The reality couldn’t be more stark: President Trump and a Republican Congress eager to undo all or at least most of of Obama’s progress toward LGBTQ equality. Starting at noon today and for the next two years (at least), we will have to live with what was once unimaginable.
But just because the Republicans are triumphant today, it doesn’t mean that they will necessarily be successful in pushing their regressive agenda. As the are soon to discover, getting things done is a lot harder than stopping them from being done. A combination of outside pressure, legal checks and internal division has the potential to stop some of the worst policies from ever being implemented.
Here’s a list of eight firewalls that could make sure that the successes of the past eight years don’t get thrown into the dustbin of history…
1. Corporate America
Just because the business community prefers the GOP’s tax policies doesn’t mean that it will go along with the homophobic ones. If anyone can attest to that, it’s Vice President Mike Pence. Pence had his head handed to him by corporate America when as Indiana governor he signed a “religious freedom” law that legalized antigay discrimination. Pence eventually had to back down and was such damaged goods politically that the state Republican party was relieved to see him join the Trump ticket and not run for re-election as governor. He’s a walking object lesson in why antigay attitudes don’t fly with big business any more.
2. The federal judiciary
Obama appointed more than 300 judges to federal courts, including a record number of openly gay judges. Those appointees are an important check on any antigay agenda. Any restrictive policies are likely to be challenged in court. There’s a good chance that those policies could run into a stone wall there.
3. Blue states
Governors and legislators in liberal states on either coast have already signaled their willingness to buck the conservative trend. Any attempt to roll back protections won’t just be resisted. It will be ignored. When it suited them, Republicans loved to talk about states’ rights. They are now about to find out that the argument cuts both ways. Deep blue cities and states can continue to make a huge difference by simply being better–more compassionate, more anti-discriminatory. These places already feature far better economies, health care, racial harmony and life expectancies. Let’s make sure the other side remembers that.
4. Public opinion
The polls are on our side, and they are not rigged. A majority of Americans support marriage equality. Even larger numbers believe in nondiscrimination protections based on sexual orientation or gender identity. That means the most outrageous efforts will have a hard time getting off the ground. Perhaps even more significant: majorities continue to give very low ratings both to the Republican Congress and to Trump–he enters office the least popular in the history of polling–which will limit how far he can move to the right.
5. Peter Thiel
Thiel hasn’t exactly been a champion of gay rights, and he does not inspire confidence when talking about the vulnerability of his own community because he has apparently never felt it. But let’s give him the benefit of the doubt for once. In his recent New York Times interview he expressed confidence that Trump won’t come after us: “I don’t think he will reverse anything. I would obviously be concerned if I thought otherwise.” Let’s hope that if that does come to pass, Thiel would have a word or one hundred with his hand-fondling admirer.
6. Pro-gay Republicans in Congress
Yes, they do exist. As a reminder, seven Senate Republicans actually voted in favor of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act in 2013 (although three of them lost re-election). In the House, Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen has led the small band. If the Democrats can keep a united front (always a big if with Democrats), peeling off a few sympathetic Republicans can help them throw sand in the gears of any antigay legislation.
7. Jared Kushner
Trump’s son-in-law is apparently the new president’s closest advisor. He’s also reportedly pro-gay. (His first cousin’s wedding was featured in The New York Times.) Kushner and his wife, Trump’s daughter Ivanka, are two of the people Trump most trusts. One word from them telling Dad that an antigay move is bad news, and the Tweetstorm will soon follow.
8. Donald Trump
The Orange One cuts both ways. On the one hand, he’s never shown the kind of reflexive homophobia that his appointees have. On the other hand, he’s the master of mixed signals and contradictions and basically does what the last person he talked to suggested. Between the two, he’ll probably feed divisions and disarray in the GOP. This is a very good thing.
9. You
Look in the mirror. Voting, particularly in the mid-terms in 2018, could stop the antigay right in its track. Letting your representatives know just how you feel about bad legislation actually does make a difference. Remember how far we have come toward equality in a historically short period of time. That was because you organized, you came out, you spoke out, you voted and made a difference. Dust off that version of you. Direct action captures media and public attention. It’s all well and good to rely on the other firewalls.
But we need to make sure this is the first one built.
RIGay
It is what it is. He was placed into office, his administration is being formed. For the moment, we can take care of ourselves, our communities, support positive influences in public service and oppose those who are not.
For the next 0-8 years, this is our life.
It does not mean get out and march in protest every day. It does mean – be vigilant. Be aware. Strive for facts, not memes or Facebook posts. READ the facts. Digest, process, learn, make an INFORMED decision.
For all the negative we expect from this incoming administration, there may be somethings positive. I look at the meme’s outlining the slate of funding that is in jeopardy under this administration. It was all the anti-liberal rhetoric rebranded as an attack. If this new administration is as radical as the leader promised, then there should be an equal number of cuts across the board; net: EVERYONE is going to get equally screwed. Let’s see what proof comes out in the pudding.
I live in a fairly well protected Blue state. There is nothing heinous on our states agenda. We were #13 to adopt Same Sex Marriage before it went national. Not much for us to do here, except…
What I did do this morning was make a sustaining contribution to the ACLU.
Xzamilloh
For the next 0-4 years, this is our life. I’m not at the point of accepting a possible re-election.
DMRX
“Everyone is going to get equally screwed.”
That is, quite simply, wrong.
Just ask the 1%-ers who are looking forward to their tax cuts.
Bill Perdue
Exit stage right – B Obama
Enter stage right – D Trump
There are no differences of import between the two parties and the workers utter disgust with both bankster parties is increasing.
In 2008 Democrats and Republicans each got about 31% of the eligible vote.
In 2012 Democrats and Republicans each got about 29% of the eligible vote.
In 2016 Democrats and Republicans each got about 25% of the eligible vote with 1 or 2% going to the Libertarians and the Greens.
MacAdvisor
Bill, if you don’t see any differences between the two major parties, you simply aren’t looking, particularly on gay rights.
Bill Perdue
Your party imposed DOMA and DADT on us, refused to repeal DOMA and refused to enact ENDA in 2009 and 2010 when you controlled Congress and the WH.
Your party and the Republicans favor offshore drilling and fracking, wars of aggression and you both bust unions. The main difference seems to be that the Democrats lie about these questions and the Republicans don’t bother to lie. f
The increasing numbers of people who boycott voting indicates that I’m correct – there are no real differences and people knoe it.
GayEGO
Good points! We advanced even when G.W. Bush was our president and GOP Mitt Romney was governor of Massachusetts when it legalized marriage equality in 2004. Lets be positive and continue our advancements!