The eighth participant in this Prop 8 portrait series is artist, illustrator, and activist Otis Richardson. Please click here to see his LavenderPOP greeting cards.
In his own words................
I want to thank David for inviting me to be a part of this wonderful series on people’s personal reflections on gay marriage. I came out in 1989 at 25 years old and I’ve been active in the lgbt community in some capacity ever since. As an artist and illustrator, much of my activism has utilized my art skills to push lgbt visibility. This desire for visibility led me to create my own line of greeting cards made especially for the African-American lgbt community. As a Chicagoan, I heard about Prop 8 in the final month before the vote. Advice columnist Dan Savage invited readers to donate to the cause in exchange for getting a personal reply to an emailed question. As a fan of Savage, I donated and encouraged others to do the same. When Prop 8 passed, it was reported by CNN that 70% of Black voters voted for the measure and therefore helped it to win. Soon after, several bloggers examined the polling done by CNN and turns out the numbers were derived from faulty data that ignored the fact that Black people only make up 6.7% of the California population. The Black vote was not the determining factor in the Prop 8 victory. Further analysis revealed the number was not 70%, but 57%. Although 57% is nothing to celebrate, it is a more accurate reflection of the voting numbers. I was disappointed that bloggers such as Savage and others were quick to point the finger at the Black community. In the subsequent days after the vote, the blogosphere was filled with negative comments about Black people and the level of homophobia in the Black community. It was reported that Black people who attended No On 8 rallies were called names including the ‘n’ word. As a person who is both Black and gay, I often feel like a visitor in both communities. I’m troubled by homophobia in the Black community along with the racial discrimination and lack of people of color visibility in the White lgbt community. A number of recent examinations of Prop 8 revealed that it wasn’t race, but religion and economic status that influenced people to vote in favor of Prop 8. I don’t bring this up to excuse homophobia in the Black community, but it does bother me that members of the gay community were so quick to scapegoat Black people when the majority of money, influence, and votes can be traced to the work of the Mormon Church and their Republican allies.
I come from a pretty traditional southern family that went to church EVERY Sunday. My father was a deacon at his church and my mother played various roles from choir member to Sunday school teacher. When I came out, it would have been easy for them to subscribe to a conservative Christian interpretation of the Bible and condemn me, but they didn’t. My parents believed in a God of love…a God of inclusion not exclusion. I also think because both my parents were educators meant that they have been exposed to a diversity of ideas and people. I won’t say my coming out wasn’t a shock to them, but they both told me they loved me and that their love would not change because of my orientation. As I visit with my mother and siblings in South Carolina for the holidays, I asked my mother if she would attend a gay wedding. She said yes, if a gay or lesbian person she knew invited her to the ceremony, she would go and support them. That’s my mama!
People can debate the pros and cons of fighting for ‘marriage equality’ vs. ‘civil unions’. For me there is no debate in that the excuses anti-gay folks come up with to deny same sex marriage are bull shit! Pastor Rick Warren (don’t get me stared Obama) and his ilk have said that the institution of marriage has not changed for thousands of years and we shouldn’t ‘tamper’ with it now. This is not true. Early marriages were not solely for love, but for the exchange of property. There are cultures that still practice arranged marriages. There are examples in the Bible of men with multiple wives. There was a time Blacks and Whites could not marry. And no, not every man and woman who marry do so to produce children. Marriage licenses are not revoked for straight people who don’t have kids. For those who insist on focusing on marriage as an institution for the raising of children ignore that many lesbians and gay men have children, but I guess they don’t count. If you want to protect traditional marriage then stop fucking the baby sitter (or the intern, prostitute, etc.)! Stop divorce, stop spousal abuse, stop fighting over money or any of the other reasons that are a REAL threat to marriage.
A lot of Christians have this notion that straights operate on love, where as lgbt people only operate on lust. Our expressions of attraction are seen as a ‘chosen behavior’ that can be changed. Others believe that our love and relationships can’t even be compared to those of heterosexuals. I’m not sure what amount of education can correct these myths. What I do know is that Love Is Love. Two consenting adults of any gender who choose to be in a committed relationship should be respected if they choose to make it legally binding.
It was Gandhi who said “Be the change you want to see in the world”. That’s how I plan to live my life. I will love who I was born to love and maybe someday, society will catch up with me.
Beautifully said. Thank you Otis for participating.
Portrait of Otis painted with black and sepia india ink on 9" x 12" hot pressed watercolor paper.
Here's how the series is shaping up so far.....
Please click to enlarge
I can't believe that this is still an issue. Why should anyone have the right to tell two people that they can't get married? For all of those hiding behind religion to fuel their hate, I went to catholic school and MY GOD does not discriminate. He loves everyone, and would never deny anyone that same basic right. It kills me how "straight" people, especially in California, get married and treat it as a joke- getting divorced after a month, but God forbid a homosexual couple- where most have been together at least a decade- want to do the same thing. These people that voted No have NO CLUE. Are they thinking of the children? Are they thiking of couples that love eachother and want to have the same rights as a straight couple? What is everyone so afraid of? I am straight, and straight people have not done such a great job with the whole marriage thing, myself included. I can't wait for people to stop being ruled by fear.
Posted by: alicia | January 02, 2009 at 12:13 PM
Otis, you seem smokin' cool. Very glad to have just purchased a couple of your Diva cards.
My only issue with the marriage vs. civil union thing is that, I believe that ALL unions ought to be civil ones - i.e. sanctioned by the government, and if one wants to go that step further and go to a church for their sacred "hoopla" ceremony, then so be it. I was married before - as a young, dumb, 23 year old who got married in my family's church, but if I ever do it again, by all means, it will be done at a courthouse or by someone presiding who is not religous. I don't believe that someone's dumbass religious blessing of my wedding makes it real. The rights of unionship should be enoyed by all. I like though, how the religous kooks worry about the dimishing sanctity of marriage - my ex-husband slept around like an ally cat, but told me that if I was ever raped, he would have a hard time ever accepting me again. Go figure. He was a college boyfriend who should have been left as that. Very poor judgement on my part.
As far as your family goes, you're so lucky to have a mother who accepts you for who you are. Be sure to embrace her back!
Posted by: Kim | January 02, 2009 at 12:20 PM
Wow David, I'm lovin' the portrait! So weird to see a painting of myself, but I can't stop smiling.
Kim, I totally co-sign on your take on civil unions. If straights can run off to Vegas and get married by an Elvis impersonator or a courthouse, why should the church care if same sex couples want to do the same thing? I mentioned 'marriage' and 'unions' debate because it's been said that marriage provides certain rights that unions don't.
Thanks for supporting the cards! Diva is my favorite :-)
Posted by: Otis | January 02, 2009 at 03:02 PM
Note to self, don't write something you feel strongly about when you aren't fully awake.....I meant to say the people that voted yes are idiots.
Posted by: alicia | January 02, 2009 at 09:33 PM