Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Incremental change can help achieve equality for all
On Monday, June 15, the United States Supreme Court delivered a landmark victory for the LGBTQ+ community by declaring that gay and transgender workers are protected from employment discrimination under Title VII of 1964’s Civil Rights Act. As a gay man and someone who has worked for decades to protect the rights of all people, it is hard to describe the deeply personal impact of this decision. Yet even as we celebrate this victory for LGBTQ+ rights, I am reminded of the ongoing march for justice in the Black community, and I am heartbroken over the inequalities they continue to face.
The Supreme Court’s decision, along with the ongoing social movement surrounding racial injustice, has brought to the forefront an age-old question: How do we bring sustainable change to our society? The Black Lives Matters movement is a direct response not only to recent tragedies but to centuries of systemic racial injustice. Nearly 60 years after the very act cited in the recent Supreme Court decision was passed, we are still having the same conversations and Black lives are still being lost. After years of half-measures, how do we move forward?
In my years working for justice and equality, I have accomplished the most when working behind the scenes in moments of quiet partnership. I began at Broward College in the 1970s and 1980s by meeting with small groups of like-minded individuals and discussing the ways we could improve life for all people. The connections made here were crucial when, in the 1990s, Broward residents voted against adding LGBTQ+ rights to the ballot as part of the county’s charter review. Leaning heavily on the relationships I had built, I worked with my friend Dean Trantalis, now mayor of Fort Lauderdale, and many others to rectify this. After five years of tireless effort and dedication, the Broward Commission voted to amend the Human Rights Ordinance to include sexual orientation in 1995.
Since those early days, I have worked with environmental groups, fellow public servants and community members on myriad projects. We have fought to protect green spaces, we have navigated the AIDS crisis together and we have worked diligently to safeguard the rights of all residents regardless of race, sex, sexuality or gender expression. Each victory again represents years of persistence, partnership and relationship building.
Going back to the question of sustainable societal change, I find that we are at the same crossroads — do we act through swift revolution or the steady march of incremental progress? I have concluded that when we relegate societal change to such a strict binary, we miss the crucial opportunity for joint-action and partnership. The voices of those who are peacefully exercising their right to assemble must be answered by those working behind the scenes to pass legislation for justice. It is steadfast collaborative work like this that has led to the recent Supreme Court victory for LGBTQ+ rights and will ultimately lead to true racial equality.
Ultimately, when I search for hope, I need not look further than my own backyard. Wilton Manors was not always the welcoming community it is today. The Island City’s transformation began long before I joined the city commission 12 years ago, and it was a slow and arduous process. All that we are today is the product of collaborative growth, and I am truly proud of what our commission and those who came before us have accomplished together. There is still important work to be done, and we cannot falter now.
Now is the time for my fellow residents and public servants to use the recent Supreme Court victory as an opportunity to expand human rights protections further. Through partnership, active listening and the humility that comes from owning our privilege and admitting that no one person has all of the answers, we can truly achieve what was long thought impossible — equal rights for all.
Yet even as we celebrate this victory for LGBTQ+ rights, I am reminded of the ongoing march for justice in the Black community, and I am heartbroken over the inequalities they continue to face.