a two-party statewide election this year, not supporting the lesser evil is tantamount to supporting the greater evil. Remember that before you toss Taylor or Cox aside.

"The gay movement hasn't matured; Pride marches have turned into shopworn cavalcades of been-there, done-that decadence."

I think he's expressing his wish to see a smarter, more effective gay political movement. That's not self-loathing. He's expressing his wish for a better, more effective movement.

[duane]

but by condemning what we do have and what we do currently do (such as pride), that sends a message of self loathing. Sorry, but it does. If he isn't a self loather, and actually does not have a problem with the gay movement being filled with many nuances (even if some are "unsavory"), then that is fine; it just wasn't what was portrayed.

An event like pride may have political ramifications, but it is meant to be a celebration of ones identity and pride within themselves; sometimes, that means letting it all hang out, for worse or for the better. I just see the condemning of that (especially if you are gay yourself) as self loathing... forgive me.

[Andisheh Nouraee]

I frequently criticize restaurants. I therefore hate food.

[dpb]

"if leather jock straps get the job done, then they get the job done!"

duane, I think what Malcontent is trying to say is he does not feel leather jock straps get the job done.

[jac1975]

What's truly self-loathing is not finding bears in leather jock straps in public distasteful...what's self-loathing are those poor, obsessed with greed ("Lower my taxes...who cares about civil rights?"), Log Cabin Republicans.