|
||||
|
||||
|
Thursday, Aug 21, 2008
|
||||
|
|||||||||
|
|
|||||
|
|||||
Ask Michael: A time for all to get involved to stop gay bashing |
|
 |
|
| Ask Michael: A time for all to get involved to stop gay bashing | |
|
The Seattle Gay News and other print media have been reporting lately about gay bashing in our community. On October 14, I, too, wrote about the impact that gay bashing has on its victims. These events wound both the victims and our community. Threats and violence of any kind touch us all in some way. This is a call to all regardless of your sexual orientation or religious beliefs. Some thoughts have come to mind about how we as individuals and a community can stay psychologically strong when we are hearing about these despicable acts and threats against the people we care about. This may sound political and out of the realm of a, "Therapist". It is about how to curtail the negative affects such events can have, personal growth, and about promoting strength and wellness as individuals and then, as a community. When faced with ignorance, hostility, and violence, we are not in service of ourselves -- as individuals or a community -- by falling prey through adopting fear-based beliefs and behaviors that some people want to project on to us or act out against us. We can't withdraw in the face of such negativity - none of us. As individuals who are GLBT, we need to continue to promote a strong, healthy sense of ourselves. We need to actually believe that we are loveable and deserve to live our lives richly and happily. We need to believe that we have the right to be here and that we contribute in a positive way to our community. We need to know and believe that, as we are touched by the love of others, our love touches and influences others. For some of us, this is a reminder that we need to bring to the forefront of our minds. For others of us, this will be a new way of thinking about ourselves. Beyond just thinking well of ourselves, we must be intentional about how we turn our beliefs about ourselves into action. What actions can you take that reflect the positive way you feel about yourself? Is there something you can do for yourself or another person that says you have a strong, affirmative sense of yourself being GLBT? The possibilities for individual action are endless; writing, reading, relationships, self-care, body art, spirituality, physical activity, eating healthy, etc.,. Find something that is meaningful to you and do it consistently. You may combine several things. If you are straight, challenge your beliefs about GLBT people and find the personal strength to take a stance on this issue: a position which promotes a positive outcome for our community. Put this into action somehow. As a community (GLBT, straight, religious, business/educational/government leaders) there are things we can do to promote our strength and pride. First, we can contact (write, call, email) our leaders at all levels of government and let them know that threats and violence against GLBT people is unacceptable. Attend the upcoming community meeting that the Seattle Commission for Sexual Minorities is holding. It is a free public open forum on Saturday, November 10, from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM at the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center (104 17th Ave. S., Seattle) and find out how you can help. I call on all businesses in the city and surrounding communities - small, privately owned shops and restaurants to corporations - to publicly post policies that reflect the position that threats of violence and/or physical violence against GLBT people will not be tolerated in their respective neighborhoods and police will be called and charges will be brought if it is witnessed or reported. Employees should be educated about this and this policy should be vigorously enforced. I call on all leaders in our area to support me in this call to action. If you are in a business and don't see such a posting, discuss it openly with the owner or manager. If they hear it enough, they may do something about it. When you hear threats or see violence happening to someone, standby, take detailed information and provide it to law enforcement when they arrive. This supports the victim in a time when she/he may not be clear because of their fear or duress - stay safe but don't just walk away being thankful it isn't happening to you. It also lets government leaders and law enforcement officials know how serious this is by how many people are involved. If you are straight or have religious beliefs and, therefore, think this is an issue that doesn't affect you, you are wrong! Regardless of your sexual orientation, religious beliefs, or experiences, I am sure you know someone who is GLBT and that you believe that threats and violence are intolerable. I'm sure you also know that threats and violence have tremendous impact on victims and their friends/family. I am sure you can relate through empathy or sympathy to the idea that such hurtful actions affect peoples' lives and the lives of their loved ones. Your empathy or sympathy calls you to be involved by taking a stance against the verbal and/or physical bashing of GLBT people in our community. As I said in my other piece, threats and intimidation can have as negative an influence on a person as an actual physical assault can. By stepping up in some way and doing something positive for ourselves or someone else, we feel good about what we have done. We develop a stronger sense of self. Our community is better for it and becomes stronger. Our feelings and actions as individuals support how strong and cohesive we are as a community. Our response to this issue reflects our values and our values predict the kind of future we will have. Whoever you are, challenge yourself to be better and get involved and let's put an end to the bashing of GLBT people that evolves from ignorance, hatred, anger, and fear. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Film Festival Pictures | |
| Halloween on Capitol Hill
Slide Show photos by Joey - SGN photographer |
|
| |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 post your own information on the Seattle Gay Blog |
copyright Seattle Gay News - DigitalTeamWorks 2007