LGBT POV

(Editor’s note: This is a version of a speech Jenny Pizer, Senior Counsel and Director of Lambda Legal’s National Marriage Project, delivered before the federal Prop 8 trial started Monday. During the trial, Prop 8 proponents claimed that “traditional” marriage was universal, historically and culturally. Professor Nancy Cott disputed that on the stand.  Jenny notes that marriage equality is now spreading across the globe.  - Karen Ocamb)

Giving Thanks to All our Courageous Speakers of Truth and Makers of Change

By Jenny Pizer

As LGBT people, our biggest challenge for generations has been our invisibility, others’ continuing ignorance about us, and their resulting disrespect and fear.  That’s changing rapidly these days because of all of you, who have been steadily building this passionate, determined freedom and equality movement.  Each time one of us comes out and speaks up, and dispels myths and misconceptions, and rebukes prejudice, we all move forward.

And sometimes this truth-telling can be especially powerful when done by allies who speak out because they care, and have come to see it’s the right and moral thing to do.

Because this has been happening across the country, one-third of the U.S. population now lives in states that respect and protect same-sex couples and our families with a formal, state-conferred legal status. That’s all been achieved within ten short years.

And it’s happening around the world as well.

Five European countries have been showing the rest of that continent that gay weddings pose no threat.  As of last week, Portugal is joining their ranks!

Canada has been providing that leadership for North America for years.  South Africa has been doing the same on that continent.  Nepal is leading the way in Asia.  And now Argentina has hosted Latin America’s first marriage of a same-sex couple, with Mexico City voting to open marriage equally in that hugely populous national capital.

And let’s take note, as Spain, Portugal, Argentina and Mexico City all make this change, they all are Catholic countries!  We should stop making assumptions about what progress is possible, and where.

Soon the District of Columbia will show our federal government, the Obama Administration especially, and our country as a whole that no one needs “defending” against lesbian and gay couples who want to celebrate their love, pledge their commitment, and create stable families.  The District of Columbia, a majority African American city. Again, let’s stop making assumptions about where change is possible, and who does and doesn’t support equality.

In this courthouse, starting today, there will be a lot more truth spoken, and a lot more myths disproved.  In Chief Judge Vaughn Walker, this case has a judge who wants solid information, that will be tested, so he can find the facts.  This is a good thing for those who believe in accuracy, clear thought and fairness.  We know that information dispels ignorance.  Cross-examination separates fact from fabrication.  This trial will give our country a chance to learn better who we are, and why “liberty and justice for all” has to mean gay people, too.  And if the Supreme Court allows this trial court to offer public viewing via the Internet as planned, a lot more people nationwide and worldwide will have the chance to consider the witnesses’ testimony for themselves and draw their own conclusions about what’s true, and what’s just.

Thanks to each of you for being an essential part of this inspiring, powerful movement that honors honesty and positive action.  You are the proof, in the way each of you lives your life, of why our Constitution must be read to require freedom and equality for everyone.  Through your dignity, and generosity, and love, and fidelity to principle, each of you speaks your truth from your heart and makes possible the change each of us needs and deserves.

Thank you.