Toby Grace (d. January 2019) NOTE: Originally printed as our Editor’s Letter in the December 2004 issue of Out In Jersey
The day after the election, I called an old friend in England to commiserate on what a catastrophe four more years of George Bush will be for both our countries. My friend said, “I’m glad the pucker won. I want to see him have to face the consequences of what he’s done, not leave poor Kerry with a mess that can’t possibly be cleaned up.” There’s some truth to that; Bush has gotten us into a horrendous quagmire in the Middle East that cannot possibly end well. Now he will have to bear the responsibility for it in the eyes of history.
Meanwhile the GLBTI community must survive, and it is not going to be easy. The destruction of queers is not high on Bush’s agenda, but it is very high on the agendas of many of his most influential supporters. The religious-right showed itself to be a very powerful influence in this election and they will interpret the results as a clear sign that they and George have the mandate of heaven.
Part of the mandate is the elimination of godless faggots from the body politic. In this regard, what we have to fear the most will be Bush’s nominees for the Supreme Court. Presidents come and go, but Supreme Court justices are in place for life — good or bad, smart or stupid, bigoted or open minded, they remain until overcome by advanced old age.
We may see as many as four vacancies on the court in the next four years and if Bush has his way the court will be returned to a conservativism that will make the Dred Scott decision look liberal. Expect them to see cases resulting in rollbacks of what we have gained so far in civil rights equality. Do not be surprised if such a court returns to the position of Bowers vs.Hardwick or worse. What to do?
The great 18th Century English parliamentarian, Edwin Burke, wrote, “when bad men combine, the good must associate, else they will fall one by one and unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle.”
Ben Franklin said much of the same thing in pithier terms when during the revolution he told the Continental Congress, “Gentlemen, we must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately.” So it is with us.
There was never a time when it was of greater urgency that all our efforts and resources be devoted to the support of GLBTI organizations. We are entering a time when we can expect [an] attack on all fronts, when hanging on to what we have gained so far will mean a constant battle.
Your financial contributions, while sorely needed, are not enough. Your actual presence in the line of battle will be necessary as never before. You cannot leave the defense of your liberty to the same, tired, worn down handful of activists who have carried the banner for years now. You are needed in person.
Forget cliques and grudges in the gay versus lesbian thing and whether the rest of the people at the meeting are too old or too white or too black or whatever. Show up! Breathe life into the faltering queer organizations around the state. Take an active part in ensuring that those organizations remain functioning, vital elements in our community. They in fact ARE “our community.” Without them, we are dead meat. Your personal role in supporting these groups has never been more important than it will be during the coming four years.
Sam Martino’s eulogy shortly after Toby Grace died unexpectedly.
