An Open Letter to My Feministing Friends: SING LOUD!

Dear Friends,

I am a long time reader, but have never posted. I felt the need to post today.

This morning I was deeply disturbed by an email that I received from my husband’s grandfather claiming that S909 The Matthew Sheppard Hate Crimes Act is a bill that will offer federal protection to pedophiles. Yup, that’s what he said, protecting pedophiles. Nevermind that nowhere in this bill does it negate, ya know, the crime of pedophilia. But….let’s move on. *sigh*

Disturbed by the rhetoric in the email and the weight of the hatred that emanated from it, I decided to go find the text of the bill and find out exactly where they are pulling this INSANE position from. Here ya go:

(1) The incidence of violence motivated by the actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability of the victim poses a serious national problem.

Apparently, where the folks who want to see this defeated are taking issue with the words “sexual orientation” because there is no “definition” of such in this legislation. We all know where they have gone with that.

Secondly, they are all ranting about how this will lead to persecution of “speech” and “thought-crimes.” There is nothing in here that talks about inhibiting the freedom of speech. It is talking about federal protection and funds for prosecuting VIOLENT CRIMES. The allowances they are taking here, and flat out lies being perpetuated. are misleading at best and downright criminal at worst.

I will spare you all my rant on the rhetoric and how it echoes (sometimes almost identically) the rhetoric that was rife during the 1950’s and 60’s amidst the Civil Rights Movement and over federal civil rights legislation. I know so many of you are already aware of this. I do find it telling that anytime a bill like this comes up that there is rhetoric espoused that claim these laws will somehow endanger a segment of the population – of course, a segment of the population that is deemed in need of white male protection. First, it was "protect white womanhood!" Now, it’s "protect our children!" What better way to get people on your side than to scare them with the specters of racial/sexual danger.

So, let me get to my point. I am preaching to the choir here. But…..choir……we need to sing and SING LOUD!

In the final part of the emall I received this morning, I was directed to call my senator. So, you know what? I did. I live in Chicago. So, first I called Senator Richard Durbin’s office. Durbin is a co-sponsor of the bill. So, obviously, I know he’s going to vote for it. But, I called anyway. The woman who answered the phone was very kind and I said that I was calling about S909 and that, "I SUPPORT THIS ACT!" The woman was taken aback for a moment. Her voice cracked a little and she said, "support?"

I kind of chuckled and said, "am I the only one?"

She said, "well, let’s just say we have been flooded with phone calls – 99.9% of them against…..and they are using the whole ‘protecting pedophile’ line."

We talked for a few moments. She offered up talking points to use with friends and family who may be taken with this insane rhetoric from the right. She gave me a link to the actual text of the bill:

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d111:9:./temp/~bdNIN5::|/bss/|

Nothing like having the cold hard facts when engaging people in a debate.

So, please, I am begging you – sisters and brothers who are fighting for the rights and safety for all human beings – even though we know this will probably pass, and even if your senator is clear about their support, give them a call anyway! Let’s not just watch as the right wing hate groups drown out the dialogue and spread LIES. Let’s sing this bill into being!! Flood you senators’ offices with messages of support for this incredibly important legislation. I think so many of us (myself included) remain silent when we know things are going our way. I really want us to be the voices heard loud and clear in support of this. I want the voices of respect, freedom, kindness, peace, non-violence and empathy to rise above the sludge of the hate groups. SING!

Peace,

Katherine