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Great New Books on Organizing:

By Tully Satre

“A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government.” – Edward Abbey.

One of my greatest ancestral fathers helped craft the Declaration of Independence. Edward Rutledge, alongside Mr. Jefferson and other delegates from around early America in the late 1700s, shaped America’s movement towards civil equality and freedom. Two-hundred and thirty years later, I stand on the same foundation that he helped create — a foundation seeking civil rights, equality, and freedom — a foundation which I and countless Virginians are denied access to.

On March 21, 2006, U.S. Senator George Allen, former Governor of Virginia, visited Culpeper, where I live, as one of his stops during his campaign for re-election. I went to see him, to learn where Senator Allen stands on the basic issue of civil liberty.

Arriving at the Board of Supervisors meeting room in Culpeper, I saw that over 100 citizens packed the room, including most of the local elected officials and reporters from local and national media, as well as familiar neighbors. I sat down with friends from Equality Fauquier/Culpeper. Senator George Allen walked in the room to a crowd cheering. I sat as everyone stood, I was still as everyone cheered.

During Allen’s term, he has supported legislation that openly targets the rights of families and individuals. The Federal Marriage Amendment (FMA), for example, sought to amend the U.S. Constitution to allow the American “justice” system to constitutionally deny basic contracts. Allen supported this without question. On the other hand, Senator Allen supported a bill which would PROTECT gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender citizens — the Hate Crimes bill which included ‘sexual orientation.’ However, this year, Senator Allen made a statement saying that he regrets his support of this bill, and would — if faced with it again — vote against protecting GLBT citizens in this country. Why? Well, tonight was Virginia’s opportunity to get a clearer understanding of what this Senator believes.

I questioned the Senator on his flip-flop on hate crimes legislation. He stated that “sexual orientation should not be a civil right.” We know that ‘civil right’ means ‘equal protection under the law.’ To say that sexual orientation is not a civil right is to say that gay and lesbian citizens are not deserving of equal protection under the law. Strike 1.

He went on to tell me a story about a Gay Pride Festival in Philadelphia. He said a peaceful group was reciting verses from the Bible across the street, and they were arrested for assault. He said he believes in religious freedom, and believes religious freedom of expression is ideal in this country. However, I knew that these peaceful protesters were violently shouting “faggot” and “all homosexuals will burn in hell,” while not cooperating with authorities to move back from the privately run event. Strike 2.

Senator Allen made it clear that he did not care about my stories of being victimized because of my sexual orientation. I moved on to a more controversial subject: the Federal Marriage Amendment. Allen stated that his support for this was a reflection of what the majority of America wanted. I responded that “what the majority may think, is not necessarily always constitutional,” using slavery as an example. Senator Allen showed no sympathy as I began to list off basic rights that I, as a gay Virginian, am denied.

“I, as of now, do not have the choice to be married,” I continued.

“Yes, you do!” Senator Allen shot in. Strike 3.

“Not to a man I don’t,” I said back, continuing, “I am 16, I am still in high school and I am worried solely because I am defined as a second-class citizen in this country. From issues relating to marriage (there are 1,138 federal rights granted to heterosexual married couples), to not being able to serve this country, to adopting children and a number of other issues — I am not granted basic civil liberties that this country was founded upon. How is that constitutional?”

No response.

Is this what Edward Rutledge wanted, a country that wastes time on discriminatory legislation and goes so far as to attempt to amend the U.S. Constitution to “constitutionally” destroy equality?

Tully Satre is a member of Equality Fauquier/Culpeper. EFC can be contacted at info@efcva.org or (540) 219-1654 or by visiting www.efcva.org.