When national media outlets reported the news earlier this year that there are far fewer lesbians and gay men in the United States than many of us believed, I was disappointed.
I had often heard and assumed to be factual that gay people were 10 percent of the entire population. It turns out that lesbians and gay men are 3.5 percent of adults in the States, while transgender Americans are another 0.3 percent, according to research by the Williams Institute on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Law and Public Policy at UCLA School of Law.
Instead of more than 30 million of us, there are about 9 million lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender residents, the research shows.
My first thought while reading the news story was, "OK, so how are the bigots and anti-gay groups going to use this against us?"
I got my answer within 24 hours as the recipient of a mass email from an individual who seizes every opportunity to cast aspersions on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans and their fight for equal rights.
The point of his email -- and I'm paraphrasing because I deleted the email weeks ago and can't remember its exact wording -- was that society and the government have kowtowed to the demands of what turns out to be a vocal minority, and should no longer do so.
Some may think it's an absurd argument but it's not surprising. As a culture we're all about the numbers, amassing volume and accumulating more of everything. For example, some common sayings are:
"There's power in numbers."
"The more the merrier."
"Majority rules."
"Biggie-size it."
Fortunately, the American forefathers were a little more expansive in their thinking when writing the blueprint for creating a free and democratic society. They recognized that "all men are created equal" and there's value in the pursuit of liberty and justice for all, regardless of religious and other differences. Though sexual orientation wasn't specifically mentioned in the Declaration of Independence, "all" means all.
The argument that 9 million LGBT people aren't as worthy of having a voice and equal rights, as 30 million LGBT people might be, undermines the basic foundation of this country. It's like saying black, Asian and Native Americans shouldn't have the same rights as white Americans because there are fewer of them. Even with majority rule, the minority perspective, voice and contribution is a part of the process -- and often affect change.
To suggest that gay marriage or any other right afforded to heterosexual people shouldn't be permitted because there are only 9 million of us -- which is the population of the state of New Jersey -- is just another futile exercise by hatemongers in their losing battle to prevent equality.
ABOUT THE WILLIAMS INSTITUTE
The Williams Institute on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Law and Public Policy at UCLA School of Law advances law and public policy through independent research and scholarship. Its studies can be accessed at www.law.ucla/edu/williamsinstitute.
Interesting blog post...
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