Friday, May 29, 2009

The Hook: Being Gay

One of the unexpected lessons of being in an environment in which I am clearly in the "minority" as a gay male who is there not because of law/justice, but because of strange circumstances, is the "hook" of vulnerability. I am vulnerable for being removed from my position simply because I am gay. It may not be said that it is because I am gay by those who would want to remove me, but it is an unconscious--and some times conscious--hook.

And I am easily snagged by this predicament: my job can be taken away simply for being gay and not based upon my character or job performance.

I can relate to the story of Lt. Col. Fehrenbach, a pilot in the Air Force, who was outed as a gay man who is waiting for Pres. Obama to reverse DADT. Click here for more. He is left vulnerable, stranded, alone, with no protections. It isn't because of the job he has done, but because of who he is: a gay man.

While we have our supporters, this position is crazy making.

Literally.

Figuratively.

It is time to change.

Pace!

B

4 comments:

manxxman said...

I read about him this morning and it broke my heart........you're right we are very vunerable. I know I have lost a number of clients when it was discovered that I was gay.

And I don't believe that Obama will act fast enough to save this guy.

Carrboroguy said...

I agree: I don't think Obama will move fast enough. He is deferring to the Pentagon on timing, who are saying they most move "without haste and with due deliberation (Mullens)," read "never."

manxxman said...

Will after all you wouldn't want us to be "soft" on defense. How else do you suppose we got into the mess we're now in.

Brett Webb-Mitchell said...

Gives new meaning to the word "incrementalism."