State senator Gary George’s advice to the gay community? “Shut up!”

[tristanrobin]

I Won't Shut Up

by Kristin Maun

State Senator Gary George (R-Oregon) has one thing to say to gay people – shut up.

In a March issue of Just Out magazine, the senator spoke about co-sponsoring an initiative to repeal the Oregon Equality Act. The Oregon Equality Act bans discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Passed in April 2007, the bill amends existing laws to protect the gay community from being discriminated against in housing and employment. But that has not stopped Senator George and State Representative Kim Thatcher from trying to turn back the clock on civil rights.

Senator George told Just Out, “My advice to the gay community is shut up, just don’t talk about it. If you walk around talking about what you do in the bedroom, you should be on the pervert channel.”

When I first saw the interview, I could not believe what I was reading. At first I sat at my computer with a lump of anger and indignation in my throat, resisting the urge to yell at the screen, “No, you shut up!”

After I regained my composure, I started thinking about fear and silence. It takes a lot of courage to speak up and be who you are. In today’s world of violence and discrimination, it takes bravery to be out and proud. Everyday there are news reports as members of our community are killed by violent hate-mongers. We can not be quiet just because one homophobic politician doesn’t like what goes on in our beds.

George admonition tries to shame us into silence. He wants us to hide in the closet so he can take away everything we’ve worked so hard for.

More than that, Senator George even went so far as to say the gay community deserves the discrimination against them. Apparently, he is under the impression he is a straight white male being oppressed by our pursuit of equality and justice.

He told the magazine, “Gays will tend to react violently if people are oppressive toward them. If gays are oppressive toward straights, then you’ll see a violent backlash.”

When asked if gay people incite violence by being out, Senator George replied, “You have to recognize for every action there’s a reaction…we’re obviously not gonna tolerate anyone who beats up any other person.”

This is the most dangerous type of ignorance and homophobia. Rather than try to protect the homosexual and transgender communities from violence, he accuses us of being the creators of our victimization. He treats us as aggressors and even suggests we are the violent perpetrators creating the hate crimes that destroy our community.

How dare he suggest we are attacking the straight community! How dare he suggest we deserve to be attacked!

A gay man does not deserve to be assaulted or killed because he’s openly gay. To say so is like saying a woman deserved to be raped for being a woman. This logic gives a free pass to violent criminals armed with hate and intolerance.

What’s worse, he is not looking for a solution to violence. He is actually suggesting that hate crimes and murder are natural. No one deserves to be hurt for who they are – no matter your race, religion, nationality, sexual orientation or gender identity. We supposedly live in a country that values the freedom of individuality. And no politician should have the right or the power to take that away.

So I won’t shut up and I hope you won’t either. Every time Sally Kern or Gary George tries to tear us down with their words, I’m going to shout louder for my right to be treated like a human being and an American.

Kristin Maun is a senior at Northwestern University.