Lost gay history: Harvey Milk and The Lost Tribe, Mark Shaiman and Masturbation

Two stories in the Jewish press recently captured a bit of gay history in the renewed interest in the life of Harvey Milk with the release of the eponymous film. And that is the story of "The Lost Tribe," a group of Jewish gay activists who worked to reach out to Jewish communities in California in the effort to defeat the Briggs initiative.

These activists knew the only way to win was to build bridges outside the gay community. And as Jews, they could speak in synagogues and JCCs to change minds and win support. This is the very strategy ESPA is using in NY state with Pride in the Pulpit. Clearly, recent results in California show that the so-called leaders of the lgbt community did not do this with the black community. The subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) racisim within the lgbt community probably rendered the thought of even reaching out in this way not even anywhere near consciousness.

No, we speak to ourselves. Thus Mark Shaiman's "Prop 8: The Musical" a feel good waste of money time and talent that only speaks to those who already believe and does absolutely nothing to build bridges or change minds. Or even raise money for those who do. It doesn't speak to African Americans. It doesn't speak to communities of faith. It's funny, sure. But it's really just a masturbatory waste that allows people to fantasize they are activists when they aren't.

If the gay movement does not actually start to live the meaning of the rainbow flag we so proudly claim as our own, what are we fighting for?

Comments

[Scooter]

Re: "Prop 8: The Musical," I agree with your take, but ask, don't we deserve a little entertainment? Ginger Rogers is not around, so now we get this. Is it so wrong?

[Mark H]

It's not wrong as entertainment. It is wrong when the people who made it and those who send it on think they are actually doing anything to make a difference.

What is really disturbing is that what wins the argument in the video, what wins over the fundamentalists supposedly, is an appeal to Mammon, to greed. That gay marriage will be an economic boon. There are actually people who think that this is a salient argument to people who are opposed because of (what I see as a false) belief/understanding of their faith.