Kerry Eleveld worked as a Washington correspondent for The Advocate, then moved on to Equality Matters, a division of Media Matters for America, the progressive watchdog. In those roles, she witnessed and wrote about the cultural transformations which took place during President Obama’s tenure and changed the entire landscape of LGBTQ rights. From this perch, she has written an insightful, illuminating book that will challenge every preconceived notion about politics and liberal politics, specifically. Seldom have I read anything that challenged our faith in progressive leaders, while they use us as a reliable, compliant, lucrative source for their ambitions.
The old saw about never wanting to know how laws or sausage are made certainly rings true in her account of recent history. In an excellent introduction, she recounts Obama and McCain’s appearance at Saddleback Church, the evangelical megachurch in Orange County, California, led by the odious minister Rick Warren. Both candidates expressed their opposition to gay marriage. Though expected from Republican McCain, Obama’s convoluted answers gave pause to all of us who thought we had a progressive ally. While advocating civil unions, he claimed marriage “a sacred union” because “God was in the mix.” To paraphrase Eleveld’s devastating take, “lesbians and gays were somehow intrinsically disqualified,” and that “gays were too spiritually corrupt for marriage and in the next breath profess to advance their cause.” How do you reconcile that contradiction?
After Obama was elected, his administration ranked LGBTQ issues from easiest to hardest to achieve. Enact hate crimes legislation, pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, repeal Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, then repeal the Defense of Marriage Act. That was the plan, at least. Eleveld covers the fights, defeats and ultimate success for all of these issues. No one really believed that marriage equality would even be possible in the foreseeable future.
Certain characters in the story repeatedly surface, some for better, others for worse. One champion is Jonathan Lewis, a wealthy heir to an insurance fortune, who has spent enormous sums over the years to advance the cause. Like many activists, Lewis became increasingly frustrated with donating to organizations that failed to produce tangible results. Like most of Washington, gay advocacy groups are not immune to stasis and capitulation to the powers-that-be, just to retain “access.” Though important, access does not necessarily mean results.
Fittingly, Eleveld credits the activists who really made a difference. They were often treated with disdain by politicians, lobbyists and mainstream gay advocacy organizations. “Don’t rush us!,” these groups seemed to say. Many of these activists were schooled in the immediacy of groups like ACT-UP, who had no patience for this kind of stonewalling (pardon the pun). It is all too common for a politician to Hoover up the gay cash during a campaign, then drag their feet when it comes to pushing legislation. In hindsight, politicians always claim to be true believers when these efforts succeed, yet they are not so bold when it comes to bringing legislation to a vote.
The chapter devoted to the tumultuous process that led to the repeal of DADT, makes for gripping reading. There were many fits-and-starts, disappointments, but ultimately a big win.
It was interesting to read that Vaughn Walker, the Judge for the Perry case challenging Proposition 8, quoted U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy’s opinions in Romer and Lawrence heavily when issuing his own opinion. Obviously a smart move, knowing Kennedy was the swing vote in those cases and would play the same role in Windsor and Obergefell.
Though we all welcomed Obama’s “evolution” on marriage equality, it was a ridiculous, convoluted process. We all hear the arguments about how political concerns, public opinion, backlash might prevent such progress. In response, the title of the book speaks for itself.
At the end of her book, Eleveld sums it up. She “had come to Washington a journalist who intended to document history through even-tempered reporting, but along the way I had become a frustrated activist.”
DON’T TELL ME TO WAIT
How the Fight for Gay Rights Changed America and Transformed Obama’s Presidency
by Kerry Eleveld
Published by https://www.basicbooks.com/
Available from Amazon & all good book shops everywhere
REVIEW: STEPHEN COYQueerguru Contributor STEPHEN COY has been an avid reader all his (very long) life ? and is finally putting his skills to good use. He lives in Provincetown full time with his husband Jim, having finally given up the bright lights of Boston and now haunts the streets mumbling to himself that no one reads anymore …
Labels: 2019, book review, Stephen Coy
