First Opinion Piece

Is the fight for marriage equality distracting us from more pressing issues facing the LGBTQ+ community?

As of recent, 32 US states have legalized marriage equality. This is, of course, a huge civil rights achievement, but should whether “the gays” can marry really be at the forefront of people’s minds considering the violence LGBTQ+ people still face in our country?

Every year in America hundreds of members of the LGBTQ+ community are kicked out of their homes, abused, assaulted, and murdered simply for their identity. Many of these people are under the age of 18. And yet every time one of these hate crimes manages to make the news, it’s the newest marriage equality bill or the most recent straight celebrity getting applauded for their “moving performance” as a member of a community they are not a part of that “straight allies” are stumbling over themselves to share on Facebook.

Are pictures of Neil Patrick Harris and his husband at the altar more important than news of a transgender teenager being set onfire while sleeping on a public transit bus?

Supporting gay rights has become a sort of badge that straight people can wear to prove to everyone how progressive they are—but should they really get applauded for not being a bigot? It isn’t that hard to do; it’s one of the most basic attributes a somewhat decent person should have.

Most mainstream media outlets and high-profile gay personalities present the marriage equality fight now as an end-all be-all solution to the oppression LGBTQ+ people face in America.

I fear that when all 50 states have passed the marriage equality bills, the fight will be seen as over except by those who are still most affected by the cis-heteronormative systems still in place in our society. Namely, trans people, especially those of color, disabled members of the LGBTQ+ community, people who already suffer from other forms of marginalization.

That’s not to say that marriage equality isn’t an important issue, but when members of the LGBTQ+ community are targets for harassment, abuse, assault, and murder, I feel like it shouldn’t be our top priority. After all, one can’t get married when they are found beaten to death with a fire extinguisher or murdered by their own father because of their sexual orientation.

So should the fight for marriage equality be put on hold? No. However, I am calling for awareness to be raised about hate crimes against LGBTQ+ people in America. Russia and Uganda aren’t the only countries with deeply ingrained homophobia, and it’s time for people, especially those who don’t experience it every day to be educated about it.

Straight allies, use your privilege to help amplify the voices of those who are silenced by society. Get educated about trans issues, don’t give all of your attention to Neil Patrick Harris and Ellen DeGeneres. They are not the only ones who should have a say in these sorts of issues just because they’re famous and align with society’s idea of the “right” kind of gay person. Instead watch interviews with Laverne Cox or Janet Mock, two women who are more well-versed on LGBTQ+ issues on a more broader scale. Don’t ignore what LGBTQ+ people have to say just because it makes you as a privileged person uncomfortable. Educate yourself.

Vocabulary: 

LGBTQ+: an acronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer. The + stands for the letters left off for brevity's sake; there are many other identities that fall under this umbrella. 

queer: originally a slur intended to degrade gay people, has now been reclaimed by the LGBTQ+ community itself. 

cisgender: "not transgender"; someone who identifies with the gender assigned to them at birth. 

(cis-)heteronormantive: the idea that being heterosexual and/or cisgender is the "normal" way to be.