Has The LGBT Community Been Placed On "Hold, Please"?

Increasingly our straight allies and maybe some of the LGBT communities own activists have put our organizing on "hold, please" until the Supreme Court decision is made by the end of this month. All across the country battles and the issue of full equality have been suspended so politically elected officials don't have to make tough decisions on LGBT issues. 

In the battle for immigration rights, the 'Gang of Eight' took out all references which would bring equality to LGBT bi-national couples. Clearly the belief is that the Supreme Court will take care of it when they rule on DOMA. What happens if the Court rules the wrong way and the LGBT community is left behind yet one more time? What happens is we have to go back and once again beg to be included in the legislation and most likely to be told it is 'too late'. 

Illinois was just embarrassing. 

There was more energy coming out of Delaware and Rhode Island for marriage equality then there was from Illinois. That state's Speaker of the House has the power to pass marriage equality in the Land of Lincoln but with community permission pulled back from the vote. Why? Some people needed more time to 'reach out to their constituents'. Really? This issue has only been front and center in American politics for the last ten years and they needed to delay justice because they suddenly need more time? 

My guess is that they were hoping the Supreme Court would take them off the hook or at least add California to the list of marriage equality states. God forbid anyone in Illinois in the House would have to show courage and vote to grant us our God given rights. My suspicions were confirmed when suddenly there might be a vote in July or August after the Court decides on the Proposition 8 case. What if the Court rules against us? Expect some of our allies to tell us in Illinois 'now is not the time'.

If there is ever a state where marriage equality should be an issue it is in New Jersey where overwhelmingly the voters support full equality. Governor Christie, who has done a great job on Sandy recovery, didn't allow his courage to stretch to equality for the LGBT folks in the Garden State. He vetoed marriage equality after it was passed by the legislature. Do any of you get a feeling that there is a 'fight back' effort similar to the one that took place in New York? Are ournational organizations in the state fighting to defeat those who are against us and getting enough votes to over ride a future veto? There is absolutely no major presence in New Jersey in this year's Governor's race about the issue and we appear to be missing in action. 

Has waiting for the Supreme court enabled once again for LGBT issue be put on the back burner? Are we giving far too much permission for our allies to stray so they don't have to make the tough decisions?Are we being 'too nice' that it is costing us momentum in our struggle for equality? Illinois should have been adding to our momentum in the Supreme Court not waiting for it to make a decision for them. 

If the Supreme Court should rule against us on both of the issues before it, then that lost momentum will be very costly indeed. Instead the LGBT community will hear from our allies how tough to move forward in the near future given the negative court decision. 

This is a time that proves that electing our own is critical to keeping our allies honest, working hard and not putting us on 'hold, please' so they don't have to make tough decisions.