Georgia Equality

I recently attended a workshop sponsored by our local poly group.  A young woman from Georgia Equality gave a nice presentation on advocacy.   Georgia Equality advocates for the LGBTQ community and the focus of her presentation dealt with lobbying and the ins and outs of interacting with legislators at the state level.  She did a great job and I found her presentation very interesting.  

But why, I wondered?  Why is it necessary to lobby for basic human rights and equality for all?  Isn't fairness one of our core values?  Obviously, it is necessary to advocate because LGBTQ people are certainly disenfranchised in our society, especially here in the Southeast.  But why?  Do we believe sexual and gender orientation are matters of personal choice?  That people choose to be queer? Or of an opposite gender?  Do we still believe in 2012 that homosexuality is a disease that can be cured?  What exactly are we afraid of?  Can we not rise above religious and cultural brainwashing?

The presenter made an interesting comment about Georgia Equality's strategic focus.  Limited time and financial resources are invested where gains are possible, in such areas as workplace equality and school bullying.  These fights are winnable and progress has been made.  They shy aware from losing battles, such as marriage equality.  Her comment: "Georgia legislators would rather slit their throats than vote for gay marriage."

Think about it.  People in power would rather die than grant equal rights to all.  For a state that in many ways can be very progressive, in other respects, we remain in the backwoods.