Seeing the Big Picture Takes Eyes

So many in the LGBT community have been ranting over President Obama’s lack of support for the LGBT community.  Many LGBT citizens have shown various degrees of anger that President Obama hasn’t waved some magic wand and DOMA and DADT haven’t disappeared overnight.

The one thing that Obama’s critics don’t see however, is not only the big picture, but they don’t even see there is a picture.

For the first time ever, the Census Bureau will start collecting and counting data that will show how many LGBT people are living in the U.S.  Until now, no one has ever attempted to put a number on how many LGBT citizens there are in this country.  Is it 10% or is it more?  We simply do not know.  However, because of an effort by President Obama and his administration, the U.S. is finally going to start counting.

Why is this important.  Because it’s smart.  To all those anti-gay people out there, the LGBT community is a very small percentage of the population, therefore they often justify their bigotry and discrimination by claiming the overwhelming majority is having to make concessions for a relatively small minority.  If we gain some real statistics, and are able show exactly how many people are affected by the anti-gay discrimination that plagues us all, then it is going to be with a great deal more ease that laws are past to protect our community.  President Obama is smart in the fact that he is starting from scratch.  He is going to the root, and will branch upward.  Once there are solid statistics on the LGBT population, it will be much easier to push for equality.  Again, before now, no other administration has attempted to even put a number on our community.

Why is this so important?  Well, there are many reasons, but the one of the most important is changing the view of the general population.  Here’s an example.

According to a post on the SLTrib:

President Barack Obama and the House’s only openly lesbian member are pushing a bill that would give equal benefits to the same-sex partners of federal employees.

But Utah Republican Rep. Jason Chaffetz stood in opposition to that effort during the legislation’s first hearing Wednesday.

“I, like most people in this country, [am] in favor of preserving traditional marriage,” said Chaffetz, the ranking Republican member on the House subcommittee that oversees the federal work force. “I don’t’ think we should try to create something that is under a different name.”

“I, like most people in this country”.  So here’s the assumption, that “most people” in this country do not support LGBT rights.  Although many would correctly argue that the majority should never be able to decide rights for a minority, that unfortunately isn’t how things work.  I know you’ve heard the term “strength in numbers”, well it’s true.  President Obama needs the support people.  If he went into office, and just started demanding laws were changed to help what most perceive to be a very small minority, then the opposition would be even greater than what he is facing now.  So, again, let’s start from the ground up and get a real handle on exactly how small, or large, of a minority the LGBT community is and go from there.  Smart and correct, President Obama is taking this very crucial step, which simply won’t happen overnight.

The other “smart” thing President Obama is doing…leaving the lawmaking up to the lawmakers.  The very powerful Right Wing (don’t underestimate your enemies) in this country have accused President Obama (even before he officially took office) of wanting to take away democracy in this country, and THAT is a pretty serious charge.  If President Obama went into office, and started making changes to laws without following the democratic protocol, he would NOT be re-elected in 2012 and the hope of real change in this country would be lost as the Republican party would most certainly reverse any progress made.

This is only the beginning folks, and it’s going to be a long road to travel.  If you’re not up for the journey, then perhaps you should sit this one out.  We have a fight ahead of us…key word, WE!  President Obama can NOT do this on his own, nor should he have to be a martyr for the LGBT community.  There is so much more at risk here.

The one thing I have, that so many others don’t, is trust.  President Obama has NOT gone back on his word.  Perhaps progress hasn’t been as swift as you would like, but progress is being made, with or without your help and support.

So, open your eyes.  See the big picture, or at least step back far enough to see there is a picture.  Know that there has to be a method to obtaining our goals or equality and inclusion, and know that President Obama is smart enough to know he has to follow a path that has been carved out by decades of mis-information.

It wasn’t until 1974, which is well within the lifetime of many of us, that the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), which is published by the American Psychiatric Association, stopped listing homosexuality as a mental disorder. It was only 25 years ago that homosexuality was still viewed as a disease in this country. Don’t tell me progress hasn’t been made.

Again, have faith. Know that President Obama is working towards ending discrimination, but again know it’s not an easy or small job. Know he is taking the necessary steps to do this correctly, following the democratic process, and saving himself, and the entire LGBT community, from being viewed as a “special interest” who unfairly pushed their way into the everyday life of America.

In the meantime, do your part. Write your congressman, speak to your neighbors. Education is key in gaining acceptance, and we have to be the educators. We have a lot to loose, but even more to gain.