Wow. On election day morning of 2006, I voted, then went to my campus office and quickly sent this post to the various campus and community LGBT listservs, before getting in my car and heading to Kansas City to for the annual Creating Change conference.
I'd spent a years' worth of Saturdays with volunteering with Fair Wisconsin at the Farmer's Market handing out literature, more time doing database entry some time and pounding the pavement and uncounted hours with student activists, prior to that election day.
Half-way to Kansas City, Tammy Baldwin's press secretary called me on my cell phone to ask if Tammy could quote my post in her victory speech. On a miserable election night, her re-election was one bright spot.
Over the fold for the original post.
The Gates of Heaven
Good or bad, for many of Wisconsin's LGBT people and their allies, today will be tense, emotional, stress -filled. And tomorrow? We don't know what tomorrow will bring. Hopefully, a celebratory mood. Certainly, many of us will feel a need for coming together as a community, regardless of today's election results. It's been awhile since I posted one of these kinds of messages. I think the last followed the death of Ronald Reagan. That was another point in time which brought difficult emotions for many in the LGBT communities, as we watched Americans celebrate a president whose willful inaction resulted in the loss of a generation of our gay brothers. Many of our LGBT youth and allies didn't understand the emotional impact, so it was a wonderful opportunity to create community and do some educating about the recent history of LGBT people in the United States. And tomorrow? Win or lose, tomorrow will be a time for the same. All of us, in whatever capacity we've been able to offer, have worked hard to oppose this hateful amendment; we've given our money, our time, our tears and our courage. Across the state our high school youth have volunteered and canvassed in astonishing numbers, a wholly inadequate sop to their anger at having no voice on this election day. In the name of this fight many of us have even, for the first time, risked exposing our true selves to family and friends. And in the process we've strengthened and empowered our communities — not just in Madison, but all across Wisconsin. So today, finally the voters of Wisconsin will judge us. Regardless of outcome, it's hurtful that the heterosexual majority presumes a right to judge us and to legislate on the validity of our lives and our right to equal citizenship.
It is hurtful.
Never-the-less, I feel hopeful; like many of us, I voted on my way in to campus early this morning, and I always look forward to election days because my polling place is the loveliest little building in town. You all know it, although you may not know its name. It's the small, beautifully-crafted limestone structure listed on the National Register of Historic Places, sitting in James Madison Park and the place, ironically, where so very many of Madison's heterosexual couples choose to be married. It was the first synagogue built in Madison, remains the third -oldest synagogue building extant in the US, and it's named "The Gates of Heaven." How powerful is that - to be able to say that I voted to affirm my life - our lives - at the very Gates of Heaven? When I walked in at 7:15 this morning, I choked up a bit, because of all the times I've voted at The Gates of Heaven, I'd never seen it so full. People voting. People standing in line to vote. People standing in line to stand in line to vote. And even better?Lines of people registering to vote, and virtually all of them youthful faces. It's no surprise to me that my precinct is student-heavy, but during the time I was there, students were out in force at The Gates of Heaven. Let me repeat that: at 7:15 this morning, The Gates of Heaven was filled to bursting with students voting and registering to vote. Voting, we know, to affirm us.
I mentioned to one of the poll workers that I'd never seen so many people in the synagogue on an election day and he, likely having worked many more elections than I've voted in, looked around and said: "Not in a long time. Not in a long time."
Words Of Truth
Finally, I leave you with words from Kierkgaard and Ghandi, because regardless of outcome, they will hold true for us on this election day:
Truth always rests with the minority.
- Kierkgaard
Even if you are a minority of one, the truth is the truth.
-Ghandi
Join Us
Regardless of the outcome of this election, this week is another point in time when many of us will feel the need to seek community; to reaffirm ourselves and our lives. With that in mind, I would share with you three opportunities tomorrow to join with other LGBT people and our allies:
1) If you are a member of the UW-Madison/UW System community, there will be two
gatherings on the Madison campus:
Day: Wednesday, Nov. 8th
Time: 1:00 pm — 3:00 pm
Location: 1920 Van Hise Hall
The UW-System Inclusivity Initiative on LGBTQ People: After the dust settles from the election let's meet to celebrate or support, and have an informal discussion about what's next. Hosted by Initiative Co -directors Dr. Denise Clark and Dr. Lisa Beckstrand. 1920 can be a challenge to find; take the elevators to the 18th floor – the halls of Van Hise are filled with our allies, so don't be embarrassed to knock on a door and ask: “How do I get to the 19th?”
Day: Wednesday, Nov. 8th
Time: 6:pm to ?
Location: LGBT Campus Center, 2nd Floor, Memorial Union
LGBT Campus Center Staff and representatives from the UW Counseling Services will keep the Campus Center open for members of the UW-Madison community to gather, watch TV, talk, support each other and celebrate our communities. Please join us.
Day: Wednesday, Nov 8th
Time: 5:30 - ?
Location: Plymouth Congregational Church (2401 Atwood Ave.)
OutReach, Inc. will be sponsoring a Town Hall/Potluck to discuss the outcome of the election. The event will be held “win or lose”. The purpose of the event is to bring the LGBT community and our allies together to share our thoughts and feelings in the wake of this contentious political season.