just out ▼ feb ru ary 17. 1995 ▼ 3
INDEPENDENTLY SPEAKING
Another coming out
/ can no longer call myself a conservative,
nor a Christiany nor a Republican
▼
by Marvin Liebman
the closet, terrified of coming out and standing
bout 14 months ago, I began writing a
openly with their sisters and brothers against the
monthly column for lesbian and gay
forces that would see us obliterated. Make no
publications around the country. I
mistake: The ultimate goal of our enemy is to make
called the column “Conservatively
us disappear, back to a closet that will make today ’ s
Speaking.” Why this title? I believed
seem wide open by comparison, or dead. Hysteri
that my major credential in the gay community was
my autobiography Coming Out Conservative, and
cal? I don’t think so.
the fact that I was a mover and shaker in the U.S.
Where does that leave me? Us? I can no longer
accept such labels as conservative, Christian or
anti-communist and conservative communities for
many years before 1 came out at the age of 67.
Republican, which draw much of their coherence
There were many gay men who could write a
from hostility towards people like me. No gay man
column, but there were not many gay conservative
or lesbian in the United States should any longer
men around, over 70, who wanted to share their
accept any of these labels, which have become
thoughts in the gay and lesbian press. I certainly
mere code words for attacks on our collective
had that spot covered—with no competition.
dignity. We can accept no labels any longer. We
Most of the publications printed my columns,
must give our allegiance and support only to those
either regularly or sporadically. However, most of
individuals and groups who publicly stand with us
the publications never used “Conservatively Speak
against bigotry and fear of lesbians and gay men.
ing” as the column header, but simply published
Forget the hand wringing over Congress and
what I had to say under my own name. I realized
the federal government. We must focus on our own
that the word “conservative” repels most lesbians
neighborhoods, our cities, and our states. This is
and gay men, as do such words as “Christian” and
where we will find allies, men and women who
“Republican.” Rightly or wrongly, these terms had
have seen our faces, who know who we are. Here
become code words symbolizing bigotry, fear and
we develop the coalitions and power bases that
loathing of gay men and lesbians.
make elected officials— local, state and national—
But I am conservative, Republican and Chris
sit up and take notice. Here, too, we must find and
tian. God knows, I’m gay, too. Isn’t it possible to
nurture new leaders to replace the figureheads of
be all four, or have I become a living oxymoron?
our national lesbian and gay groups who have
The answer eluded me for some time, but is now
accomplished little and at great cost.
obvious: No, it is not possible, at least for me, not
No longer can we give our votes, our contribu
in today’s world.
tions, and our efforts for the pursuit of vague
In my coming out letter to my friend William F.
promises. We mustn’t sell the soul of our commu
Buckley Jr., which was published in his National
nity for “tolerance.” Although we desperately need
Review in July 1990,1 aired a premonition that had
allies from the U.S. mainstream, we must be satis
been haunting me for a long time. “I feel that our
fied with only their full and open support for our
cause might sink back
cause against our
into the ooze in which
enemies.
Indeed, as
I cannot associate myself with
so much of it rested in
we have done so of
Rush Limbaugh and other new ten
pxt-National Review
in the past, we
d ay s,” I wrote to
will give them our
“conservative leaders nor
Buckley. “In that dark
unbridled aid for
with
Pat
Robertson
and
his
age, the Am erican
their steadfast sup
Right was heavily, per
“Christian ” brigades nor with port.
haps dominantly, made
In the past—and
Jesse Helms and his new
up o f bigots, anti-
sometimes to the
Semites, anti-Catho-
consternation of my
“Republican majority.
lics, the KKK, red
African American
necks, Know Nothings, a sorry lot of public huck
friends— I have compared the gay rights move
sters and religious medicine men. Now, times are
ment to the black civil rights movement of the ’60s.
changing. There is no longer the anti-communist
I still believe that they are comparable, and we
cement to hold the edifice together. The great
have much to leam from the history of this great
enterprise...is in danger of sinking back into an
quest, both from its setbacks and its victories.
aggregate of bigotries.”
