In his letter (also published on this page), local resident and San Diego LGBT Weekly reader, West Moeller offers LGBT Americans serving and fighting for our country in the armed forces a not-so-veiled threat – in fact, a violent threat (not to be confused with a threat of violence).
The first red flag in Moeller’s letter is in the second sentence: “In a sense, suppressing the facts about one’s sexual identity also had a positive feature in protecting many servicemen who simply do not want to go public,” writes Moeller. Suppression of anything human but the urge to hurt – either verbally or physically – oneself or others, is NEVER positive. I challenge anyone to prove otherwise.
Moeller predicts the worst as a result of the end of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell: “When actual murders occur, it will be difficult to suppress the news.”
What suppression of the news? As far as lack of reporting of threats to LGBT servicemembers in the “pro-gay mass media,” San Diego LGBT Weekly has no problem being the standard-bearer of breaking news and trending developments locally, nationally or even internationally. But remember; DADT has only been repealed for a few short weeks.
By the tone and substance of the letter in question, Moeller will likely be heartened that there will probably be more stories of intimidation and violence against LGBT soldiers, Marines, coastguardsmen, airmen and sailors.
Moeller further warns of a “forceful counter-revolution” against LGBT people, brought on by our insistence on fighting for our basic rights. Moeller’s “inevitable” backlash would come from the majority population – you know, that mass of society the Founding Fathers sought to prevent from oppressing or suppressing also-rights-endowed minority-Americans.
As the letter writer points out, revolutions such as the increasing liberation of long-oppressed LGBT Americans can be followed by forceful counter-revolutions. But that’s not inevitable.
It was once relatively comfortable to be openly lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender in Berlin. That was circa 1925. Ten years later, a backlash came. But a victory emerged from tragedies our forebears endured in Germany. It began with wise, early leaders of the LGBT human rights movement, who coopted their oppressors’ intended badge of shame – the pink triangle.
West Moeller, thank you for reading San Diego LGBT Weekly, and thank you for expressing your views.
