Whose House? Our House!

Whose House? Our House!

By Caitlin Breedlove, SONG Co-Director

Just a few weeks ago, I attended the Queers For Economic Justice annual reception as the Co-Director of SONG, with the gift of having my parents in attendance. Little did I know, how badly we would need the analysis and work of QEJ (and other LGBTQ working class organizations) so soon in Madison, Wisconsin. My family thought we had become middle class: that we were somewhat protected. However, now my aunt faces losing her job as a single mom, and her daughter (as a young girl with a disability) faces massive cuts to her schools. Everyone I know in the community there is deeply personally affected by the devastating bill and budget that Governor Walker is forcing on Wisconsin. Needless to say, the uprising of the people of Wisconsin is personal for me. I spent most of last week up there, in the cold beside my family, friends, and the community that raised me fighting for a just democratic process, our public space back, and our economic survival. What poor people and other oppressed people have been trying to tell all of us, has become clear to thousands in Wisconsin: the greed of the ultra-rich is endless and we have to fight for our lives, resources, air, water, other beings on this planet, and our dignity. They will give us nothing, we have to take it, and while as “middle class people” we are not as deeply impacted as poor folks, our historic buffer is disappearing. Millionaires will only protect Millionaires.

When in Madison, I had the incredible privilege of interviewing several LGBTQ leaders, people of color and white folks. I share some of their insights here. As Shameka Powell said: “This is so much bigger than collective bargaining, this is about human rights, and public good. That is what is at stake.” As LGBTQ people, we are part of this fight, we are workers, and are deeply affected. We are present in Wisconsin, and our community is still fighting a battle in a much bigger war: all of us against 5% of the planet that seeks total control of the planet’s resources. Poor LGBTQ people have always led the way in the LGBTQ movement in knowing and voicing these realities. Now we see even mainstream LGBTQ organizations and media, answering the call to the fight for worker’s rights. The importance of organizations that have been amplifying the reality that poverty and homophobia are connected and part of much bigger systems is key right now because our organizations have the base, the trust, and the wisdom to frame and lead these struggles forward.

Throughout the struggle in Wisconsin, we hear the chant: “Whose House? Our House”, as a call to the people to reclaim the public space of the Wisconsin Capitol. Few people know as much as poor LGBTQ people about being shut out of public space, both physically and culturally. In 2011, we have a chance to amplify our voices as poor LGBTQ people and allies—and share what we already know: homophobia, transphobia, racism, classism, and all forms of oppression lead to a zero sum game of violence, chaos and poverty for the majority and immense wealth for a very few.

Trans, Lesbian, Gay, Bi People: This House, this Capitol, is Our House. They have no right to tell us it is not our struggle, not our place, not our fight. We are workers as much as anyone else, and LGBTQ people in Madison are some of many leading a historic moment in our name. I encourage poor and working class LGBTQ people to join the many already involved to make our voices heard in the struggle in Wisconsin, Ohio, and all over this country. Solidarity!