At the outset, an alliance between the LGBTQ community and organized labor may seem to be a topical alliance of two progressive causes, but breaking down each movement to its underlying principles reveals a shared philosophy that makes such an alliance not only natural but necessary.

The current gay rights movement is fighting for marriage, housing and job security, tax breaks, medical benefits, the ability to take care of our partners and our children, dignity and equal recognition, and all of the advantages that comes with the stability provided by an economic and legal system that supports us just as much as it supports anyone else.

Organized labor, in seeking to leverage the power of unions, seeks much of the same: fair wages and work practices, job security, medical benefits, dignity and equal recognition, and all of the advantages provided by the stability of an honest days work for an honest days pay.

he progress made on these issues over the past decades has been made by working in coalition with other groups that recognize the need for all people to have access to equal rights, protection and opportunity under the law. There is power in coalitions built around these causes–power to cause real, fundamental change in our lives and our communities. As part of a coalition of social causes, we either stand together for socioeconomic justice or are systematically denied it from one community to the other.

Labor, in particular, has been a staunch and steady supporter of the gay rights movement–just look at its efforts in passing ENDA and its work in California to oppose Prop 8.

And now Labor finds itself in need of allies. The Employee Free Choice Act making its way through Congress is more than another progressive cause, it is the biggest chance to cause real, lasting change for millions of workers in the United States to come in decades. It is repealing Prop 8. It is repealing every homophobic amendment passed in every state constitution. It is the chance to pass legislation that will lift millions of workers onto the path for a better life for themselves and their families.

The need for a strong coalition on this issue makes sense on matters of politics and matters of principle. The LGBTQ community should throw all of its weight behind EFCA not only as a group that asks and expects the support of other progressives but also as a group so terribly familiar with the fight for social and economic justice. Who are we to deny our support from providing those rights and protections to anyone else?

This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 29th, 2009 at 11:21 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.