I'm struggling with my thoughts this day, so this may seem a bit disjointed. U.S. legislators are upset, frightened, worried about being at risk, resulting in the largest all-legislator conference call ever. I wonder if they ever thing about how others feel. People of color know that fear. One event and everyone rightly fears for their lives and their communities. LGBT people certainly know that fear even today. I'm listening to Rep. James Clyburn (Dem.SC) speaking right now of The Ed Show about how the line's been crossed. It has, indeed. Security for congressional members is THE conversation of the day. I think that's all okay and have no problem with the current conversation, but I want our legislators to look beyond their own fears to what we LGBT experience nearly every day. They're walking in our pumps....and they don't even know it. I want them to know it, to acknowledge that what they're experiencing is not new to some communities. It hurts as much, it's as frightening as much, it's as horrible as much. I guess I'm looking for some empathy from those who have the power to put sexual orientation and gender identity/expression in the federal non-discrimination laws. Maybe, after the initial fear has subsided, they'll look beyond themselves....or will they just go back to business as usual, scapegoating as usual, disregarding and forgetting those extreme feelings as they pack their guns to work.
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