LGBTs and allies will gather at vigils around the nation later this month to herald in one of the most momentous occasions in the marriage-equality movement, as the U. S. Supreme Court begins its consideration of the challenges to Proposition 8 and the Defense of Marriage Act. Courtwatchers in Washington, D.C., however, will be joined by activists looking to keep LGBT discrimination enshrined in our state constitutions and federal laws, including a contingent from the Philadelphia Archdiocese.
The local archdiocese is sending buses from five locations in the region to the March 26 March for Marriage, sponsored by chief marriage-equality opponent National Organization for Marriage. According to NOM’s website, the event is designed to show that it is “imperative that political leaders, the media and the culture see that we care about protecting marriage enough to stand up and march for it.”
The Archdiocese of Philadelphia is the only archdiocese or diocese in the nation to officially list itself among the march’s 27 sponsors on NOM’s website. In doing so, it has aligned itself with fellow sponsors like the Family Research Council — which in 2010 was designated by the Southern Poverty Law Center as a hate group.
While the Archdiocese has never been a friend to the LGBT community, its participation in this event brings a stain to the city itself. Philadelphia has made tremendous strides in establishing itself as a bastion of LGBT acceptance and celebration — and last year was even named among the top cities in the nation for LGBT equality by the Human Rights Campaign. But now, while the city is home to innumerable pro-LGBT programs and policies, it also is home to the only archdiocese in the country to publicly sponsor an event in which supporters believe LGBT people do not deserve equal rights.
Perhaps, instead of organizing a bus trip to Washington, D.C., to fight back against a movement that even most conservatives believe will inevitably see eventual success, the Archdiocese could use those buses for a more worthwhile purpose. How about transporting supporters from the five departure locations throughout the region to serve food at shelters in West Philadelphia, one section of which has nearly 90 percent of residents living below the poverty level? Or to work with the homeless in Camden, one of the most economically depressed cities in the nation? Or to help the sea of HIV/AIDS service organizations in the region provide direct care to the nearly 26,000 people struggling daily with the disease in the Greater Philadelphia area?
There are countless people right here in our area whose lives could truly be impacted by others “standing up.” Believing in a cause is one thing. But believing in a failing cause that is clearly harming others is another. That time, energy and money should be better redirected to fight ills that are really harming our society — and not to fight against the love of two people.