View from the left: How the LGBTQ movement went from winning to losing in nine months

[KamaAina]

http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/3/26/1506236/-View-from-the-left-How-the-LGBTQ-movement-went-from-winning-to-losing-in-nine-months

After North Carolina lawmakers enacted a bill Wednesday that ensures the right of residents to discriminate against LGBTQ Americans in the state, the New York Times editorial board summed up the crux of the achievement in a piece titled: “Transgender Law Makes North Carolina Pioneer in Bigotry.”...

As I wrote Thursday, LGBTQ Americans are now the clear target of a nationwide campaign being waged by religious zealots to systematically lock in discrimination in every state that hasn't already enacted nondiscrimination protections. The effect could be very much like that of the 2004/2006 anti-gay marriage amendments. This could very well lead to a divided nation where most blue states outlaw discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation, while most red states explicitly give it their blessing....

What this means is that the equality movement went from an unimaginable mind-bending success in June 2015 to a crushing defeat that could have long-term implications in the span of nine months. An achievement that we have been working toward since the mid-1970s—explicit employment protections at the federal level—is now likely out of reach for the foreseeable future, taking public accommodations and housing protections down with it since they are now bundled together in a bill called the Equality Act. There’s just no path to getting Congress to pass legislation that either hasn’t been adopted, or worse, has been roundly rejected by far too many states....

At this point, the national gay rights behemoth known as the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), in particular, has presided over perhaps the biggest missed opportunity in our modern-day movement—failing to parlay the momentum of the marriage equality win at the Supreme Court into further equality successes in legislatures across the nation.

[jeff47]

1. This is what happens when the party hides behind the courts

instead of leading the way.

When you rely on judicial success, you don't build political success.

[newblewtoo]

3. Congratulations.

This has to be one of the most astute comments I have seen on DU in weeks!!

[Eleanors38]

6. You are right, one can't be single-dimension, but...

the LGBTQ community has been grinding it out for years, building a base. Sometimes it loses in court, at the ballot box, and goes without strong Party leadership.

But, it has been at this FOR YEARS.

[anigbrowl]

2. 'unimaginable mind-bending success in June 2015 to a crushing defeat' - serious hyperbole

I'm ticked off about this new thing in NC since it would theoretically affect me if I went there but I don't think of it as a 'crushing defeat'. I never expected discrimination to evaporate in the wake of Obergefell. Trans issues were marginalized within the gay community for a long time so reversals like this don't surprise me too much, nor do I think they're insurmountable.

[Eleanors38]

5. The LGBTQ community shows how progressive causes can win, even over this...

I am sure the community has long realized the increasing stagnation of the Democratic Party, and how it creeps away from taking leadership. Yet victories are still won. How many times have referenda for LGBTQ rights and employment benefits been lost, only to be won later? The community takes hits, but comes up fighting. The only other political, grass roots community which has that strength are the pro-2A groups. You win on the ground and in the courts -- and rather conservative courts at that.

Lots of battles ahead, and a few weeks of return fire don't mean shit.

[JudyM]

7. Maybe we need to Occupy HRC to use our $ to press forward instead of wasting it on the dem primary.