Now, however, I believe it even more urgent to
Alas, my prediction has been realized. The
draw a comparison between our community and
words “conservative,” “Christian” and "Republi
the Jews and homosexuals of Europe in the ’30s
can” are being held hostage by the same forces that
and ’40s. Then, as now, the majority cried out that
controlled the “American Right” before Buckley
those who predicted death and misery were crazy,
and his band of true believers (of which I was proud
that such things as mass extermination could not
to be part) made conservatism more mainstream
happen, that hysteria was dangerous. Until the
and respectable. Of course, even now, there are
very last, until they choked on the lethal gas in the
still those among the Republican ranks, like Sen.
extermination “showers,” they did not accept the
Arlen Specter, who attempt to hold the fort against
fact that the Nazi state despised them to the point
the barbarians. But, they are vastly outnumbered
of eradicating them from the face of the Earth.
by the descendants of those from a half-century
The Jews and homosexuals of Europe were
ago who would drag the country back into the
victims. We are not. We must never be grateful for
swamps of intolerance and division. Can the val
mere crumbs off the table at which we have no
iant defenders prevail? I don’t believe they can, not
place. Neither must we let ourselves be shamed
in the foreseeable future.
from claiming our identity as gay or lesbian, con
Where does this leave me?
tent instead to seek shelter under tents whose
I cannot associate myself with Rush Limbaugh
stakes are planted in the backs of our brothers and
and other new “conservative” leaders, nor with Pat
sisters.
Robertson and his “Christian” brigades, nor with
I can no longer call myself a conservative, nor
Jesse Helms and his new “Republican” majority.
a Christian, nor a Republican. 1 am a gay Ameri
The only identity of which I am absolutely certain
can, and I will retain my independence from any
is that I am a homosexual in a country which has
other label. You may, from time to time, still come
little patience with us gay folk.
upon my thoughts in the gay press. Henceforth,
Millions of gay men and lesbians— perhaps a
however, my column will be called “Indepen
great majority of our would-be community—are in
dently Speaking.”
A
”
,
SERIOUS INJURY& DEATH
CLAIMS resulting from:
Auto accidents
Medical Malpractice
■ Unsafe Products
■
■
Free Consultation
No Attorney Fee Unless You Recover
295-1940
A t t o r n o at I .aw
I AM COMMITTED TO MAXIMIZING YOUR RECOVERY
L a
T o rrc
Lon coKiOooxKiunumi)
I ------ «TCf
yv
P ii........ .... ........
ii
4»
i .¿'..'¡itili
m
L m i n m ^
2
J.
I,' i:___a ) L
■
H
NW
M
26 th A V E N U E
i
6 U PSH U R
* Romantic M ission Revival renovation *
street
Loft design with large windows
* 10-17'ceilings, hardwood, terraces, courtyard * Enclosed parking, generous closet and attic storage
* 7 J4-I.110 square foot living spaces * $111.000-1165.000
F O R M O R E I N F O R M A T IO N C A L L C R A I C K E L L Y / A R T D e M U R O , V E N E R A B L E P R O P E R T IE S . IN C
224-2446
—T ravel A gents
H I nternational
917 SW Washington
(503) 223-1100
®
Portland, OR 97205
(800) 357 -3194
First, We were chosen as
Official Agency for Team Portland to Gay Games IV
,
”
H a la G o r e s
621 SW Morrison, #1218
Next, We were selected by the
National Lesbian and Gay Lawyers Association as the
Official National Agency for the 1994
Lavender Law IV Convention
PTOUcfCyjb
and Now (
Travel Agents International
has been designated the
Of f i ci al N a t i o n a l Age nc y
fo r th e
D IG N IT Y '95 CO N VEN TIO N
Los Angeles, 1995
Servine O u r Community
By MeeHngYour Needs
Just
In!
1 9 9 5 - 9 6 R S V P VACATION PACKAGES
Book
by Feb. 27 and SAVE up to $200.001