Zimbabwe Trip 4 - Part E

Thursday, May 18, 2006

Very interesting day today. I have some clarity as to what I’m supposed to do with these Measles Partnership numbers. Basically, I can pick the number I like best, which means to me sticking as close to published numbers as possible. However, this report is not supposed to see the light of day outside of WHO. Good thing too, because the information they are seeking does nothing than expose shoddy record keeping and somewhat shady financial practices, at least when you consider the controls that are placed on how we spend money at CDC. Maybe the Defense Department comes close to what I see at WHO. We are getting results, which is what ultimately matters, but you need an army of people to keep track of this money properly. To have only one person doing the work of 10 is ridiculous. It also allows WHO to play its shell game with the money it’s given. Things get covered, but you never know whose money is covering it half the time.

I found out that the overturning of the gay marriage amendment has created a firestorm in Georgia. Just as I predicted, Sonny decided he’d call a special session if the decision wasn’t quickly overturned by the GA Supremes. Just so happens that 4 of the 7 justices are up for election this year…think that will weigh on their decision? We’ll see if they’re politicians or jurists. The fact remains that amendment was illegally drawn, and everyone knew it. But they wanted that precious part B in there to really send the message that gays need to leave Georgia and never return because they will always be second class citizens. What galls me is that the Democrats are all rah-rah about this move to call a special session! Dubose Porter, the leader in the House, thinks it’s grand. So does Cathy Cox and Mark Taylor. Cathy’s campaign went out of its way to say that she fully supported the amendment, and only thought in 2004 that it was drawn poorly legislatively. That’s not quite how I remember it, but Cathy’s leading the “Down with Fags!” cheers from the Democratic side. Mark Taylor stopped short of saying we need a special session, but said to wait for the GA Supreme Court to decide, adding he hoped they upheld the amendment.

This is exactly the kind of shit that people bring up to show that Democrats really don’t care about gays at all. The thing is, I know the party is very supportive. We’re at all levels of the party power structure, and no one cares we’re gay. Most of the time, they think it’s pretty cool. But when 76% of Georgia voted yes on the marriage amendment in 2004, that told politicians that gays were nuclear material in Georgia politics. We are lepers to be shunned in public, no matter what our conscience or our hearts tell us is right. Certainly, you shouldn’t lead on an issue such as gay rights in any form…the best thing to do is what Democrats did until blacks were forcibly given the vote in the 1960s…pander to the basest instincts of the public. And this means to sound the alarm bells, call a special session, and make sure no time passes where those damn queers don’t know their place…at the bottom of Sadie Field’s stiletto heel to be scrapped off on the curb like dog shit.

Well, I’m not letting this one go quietly. I was angry enough that I fired off a letter to the Editor in the AJC, and I also wrote Cathy Cox’s campaign a note which I copied to every YD leader I know and some others too. My friend Mike called her campaign from England and demanded his contribution (which I had urged him to make months ago) back. I frankly don’t blame him. I don’t know if she’ll even see this letter, but you can be assured that I will deliver the message in person should I get the opportunity:

Dear Cathy -

I find myself filled with profound disappoint and disgust at your decision yesterday to release a statement of support for Gov. Perdue's cynical call for a SPECIAL legislative session to make sure that both parts of the gay marriage amendment struck down for violating the single subject rule will be on November's ballot. I have met you several times, and I have even supported your bid for Governor. I have also heard you speak on LGBT issues, and I know you are more fair minded than your actions have shown. Yet, when it comes down to it, actions speak louder than words.

The AJC today (http://www.ajc.com/news/content/metro/stories/0518metgaymarriage.html) stated, "On Wednesday, Cox issued a statement supporting the governor's plan for a special session. So did her Democratic rival, Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor. Cox's opponents from both parties pointed out that in 2004, Cox said the amendment was "unnecessary." Peter Jackson, her campaign spokesman, said in response, "Yesterday showed the circumstances have changed" since 2004."

I would like to know exactly what circumstances have changed? In 2004, you had it right when you said the amendment was unnecessary and a cynical political ploy. It can be argued that passing that amendment directly led to the loss of Democratic control of the House. The people who care most about putting LGBT Georgians in "our place" are never going to vote for you or any Democrat. The only way that would change is if some Democrat pulled a Zell Miller and became essentially a right wing Republican in his/her views. You gain nothing by supporting Perdue in this scheme to call a special session. Even if you are the nominee, this amendment will guarantee that the troops of Sadie Field and her ilk will turn out in droves to reward Sonny for acting swiftly to put the "queers" in our place.

