Although overdosing on turkey (or tofurkey!) was so last season, being thankful is perennial. For this blog post, I polled members of the queer community on the rights, privileges, and aspects of daily life they are most grateful to have as an LGBT-identified person in 2013. Even though the queer community is by no means free from discrimination, many strides have been made, so reflecting on progress is as important as identifying further obstacles to full equality.
Here are a few of the diverse responses I collected:
“I have the right to get a job without being discriminated against for my sexual preference. I am grateful for the protection the government has provided for LGBT individuals.”
“Being gay has given me an empathy and understanding that most people could only dream of.”
“I feel like I have the same rights as any other caucasian woman, with the exception of being able to marry the love of my life and have all the benefits associated with marriage. I am not quite at the marriage stage of my life yet, but it’s quickly approaching and I don’t want to have to be limited in my life decisions because some old, fat white republican man thinks that being gay is a crime.”
“Well I feel like I have the right to live a relatively normal life. I’m able to go to school, get a job.. etc. There’s no clear segregation. Also we have the privilege to speak up about the rights that we feel we still don’t have.”
“I feel privileged to see how far we’ve come in the last 4-5 years. I feel like the conversation has completely changed, and I no longer feel that LGBTQ individuals are alone in their fight for basic equality — powerful voices have recognized that we deserve better….I mean it’s hard to say because I could say a LOT of things about privileges that I have, but a lot of other people wouldn’t relate…..I think as far as a day-to-day privilege, I feel privileged to live in a world that is full of people who may not be LGBT but who are ready to speak up and stand up for what’s right.”
“I’d say I’m most grateful that I’m not vilified by my friends or family for being bisexual.”
“Just being out is an important privilege people can take for granted; past generations, and even queer folks in certain areas of the country today, didn’t, or don’t, live in a safe enough social environment to publicly represent themselves as queer.”
“I have always believed that one should try and love everyone equally, and being bisexual, I feel I can truly live that out to the fullest.”
“I mean I don’t feel like I have any special “privileges” because that’s defined as “a right or granted as a peculiar benefit, advantage, or favor” and I don’t think I get any sort of special benefits or advantages for being queer. Like, on the social side, I’m allowed to be much more affectionate with friends of all genders because a lot of my behavior is excused because “Oh well she’s a lesbian” and people see me as less of a threat in a way.”
“I think, especially as a Californian, I’m most grateful for LGBT employment discrimination laws covering both sexual orientation and gender identity.”
“To be able to bring my girlfriend home and have my parents treat her like my significant other.”
“I am most grateful for the cultural shift that has allowed the young folks of the community the safety to come out and thrive–it just wasn’t like that when/where I was young.”
“I feel very privileged to be able to be out to everyone in my life without worrying about judgment or ignorance.”
“Well, first of all, I don’t feel that I can answer the question in regards to LGBT, because, unfortunately, most of the privileges I have as a bisexual (although really, I think of myself as queer or pansexual), the trans community is still excluded from. I mean, even at a recent same-sex marriage rally, the HRC had the nerve to ask people to take down the trans flag, claiming that marriage is not a trans issue. It’s really horrifying when one of the leading voices for gay rights is treating the trans community like they’re ashamed. I think the privilege that I’m most grateful for as a queer person in Southern California in 2013 is protection against employment discrimination, which unfortunately, many queer people in other states do not have (Currently, only 21 states have laws against employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, and only 16 states ban employment discrimination on the basis of gender identity). Even though I’m not out in my workplace where I teach at a scholastic chess club, I felt really proud when an openly lesbian couple enrolled their daughter. Recently, I heard another parent playfully telling the girl, “Listen to your moms” and smiled. We’ve come a long way for a statement like that to become commonplace.”