Modelo de gestión

the courts and by our legislatures. In these campaigns “Special Rights” have been used against nondiscrimination policies, marriage equality and many other aspects that afford LGBT people basic rights. This tactic is in full use today, and we can expect to see more of this as marriage equality fights are gaining attention nationwide.

2) Affirmative Action: In 1996 California’s Proposition 209 wiped away the state’s Affirma- tive Action programs, using the basis that Affirmative Action created “special rights” and was “reverse discrimination.” In 1998 Washington state modeled California–and received money from California backers–to create I-200 which successfully ended Affirmative Action pro- grams there. Both state campaigns to end Affirmative Action were led by white males, but hired people of color and women to be the spokespersons.

3) English-only: There have been countless bills and initiatives to push English as the official language of U.S. states and institute English-only policies. Common English-only arguments are that tax dollar funded materials and resources, such as bilingual services and education, is a “special right” and anyone in the United States should be forced to “speak English.” Most peo- ple who do not use English as their primary language are actively seeking to learn the language in order to better interact and contribute to an English-speaking community. However, Eng- lish is a complex language that takes time and resources to learn, which is difficult under the constraints of low-wage labor. Without the ability to easily communicate, particularly around medical, legal and other basic needs, many immigrants have no access to essential means in order to further themselves, or sometimes even survive.

The far right has also been very successful at scapegoating marginalized communities… The LGBT community has consistently been used as a scapegoat, distracting people from the larger problems facing government. Same-sex marriage is consistently used to galvanize votes, and “gay-baiting” occurs across the nation to defeat supportive lawmakers simply on their pro- LGBT stance. The LGBT community is also charged for being at fault for the moral decon- struction of the “all-American” nuclear family structure, under the banner of “family values.” Immigrant communities have also long been targeted as scapegoats, blamed for economic problems, such as unemployment rates, and threats to “homeland security.” This does not ac- count for the fact that U.S. policies have devastated the economies of other countries, forcing workers to migrate to the United States, often separated from their families for years, just to be able to support them. Meanwhile, corporations continue moving millions of jobs out of the United States in search of cheap labor.

Consolidation of power by the far right

By using the umbrella of “special rights” and scapegoating marginalized communities, the far right was very successful at moving a multi-issue agenda that does violence to many groups of people. Issue arenas include:

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The Strategy of “Special Rights”

• Anti-Immigrant

• Criminal Justice

• Welfare Policy

• Anti-LGBT

Thus, “special rights” is an incredibly effective tool that has resulted in several policy wins against Affirmative Action, for English Only and statewide bans on same-sex marriage. By also using the myth of scarcity and the vehicle of immigration to talk about race without having to say the word, the right successfully divided marginalized communities against each other. We call these wedge issues and myths.

Wedge issues & myths Trainer asks:

Who can describe what a “wedge issue” is? Trainer says:

Our definition is:

A wedge issue is not just a controversial issue. Rather, it is an issue that is carefully framed to get a group of people to prioritize one part of their identity over another part of their identity. Race is one of the most common wedge issues we see used by anti-LGBT groups. This has caused many myths and stereotypes within the LGBT community about people of color com- munities.

Trainer asks:

What are some common myths you hear perpetuated about people/communities of color by LGBT communities?

Here are some MYTHS, often in the form of assumptions, we hear regularly in our LGBT orga- nizing:

1) People of color communities are more homophobic than white communities.

Homophobia cannot be broken down by party lines, gender, religious affiliation or race. Unfor- tunately, it is pervasive in every community and reinforced by oppressive policies and insti- tutions governed by those in power–white heterosexual male leadership. And the vast, vast majority of anti-LGBT campaigns in the United States have been developed and executed by straight, white, non-trans men. However, the right uses this myth to strategically pit LGBT and communities of color against each other.

2) LGBT people are white, while people of color are straight.

This isn’t always a myth that we hear explicitly stated. More often, it is implied. People of color are just as likely to identify as LGBT as anyone. This myth ignores the intersectional identities of LGBT people of color and the complex relationship we/they share with both communities. It pushes LGBT people of color even further to the margins and creates barriers to reaching out

The Strategy of “Special Rights”

and building relationships in immigrant and communities of color. It also discounts the added struggle for LGBT immigrants to be able to support, be with and have their families recognized under current policies that discriminate against several aspects of our/their identity.

3) If we could just show communities of color that we were oppressed like them, they would support us.

There is a real discomfort and even anger around the appropriation of the civil rights move- ment by primarily white LGBT people. Another way this is perpetuated is when LGBT activists claim that “Now it’s our turn…” again giving the impression (intentionally or unintentionally) that racism is now non-existent or not a priority. Disregarding the differences between racism and homophobia and transphobia is as dangerous as not seeing the similarities.

If the LGBT community lacks an analysis of power and privilege around all oppressions (in- cluding those that exist within LGBT spaces) then we cannot call ourselves a movement for social justice. This cuts us off from opportunities to build coalitions and gain progressive power. Trainer distributes:

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