Instead this post is more in line with the election season. I recently read this quote from Doug Wright, author of Grey Gardens and Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winner:
I wish my moderate Republican friends would simply be honest. They all say they’re voting for Romney because of his economic policies (tenuous and ill-formed as they are), and that they disagree with him on gay rights. Fine. Then look me in the eye, speak with a level clear voice, and say, “My taxes and take-home pay mean more than your fundamental civil rights, the sanctity of your marriage, your right to visit an ailing spouse in the hospital, your dignity as a citizen of this country, your healthcare, your right to inherit, the mental welfare and emotional well-being of your youth, and your very personhood.”
It’s like voting for George Wallace during the Civil Rights movements, and apologizing for his racism. You’re still complicit. You’re still perpetuating anti-gay legislation and cultural homophobia. You don’t get to walk away clean, because you say you “disagree” with your candidate on these issues.
It really resonated with me, but I felt there was more to be said. I have the echos of many Republican relatives in my head, noting that the economy may very well be more important than civil rights because if our economy collapses, it doesn't matter who is married or not if they cannot afford to live. I could challenge that one directly (civil rights in the face of an ailing economy may be even more important...), but I don't think I even need to. You see, the economy is such a large unknown. So complex and multi-faceted. The way it all plays out is this complicated Rube Goldberg machine with so many pieces to place. The difference is that we can plan out a Rube Goldberg machine to ensure that it flows just right, but there are too many unknowns and uncertainties with the economy. If there was one clear and sure-fire plan, then the best economists in our country would be able to come to an agreement about what is going to get us out of this enormous deficit. That hasn't happened. Some studies say this. Some studies say that. There is no consensus.
That is my problem with putting the economy above civil rights. A Romney presidency would certainly support DOMA and other anti-equality legislature. He has said as much. We know the consequences of this. It means many of my friends will continue to struggle with acceptance of their relationships in our society and will continue to be denied the legal rights to function as a family just as our heterosexual friends do. So we know what the outcome for this basic human right will be if Romney is elected, and it's not good.
The economy, though, is an unknown. I've heard some people say it's going to be bad no matter who wins. I have heard some say it will be better with Romney. I have heard some say it will be better with Obama. The truth is that economic recovery is going to be slow regardless, and there are many paths that may get us there. So if you say you're voting for Romney because of economics and despite his position on gay rights...well, it's even more of a slap in the face than Doug Wright notes. It's not just choosing the economy over the rights and well-being of an entire subset of our population. It's choosing the POSSIBILITY of a better economy over the CERTAINTY of poorer outcome for the rights and well-being of an entire subset of our population.
For me, this is a no-brainer.
