As the song says “At last my love has come along.” Like most LGBT people, my love affair with same-sex marriage has finally been consummated. I am sure you will agree that the issue that defined 2015 was marriage. June 26, same-sex marriage became the law of the land, at last. While the year and ruling will go down as a historic moment for our community, just like the integration of the armed forces did for African Americans, 2015 also produced a backlash against LGBT equality.
2015 will be remembered as the inflection point in LGBT civil rights, where everything begins to move forward at a quicker pace, whether it is the approval of the Equality Act, transgender specific rights or simply the first drama centered around LGBT characters on network TV. It may not be smooth sailing going forward but we are finally out of the marriage hurricane.
Here are the LGBT events and stories that touched and amused us most deeply in 2015.
The Year of Caitlyn
Bruce Jenner rung in 2015 as well, Bruce Jenner. However, she will ring in 2016 as Caitlyn. No matter what you think about Caitlyn Jenner, she defined the conversation about the transg
ender community this year. From her introduction to the world on the Vanity Fair cover, to her TV show I am Cait Jenner was everywhere. But controversy was not far behind, like when she stated that she was Republican and intended to vote that way, or simply not understanding fully the money and job struggles of the normal transgender community. But far more troubling for the transgender community was …
Trans women murders continue to rise
As of this writing 23 trans women have been murdered this year in the U.S.; the vast majority of which have been trans women of color. Worldwide, one transgender person is murdered every three days. We must all join the calls for an end to anti-transgender violence.
Pope Francis
It was Pope Francis’ schizophrenic LGBT year. Whether it was giving an LGBT group the VIP treatment at the Vatican, ex-communicating a gay priest, meeting with gay and transgender prisoners in Naples or reaffirming his opposition to same-sex marriage, Pope Francis kept us guessing in 2015. On his first trip to the U.S., the pope met with Kim Davis, a clerk that refused to issue same-sex marriage licenses in Kentucky, compared transgender people to nuclear weapons, yet he welcomed gay comedian and TV reporter Mo Rocca to give the Lector, or first reading. Talk about mixed messaging; but it seems the Pontiff is moving the Church slowly toward LGBT acceptance.
Same-Sex Marriage Backlash
Before and after the historic ruling on same-sex marriage by the Supreme Court in late June, the LGBT community has been fighting against the conservative backlash against our civil rights. Whether it was Florida Attorney General Pam Bond filing to prevent marriage going forward in her state, or counties refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples or Kentucky County Clerk Kim Davis refusing to sign same-sex marriage licenses, conservatives were trying every trick in the book. Fortunately, their efforts have not been met with much success including …
Religious Freedom Restoration Act Legislation
The religious right actively tried to undermine the Supreme Court even before their marriage ruling with Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) legislation that was characterized by that passed in Indiana. RFRA laws allow individuals and businesses to discriminate against groups based upon their religious beliefs. There was a national firestorm that put Indiana in the crosshairs of all fair-minded people in America. The NCAA threatened to move the Final Four, Silicon Valley CEOs signed a letter repudiating the legislation and companies threatened to move from Indiana. The firestorm also ended the presidential aspirations of Indiana Gov. Mike Pence. The public outrage slowed RFRA legislation throughout the country.
Republican Presidential Candidates Double Down on Anti-LGBT Rhetoric
The Republican slate of Republican candidates, with few exceptions, can’t seem to accept that same-sex marriage is the law of the land. Each of the top candidates railed at the decision with Sen. Ted Cruz saying the day was “among the darkest hours of our nation.” Former Neurosurgeon Ben Carson said that being gay is a choice, just look at prisoners. The front runner Donald Trump is the most LGBT friendly and has said that LGBT people should not be fired from their jobs simply for being LGBT, but Trump still does not support marriage equality. If you are a one issue voter, you must love …
The Gay President
President Obama continued to move LGBT civil rights forward in 2015. Not resting on his laurels, Obama nominated the first openly gay secretary of the Army, spoke about LGBT equality during a visit to Kenya in front of its homophobic president, illuminated the White House in rainbow colors to celebrate the same-sex marriage ruling and endorsed the Equality Act. Coupled with the litany of rights and policies his administration has implemented, you would think Obama was the first gay president. You would think everyone in our community would be singing President Obama’s praises, but…
Transgender Heckler at White House Pride Reception
Jennicet Gutiérrez, a transgender activist who is also an undocumented immigrant, heckled the president at Obama’s annual White House Pride Reception. Gutiérrez was protesting the abuse of transgender detainees. While Gutiérrez’s cause may be important, many felt wrong place, wrong time. Before she was escorted out after interrupting the president several times, the president shut her down by saying, “No, no. Hey, listen, you are in my house.”
