Austin American Statesman

First Step Toward Full Inclusion as American Citizens

Eugene Sepulveda, Local Contributor
Saturday, November 07, 2009

President Barack Obama signed into law the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act last week. To most Americans, it was a nonevent, and to some, it was the unraveling of morality.

To lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans, it is the first time we have been included as full citizens in U.S. law.

These enhanced enforcement and prosecutorial tools are available to combat hate-motivated violence based on race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. It made no sense to exclude gay people because we are also often victims of violence motivated by hate.

Despite so many inauthentic arguments why my community should not be protected, the real reason many fought against including gay people has nothing to do with “special rights” and everything to do with deliberate discrimination. Some Americans object to recognizing gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people as equal before the law — worthy of the same rights that the majority takes for granted.

Shepard was a 21-year-old Wyoming kid who was brutally beaten and left to die tied to a barbed wire fence just because he was gay. On Oct. 28 in Washington, I met Bishop Bruce Caldwell of the Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming, and we talked at length about Shepard, who’d been an acolyte in the church. Caldwell presided at Shepard’s funeral.

I had the opportunity to personally thank Judy and Dennis Shepard, who have advocated for this legislation since their son’s killing 11 years ago, and Betty Byrd Boatner and Louvon Harris, sisters of James Byrd, a man who was chained to a truck and dragged to death in East Texas because he was black. Byrd’s sisters and Shepard’s parents stood with Obama as he celebrated the signing of this law.

Most Americans do not realize gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender Americans can be fired and otherwise discriminated against without any protection from our Constitution or federal laws.

It is a founding principle of this country that all Americans enjoy certain inalienable rights and that no majority of voters can withhold or otherwise deny equality to a minority. Gay people celebrate this new law as a first step toward full inclusion, long overdue, as American citizens afforded every right granted to others.

Though one might interpret their religion to have an opinion about my community, this is not a church-run state. It is one thing to respect others’ religious opinions but another thing — and altogether unacceptable — to let religion be used as a pretext for injustice.

Most recently, scripture was quoted to fight against interracial marriage, against integration of races in public places. Now, select quotes out of historical context are used to defend prejudice against lesbians and gays.

My husband — we were legally married in British Columbia, Canada, in 2004 — and I are active members and leaders at our Episcopal church in East Austin. St. James was founded because black faculty members of Huston and Tillotson colleges were not allowed to worship at other Episcopal churches in Austin.

St. James Episcopal is an inclusive, multi-cultural community. The richness of our community lies in our diversity — black, brown, white, rich, poor, young, middle-aged, old, straight, gay and transgender.

No one’s gifts should be denied our communities; no American should be denied liberty, justice or the pursuit of happiness.

Sepulveda has lived in Austin since 1983 and is a community leader long involved in business, nonprofits and politics