I thought we'd run out of different photos of Mike Rawlings to use until I found this one I took of his family praying at his election night watch party. Was it wrong for me not to have my head bowed?
Over on the main page, as seems to be the case more often than not these days, you’ll find my latest story about Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings’ refusal to sign a pledge in support of same-sex marriage. (At this point I think the only thing I haven’t asked Rawlings is whether the fact that he’s “pledge-phobic” means he’s also scared of the Pledge of Allegiance. But hey, there’s always next week!)
Anyhow, just because I take pleasure in beating some topics until they’re as dead as hammers, I also wanted to share an email with you that Rawlings apparently wanted to share with me today. Rawlings’ chief of staff, whose name you’ll undoubtedly recognize by now as Paula Blackmon, forwarded to me one of the more than 2,000 emails that have been sent to the mayor’s office about this issue in the last two weeks. “Hello John…the mayor wanted me to share this EM with you…call me if you have any questions…thx,” Blackmon wrote. So, without further ado, here goes:
Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2012 10:57 AM
To: Blackmon, Paula
Subject: Gay Marriage EqualityI was unable to locate the email address for the Mayor, and I would appreciate your forwarding my message to him. I am a recently retired primary care physician, who is also gay and in a long term relation. I thank the mayor for his personal support of marriage equality. However, the office of mayor in Dallas is non-partisan, and I think “hot-button” social issues are best avoided. Marriage equality in Texas will be achieved through the legislative process, not locally. I would be very upset if he as mayor were vocally supporting people on the other side of this issue such as Mr. Jeffress of First Baptist, Dallas. Our country is afflicted by division at all levels, and I think Mayor Rawlings made the right call on this one. Robert W. Henderson, M.D.
Dr. Henderson, what you fail to recognize is marriage equality is a non-partisan issue. It cuts across all groups. It is marriage inequality that is a burden on the city. City governments are the closest form of government to the people. Wishes and demands raised by people at the city level across the country make the change happen. Law makers at the state and national level listen to the voice of the people gathering at the city level.
So, when Mayor Rawlings tells people this issue is irrevalent and does not concern the City of Dallas, I have to say he is 100% wrong. Without him signing on to this symbolic petition, his message is much louder to the GLBTQ community – the oppressed group – than it would have been to any other group that is trying to keep us down.
Basically, Mike was playing the role of the school playground bully making decision who is and who is not worthy of his support. Look at his public appearances… he supports a wide array or groups and issues that have fare less impact to commerce in Dallas than the equality of the state’s largest GLBTQ community. He has to be the mayor over all people. Religious and Civil Marriages can coexist without any problem. Several states and other countries are living proof.
Get this – South Africa has marriage equality. They survived Apartheid and realized that when they say everyone is equal, they really mean everyone is equal. Our constitution is 200 years older than theirs, but they were successful in implementing such an easy concept. Why can’t we?
Well, because the equality movements in the US are always bogged down by people like Mayor Rawlings; and let’s not kid ourselves, Rawlings is not the only guilty one here in DFW. They are all guilty, from Ft Worth’s Betsy Price, to Arlington’s Bob Cluck (neither of which will take a call or return an email on this topic. All mayors in DFW have a vested interest in making marriage equality an issue. Garland, Plano, Highland Park, Denton, Trophy Club, Lewisville, the list goes on and on and one. They have all snubbed the GLBTQ community. But they are all still attending and support a bunch of crap that does not mean anything. So, Dr. Henderson, you are wrong. It is his duty to sign the pledge.
“First the came for the communist, but I did not speak up as I was not a communist…” History always repeats itself.
Mark and James, thank you for the well written, intelligent, response. Bravo.
I also have been in a relationship with my partner for almost 30 years in Dallas having worked in the GLBTQ community in many arenas. I agree with Dr. Henderson and am greatly disappointed in the GLBTQ community that the path that was taken for gay marriage was marriage. If the word marriage would have been eliminated in the beginning of this fight, we would be much further ahead. The GLBTQ community needs to turn this ship around immediately and start demanding equal rights in civil unions for both the GLBTQ and Allies communities. I can and have gotten married in the eyes of my God and that is between me, my partner and the God we worship, not the government and the meshing of government and religion. We have made a grave mistake in the community in attacking the institution of religious marriage and need to correct that mistake. I want equal civil rights, the ability for my partner to collect my pension, my social security, etc. and not have to spend a small fortune, of which I have, to structure my affairs legally to avoid the unfortunate encounters so many GLBTQ couples have when a partner dies. The institution of marriage is government motivated and has many meaning and frankly with the divorce rate in this country I want no part of it. I do want the freedom to have a civil union protecting and giving me the same rights as those around me who have the freedom to marry. I have entered into a union with my partner that is between the two of us only and is not driven by my church or government. Many heterosexual couples would like the same opportunity to enter into a civil union instead of marriage. We are failing in this battle because we have approached it in all the wrong ways. Mayor Rawlings and Dr. Henderson are right on this one and pray to your deity of choice that we do not have a Republican for President; for our community is in for a world of hurt.
Metroplex political leaders will not risk standing “officially” with the LGBT community on this equality/civil rights issue. There are too many risks for standing up for such a small second class segment of our society. The anti-gay enviroment that Karl Rove and Company helped create is alive and well and these political leaders know it! Even former First Lady, Laura Bush, a gay marriage supporter, knows the score and the hateful anti-gay Republican strategy that was employed throughout the Bible Belt. It helped get her husband to the White House!
VERY WELL SAID Ryan! I am right there with you!
Ummm Duh! That’s what I’ve been trying to say.