Where's Our MLK?

Today is Martin Luther King Day, a time designated to the American populace to reflect on our diversity and living together in peace. We are also meant to use this time to honor a great man who used nonviolence to achieve change within his community and the whole nation. Thanks in large part to Dr. King and his message, desegregation occurred and the African-America population has secured its civil rights.

If you watch the tube or read the paper, you've probably heard the phrase "the next great civil rights movement" in conjunction with the gay community and its issues, i.e. gay marriage, hate crimes, etc. It's true that as a minority we find ourselves with less right and privileges than others. But my question is: is there really a civil rights movement going on? Remember, I've spent way too much time in the Republic of Heterosexuality; I've noticed plenty of derogatory remarks, but only when a specific event or person is mentioned beforehand. They're not talking about what we're doing. They're not noticing our demands of recognition. We just aren't that much of a subject of interest. Sure, there are some sympathizers out there, but not nearly enough to accept us as fellow citizens, with the full rights thereof.

We don't have a Dr. King. We don't have the strength that the African-American community did. Why's that? First, the African-American community was segregated; every town or city had a certain section where black people lived and associated with one another on a daily basis. This gave them a strength of community that we do not have. Of course, many major cities have "gayborhoods". The Castro District in San Fransisco or the Greenwich Village in New York City are good examples. And in those cities there is a strong representation of the gay community. But elsewhere, not so much. Second, the black community couldn't help but be judged on first contact; they couldn't hide the color of their skin. Unfortunately, it's all too easy for people to hide their sexuality...even from themselves. Finally, they had someone like Dr. King; a strong, charismatic person who was well received by the entire populace and the judgement of history, especially because he advocated the practice of nonviolence. We don't have a Dr. King, a figurehead for our civil rights movement, and we sorely need one.

So is there a gay civil rights movement? I don't think so. Then again, maybe I've been in the Republic way too long. Maybe I'm not seeing what's there. I just hope there's something I'm missing.

Sincerely,
Your Spy