Secretary Clinton's Monumental LGBT Speech to the UN. Now What?

On December 6th, Secretary Clinton addressed the United Nations in Geneva in a speech entitled "Free and Equal in Dignity and Rights." I have pasted the entire speech above but a quick Google search can give you the highlights of what was truly a groundbreaking moment for pushing LGBT rights on an international level. Clinton boldly proclaimed that "human rights are gay rights, and gay rights are human rights;" " Like being a woman, like being a racial, religious, tribal, or ethnic minority, being LGBT does not make you less human;" and "It was not only those who’ve justified slavery who leaned on religion, it was also those who sought to abolish it."

LGBT advocacy groups went crazy after hearing a completely unequivocal call to manifest the equal rights that LGBT humans are entitled to. Secretary Clinton gave no qualifications, no caveats, and no open doors through which opponents could find safety in their misguided views. She simply said LGBT people are humans, they deserve all human rights. End of story. The LGBT community finally saw the shameless leader they had been looking for.

But where do we go from here? 2011 has been historically significant in other ways already: the end of Don't Ask Don't Tell, the legalization of same-sex marriage in New York and India, and various other legislative advancements around the world have brought us much joy. The fight is not over, though. The overarching Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and the proceedings of Proposition 8 still hang forcibly in the air, and with election season already showing punches will be thrown at the gay community, much work remains at combating general homophobia and heterosexism. What will the next chapter in LGBT rights look like?

If one thing is for sure we cannot go at this fight alone. We need our straight allies to add numbers, voice, and volume to our arguments to show that this is not simply a stubborn minority looking for additional privileges, but a movement to bring about full and complete equality for our community. Kids are killing themselves because they do not like the world and the life they have been born into. This is about life and death. Still, many more LGBT live lives filled with depression, anxiety, drug use, and unhappiness. When will LGBT youth be able to live publicly as the people they are with no stigma or judgment? We need to call on our straight allies and supporters to speak up when the conversation turns to LGBT subjects and present a loving, supportive voice for the opponents.

But even more, WE the LGBT community need to be united. I know that in my own experience I have seen gay men flat out deride each other over race, weight, voice, mannerisms, status, etc. Some of this is inevitable, but how can we present a strong movement if our own base is fractured? We must join together and look past our artificial labels if we want to have the means to topple bigotry. Furthermore, we need to fully accept bisexuality as a legitimate, defined sexuality and transgendered people as full members of our community. Many bisexuals write off any thought of joining the LGBT movement because they don't want to be turned into something they are not. It was only this year, even, when scientists who had promulgated a study dismissing bisexuality as a legitimate sexuality have now redacted it. Transgendered people, also, all too often feel gays would rather wish them away rather than looking after them. A brief look at criminal violence against the LGBT community will reveal a stunning disproportionate amount of transgendered victims.

We need to look constantly for ways in which we can allow our voices to be heard. If you work for a company, ask if there is an LGBT Employee Resource Group (ERG) that you can attend. Write letters to your politicians demanding representation for you. Join community activities that strengthen LGBT equality. And most of all, become a constant force against ill formed logic, misinterpreted religion, and fear mongering. YOU are human. YOU deserve to love whom you love. YOU deserve to live in a world free of violence and emotional distress due to whom you are. Like Secretary Clinton said, "Gay rights are human rights, and human rights are gay rights." Together, we all need to repeat this sentiment whenever any person should have the gall to oppose it.