While we are on the subject of inappropriate behavior …
Gay Hoteliers Host Fundraiser for Anti-Gay Sen. Ted Cruz
Gay hoteliers Ian Reisner and Mati Weiderpass hosted Sen. Ted Cruz at their New York apartment. Then they were silly enough to post a picture on Facebook with the senator. As they say, the rest is history. The backlash from the LGBT community was swift with a protest at the business partners’ hotel OUT NYC. Reisner and Weiderpass are also large owners of property in Fire Island where there were protests and boycotts as well. The pair’s explanations were feeble like “we did not know Cruz was anti-gay.” I guess you can be rich and dumb.
Cat Fight
Just when you thought you had heard everything with respect to celebrity feuds, Dolce & Gabanna and Sir Elton John took it to a new level. Domenico Dolce described IVF babies as ‘chemical children’ and ‘synthetic.’ Needless to say that did not sit so well with Sir Elton. He fired off in social media, “How dare you refer to my beautiful children as “synthetic”. Your archaic thinking is out of step with the times, just like your fashions. I shall never wear Dolce & Gabbana ever again. #BoycottDolceGabbana.” Over 66,000 people pledged to do just that. After five months Dolce and John kissed and made up. Everyone could wear D&G again, what a relief. Mentioning relief …
Gender Neutral Bathrooms
San Diego Airport and the White House debuted gender neutral bathrooms this year. The single occupancy restrooms have been popping up at high schools, restaurants, colleges and universities all across America. San Diego has the most interesting sign that somehow created a new third gender but progress nonetheless.
Scouts Lift Ban on Gay Leaders
The Boy Scouts rescinded their ban on LGB adult scout leaders but extended exemptions to those troops that were run by religious organizations. Despite a threat by the Mormon Church to leave over the new policy, the Church ultimately decided to stay in the Scouting fold.
Tiffany & Co. Gay Engagement Ad
The revered jeweler Tiffany debuted an ad featuring a gay couple. It was the first ad with an LGBT couple in the company’s 178 year-old history. The “Will You?” campaign featured six different couples one being of the same sex. Let freedom ring.
Michigan Womyn’s Music Festival Ends
After 40 years, the Michigan Womyn’s Music Festival played its last note. While the festival was legendary for decades, in recent years it has been saddled with controversy concerning the exclusion of transgender womyn.
HERO Loss in Houston
The Houston Equal Rights Ordinance went down in flames this year. The ordinance would have made Houston the last of the top ten cities in America to enact protections based upon sexual orientation and gender identity. While Mayor Annise Parker said the defeat could not have been averted, the question then is why would she waste the LGBT community’s time and money.
Stonewall Movie Tanks
The movie chronicling the legendary riots at the Stonewall Inn in New York City tanked at the box office. The movie to date has grossed $187,674. You read that right, $187,674. Controversy arose because the director chose a white protagonist for the film when many felt that the film should have been anchored by a transgender activist, a person of color or both. Everyone knows that Silvia Rivera was the person the film should have chronicled. Rivera is so famous, due to the riots and beyond, her portrait was installed at the National Portrait Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution this year. To re-enact the riots, many people were throwing rocks at the screen while watching this bomb.
The Truth about Truvada
The preventative HIV drug Truvada really blossomed in the scene this year. The use of Truvada as a pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) became the topic of conversation for sexually active people in the LGBT community and beyond. Just a few weeks ago the Centers for Disease Control issued a study that suggested that 1 in 4 gay men should take Truvada. Unfortunately, 34 percent of health care providers had never heard of the drug, which explains the paltry 21,000 people taking it.
Leelah Alcorn Suicide
The suicide of Leelah Alcorn, a 17 year old transgender girl, attracted international attention after she arranged to have a suicide note posted on Tumblr hours after her death. In her suicide note, Alcorn cited loneliness and alienation as key reasons for her decision to end her life and blamed her parents for causing these feelings. She committed suicide by walking out in front of oncoming traffic on the Interstate 71 highway.
