There has been a great deal of talk on The Impact about Light Up the Night and whether or not we should have 2nd Class Citizen T-shirts. Many feel that they are a 1st Class Citizen with 2nd Class Rights, and I think we should be allowed to express who we are in a way we are comfortable with. When it comes down to it, few will argue that our lack of rights incorporates a feeling of 2nd Class in one way or another. On December 20th, we want to bring light to this lack of rights and want you to feel comfortable expressing the 2nd Class status in your own way.
So many people still don’t understand what we are fighting for. Here’s some examples of the “unequal protections under the law” that the LGBTQ community faces:
- We can not fight for our country without hiding who we are
- In many states (like the recent law in Arkansas) We can not adopt a displaced child in need of a home and safety
- In many states, we can still be fired because we are gay
- My rights in Washington do not stand when I cross the border to Idaho. Therefor, if my partner were to fall ill on a cross country trip, she would be alone in the hospital and I would be powerless.
- Partners cannot share insurance in many states
- In many states, people can be murdered because of their sexuality, but their murderer will not be tried for committing a hate crime
- A loving couple can share a home, but if one passes, that home can be taken from the other in states where shared property rights are not available.
- Finally, a couple can share their lives, share expenses, share good times and bad over many years, but they still cannot gain the equal protections and recognition that two strangers can in one drunken night in Vegas. 2 Strangers + 1 20 minute ceremony + $50 + 10 shots of tequila = Holy Matrimony and 1st Class Protections Under the Law… now who’s crazy?
20 Responses
Seriously? White T-shirts? You do know that those V-neck babydoll tees are geared toward the female body, right? And that the majority of American females wear bras, and that there’s no such thing as an opaque white T-shirt? I’d love a white-on-black version in a juniors’ 2X though.
Posted on December 2nd, 2008 at 4:03 pm
Love the video. I love it when we use their own words against them.
If we’re receiving 2nd class rights, we’re still unequal and therefore 2nd class citizens.
Posted on December 2nd, 2008 at 4:08 pm
Honestly, I disagree with the idea of wearing 2nd class citizens tshirts. I think there are better slogans out there that we could use. And while I agree that there should be some kind of display as to who we are and why we’re there, and that our rights are that of 2nd class citizens, I wouldn’t feel comfortable physically wearing that slogan on my body. Wearing it would feel to me like I was allowing myself to be defeated rather than standing up to make a point about civil rights in this country.
Another issue I have with tshirts… it’s cold out. I’m in Chicago for school and I’m from the NYC area and will be back at home for the protes. It’s much to cold to be parading around in tshirts outdoors. Hell, as it is I can barely walk around with my layers under my coat and not be cold, but I guess I’m just one of those people that’s cold all the time too.
I wonder if there’s something else we can do, dress code wise, to get the message across that we are mourning a loss and why. Or maybe we need just one big sign at each protest to say why we’re there? I don’t know..
Posted on December 2nd, 2008 at 7:33 pm
if people dont understand this t-shirt will make a great convo piece.
http://queersunited.blogspot.com
Posted on December 2nd, 2008 at 10:43 pm
I am going to do a shirt iron on with ” I am not a second class citizen” on one side and “Equal rights for all” or something like that on the other side. Black letters on a white shirt.
Posted on December 3rd, 2008 at 1:14 am
if we keep calling ourselves 2nd class, how long do you think it will take for everyone to believe it…….
Posted on December 3rd, 2008 at 3:03 am
I like Martin’s Idea
Posted on December 3rd, 2008 at 4:57 am
T-Shirt on December 20th? You’ve got to be kidding. Where I live I will have a winter coat on with a paper sign pinned to the front.
Posted on December 3rd, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Here’s a link to some images that I captured during the first NYC Prop 8 protest, with appearances by Judy Gold, Gerard Allesandrini, Marc Shaiman, Whoopi Goldberg and more!
http://bittenbyazebra.wordpress.com/2008/11/13/prop-h8-child-brides-yes-gay-marriage-no/
Posted on December 3rd, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Wear a sweater under the shirts!
Posted on December 3rd, 2008 at 7:01 pm
I feel that people who are unaware of the cause would be confused with shirts that only said “Second class citizens” and that “1st Class Citizen with 2nd Class Rights” would promote a much stronger message.
