Yes believe it or not
ME criticise the gay press. A first time for everything.
A sadly mistaken editorial titled Gays first, then illegals has been posted on the Advocate.
It's author, Jasmyne Cannick, claims
Yes, immigration reform is vitally important. But if Congress wants to debate the extension of equal civil rights to U.S. residents, let's start with gays and lesbians who are already citizens
She claims
Immigration reform needs to get in line behind the LGBT civil rights movement, which has not yet realized all of its goals.
Which is not to say that I don't recognize the plight of illegal immigrants. I do. But I didn't break the law to come into this country. This country broke the law by not recognizing and bestowing upon me my full rights as a citizen. As a black lesbian I find it hard to jump on the immigration reform bandwagon when my own bandwagon hasn't even left the barn.
and
So, you see, America needs to take care of its own backyard before it debates on whether to take care of its neighbor's backyard.
and while I understand her frustration, she is focusing her anger on the wrong target, and scapegoating isn't good for anyone.
My Letter to the Editor:
First I need to say that I am so supportive of the current battle for equality by LGBTs that I seriously urge the US to pay attention to the plight of gays in countries such as Iran and Iraq, where an unnoticed genocide is occuring, and believe that we need to pay attention and accept gay refugees from these countries before we get excited trying to save christians.
But Jasmyne Cannick's editorial is seriously wrong-headed, and I would hate for her opinion to be considered as representative of the gay community.
I can completely empathize with her anger and frustration with the treatment of gays in the US, but she is making the common error of seeing human rights as a zero-sum game.
(More rights for you means less rights for me).
In reality, it is the opposite of a zero-sum game - the more you extend respect and charity to others, the more respect is extended back to you.
And the more you bash others, the higher the level of bashing in the universe.
I believe it is called Karma.
You can write your own letter to the Advocate here