I am a gay Georgian, one of many you already know. You know personally how hateful and painful that amendment fight was in 2004. That you are now supporting actions that would not only hurt Democrats, your own bid for Governor, along with delivering a double fisted bitch slap to every LGBT Georgian is disgusting. As a Christian, you know better than to think this is the right thing to do. I know this is a tricky issue to deal with, but wouldn't it have been better to allow the judicial process to play out in the GA Supreme Court and then decide to move forward later? What's the rush? The amendment would easily pass in January 2007 when the new legislature is in session, and everyone knows it. There is no emergency to warrant spending taxpayer dollars on a special session just to be sure that LGBT Georgians like myself can be reassured that yes, indeed, our state HATES us, considers us less than equal citizens, and wants to be sure I never enjoy anything approaching equality with straight Georgia.

I get that this state is light years from being gay friendly when you go outside of 285. By your actions yesterday, you have given sanction to creating an atmosphere of hate and hysteria around gay rights. LGBT teens are already 30% more likely to commit to suicide than their straight peers. My community is already rife with self-destructive behaviors whose origins lie in just the kind of hate campaign Sadie Fields led against us in 2004 and are promising to do again in 2006. I expected much more out of you than that. This is not leadership; it is pandering. To see you sink so low as to kick some of your most ardent supporters in the teeth for political gain breaks my heart. Yet I know that Mark Taylor and Sonny Perdue are no better.

I will no longer actively support your campaign. I may or may not vote for you in the Primary and General election. I feel betrayed by you, and I know I am not the only LGBT supporter of yours that feels this way this morning. I think we deserve and explanation and apology for being so hasty to play into the political tricks of the GOP. In the meantime, my time and treasure will no longer support someone who obviously no longer supports me.

Yours truly,
Jason A. Cecil

Am I being too harsh? No, I don’t think so. I’m not going to work against Cathy, and it’s likely I’ll vote for. When you think of Mark vs Cathy in the Democratic primary, I think Cathy has the best chance of unseating Sonny Perdue. I also love the idea of a smart woman governor. But that doesn’t mean I smile meekly, bend over, grab my ankles and say, “Do what you want. I’ll be the good little soldier. You’ll see no consequences from me.” For LGBT people to make real gains, we must demand respect, especially from our friends. We don’t have to abandon them (because they truly are light years better than Republicans) but we do need to let them know when they’ve done wrong. And Cathy fucked up big time on this. She may not think so now, but I hope I’m just the tip of the iceberg of LGBT supporters who will let their displeasure be known. That’s the only way we can be sure that she won’t pull this kind of shit again, and will be more sensitive to the people who have supported her most.

I came back to the hotel and relaxed a while until Eddie came by to pick me up at 6:45pm. Casey hosted a Mexican dinner at her place in honor of her birthday which is this Saturday. Yinka’s birthday is the end of next week, and Amy’s birthday is right after that. We had wine, appetizers, and soft tacos. The dessert was chocolate cake and ice cream. Very good stuff!

A funny thing happened during dinner. First, Amy told me the name of her baby, which is a Zimbabwean name in Shona. I listened to how she said it and repeated it. Amy was shocked I got it right the first time. Apparently, I’m the first American who has done so. Of course, right now, I couldn’t repeat the name because I don’t remember it. I do know they call her Chi for short, or Marie which is one of her middle names. Cute, cute baby, though. Later, at dessert, Amy’s husband (another name that escapes me…but he’s also Zimbabwean) had me attempt to pronounce the Shona name for the Operation Throw out the Trash that Mugabe did last year to clear impoverished supporters of the opposition out of the Harare. After listening to him pronounce it, I tried and he said there was no way that I was just a visitor to Zimbabwe if I could pronounce Shona words correctly on the first try. He asked how long I’d been in Zimbabwe, and I told him a total of 4 months by the time this trip was over. He then asked if I was a language specialist, and I responded “Not that I’m aware of.” LOL Anyway, I don’t know how I managed to pronounce these Shona words correctly, but when something foreign is being repeated to me, I tend to break it down into its consonant sounds which helps me repeat it. *shrug* It was kind of neat though to get those words right when apparently no one else does.

Yinka, Debra, Casey, Michelle (the Zimbabwean), Amy, her baby, her husband, Mathew from the embassy and his wife, and a girl from Canada. I should remember her name, but I don’t at the moment. She works for an agency called Je T’aime which deals with HIV. We had a nice time. It was cool to hang out with Americans, play with Amy’s baby, and get out of the hotel. It reminded me what I like about Zimbabwe. The social atmosphere around the embassy and the people you meet there are quite nice. They vacation together, party together, and have a real sense of camaraderie. When you’re just visiting for a short time, you kind of miss that. But Mathew and his wife are hosting an 80s party this weekend, and I’ll be going to it. It should be lots of fun.

I’m now stuffed and ready for bed. Thank goodness, the day tomorrow is short at WHO, and I should be home pretty early to start my weekend. I have no real plans other than to sit by the pool and tan. That and the party, of course.