Posted on December 4th, 2008 at 12:19 am
Greetings,
I have one question. Excluding federal considerations, how do my rights as a Registered Domestic Partner in the state of California differ from those of married spouses?
Posted on December 4th, 2008 at 2:21 am
The right to inherit your partner/spouses property without excessive taxation is one difference. The rights as a parent is another. There are more. There are over one thousand rights afforded by marriage and not all are equalized with domestic partnership.
Posted on December 4th, 2008 at 2:42 am
Martin,
You speak of “excessive taxation” and the “over one thousand rights afforded by marriage” to opposite-sex couples, but these are federal considerations. My question is how do my legal rights as a Registered Domestic Partner in the state of California differ from those of married spouses?
Concerning parental rights in California, Section 297.5, (d) and (e) in the California Family Code mirror the rights of married couples.
Would someone kindly cite the California Family Code Section that indicates how my legal rights in the state of California differ from those of a “married” couple?
Can anyone find, in any California legal code, evidence that Registered Domestic Partners in California are not provided equal protections under California law? This is a legitimate question and the answer becomes critical when arguing with the opposition.
Thank you.
Posted on December 4th, 2008 at 10:53 am
I just wanted to note that I am Mormon and love my church. It has done and continues to great things for families and in humanitarian aid and in many ways is making the world a little better everyday.
However, I was surprised and very disappointed to hear the church’s “suggestions” to support Prop 8. I just wanted to put a voice out there to let you know that I am not alone in my disgust. I live based on the idea that Jesus loved everyone no matter what they had done or who they were because we are all “God’s children”. I want equal rights for all and I don’t believe that allowing gay marriage will make my marriage any less wonderful. I would like to apologize on behalf of all Mormons who feel the same way I do. I know it doesn’t make up for Prop 8 passing, but we are definitely out there and we are rooting for you and supporting you in all our own ways. Thanks.
Posted on December 4th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
After watching “Prop 8 The Musical” on a Myspace bulletin I was drawn to this site and found the “2nd Class Citizen” article. After reading it, I was enlightened on all of the wrongs that so many in this country see as being right. I am not one of them! I’m a heterosexual married, mother of one and in my 25 years of life I was never so proud to be an American as I was when Obama was elected president and never so ASHAMED to be a Californian as I was when prop. 8 passed. I drove to work in tears as I listened to the terrible news on the radio. I will continue to support gay rights and put my vote out there to make more of them.
Posted on December 4th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
How about a shirt/ or sign that says…
“First class citizen with second class rights.
Posted on December 6th, 2008 at 12:21 am
More support Tee options, Love Not H8te, Mean People Voted Yes on 8 and 2 momies and 2 daddies Tee’s! check it out at http://www.wearyourheart.com Proceeds going towards making the Million Man March happen. Love! xxxxx
Posted on December 7th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
I love the second-class citizen statement because it is true. We can’t marry in 48 out of 50 states. We can be fired from our jobs and evicted from our apartments in MOST of the country. We can’t serve in the military (DADT did not replace to ban on homosexuals in the military, it added a paragraph to it).
We ARE second-class citizens, whether we like it or not. And of course we DON’T like it! That’s why we are on this website. However, the first step is admitting it. We are second-class citizens. OK. Good. Now we can try to change it.
I’m doing my part by driving across country, to all the lower 48 states, to advance LGBT equality through conversations and interviews. The project is called Driving Equality (www.DrivingEquality.com).
I am giving “Second-Class Citizen” buttons to anyone who donates to the project. You can check it out and get your buttons here: http://drivingequality.com/buttons/
There are four different designs:
“Hi! I’m a gay second-class citizen.”
“Hi! I’m a lesbian second-class citizen.”
“Hi! I’m a queer second-class citizen.”
“Hi! I’m a transgender second-class citizen.”
Posted on December 9th, 2008 at 1:34 am
Wow I would love one of those buttons. Could I pre-order one of the queer ones? Guess not since I live in Singapore where gay sex is actually BANNED! With a two year jail term. Barbaric country innit?
Posted on January 16th, 2009 at 6:45 am
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