Thu. April 12, 2012
By Waymon Hudson
Yet in all the reporting and short-hand references to "values voters", we miss a crucial point about this block of people who hold extreme, and increasingly out-of-the-mainstream, social views. In accepting the title of "values voters" for this block, we unwittingly cede a moral high ground.
You see, I am a values voter.
I use my views on social issues to shape who I vote for. LGBT issues absolutely influence my vote. But by that line of thinking, what separates me from the conservative, anti-gay, groups I rail so hard against?
While I admit that my values and views on LGBT rights are one of my top voting priorities, what separates me from these so-called "values voters is how the values and beliefs I base my vote on would affect others and their lives.
Let's break it down.
I believe in marriage equality, fully-inclusive bullying laws and non-discrimination policies, and equal access to civil rights and services for all. Usually when people refer to values voters, they are referring to the far-right social conservatives who think that anything with an LGBT attached to it is morally wrong and should not be supported.
The difference in the values I vote on is that they don't infringe on anyone else's personal rights. If I get married to my partner, it won't have any affect on the conservative voter or their marriage. Neither will protections against anti-LGBT bullying and discrimination. These values simply expand my rights without any effect on the opposition. I am improving my life without hurting others or their rights. None of these things stop social conservatives from holding the beliefs they do, deny them access to rights or religious freedom, or force anything into their home and lives.
On the other hand, the beliefs of these co-called "values voters" are all about interfering in the lives of others and imposing their personal moral values on the entire nation. The constitutional bans on gay marriage directly affect me and my family, while at the same time not having any impact on their lives. When conservatives oppose anti-bullying legislation and non-discrimination policies it directly harms the LGBT community, yet again takes nothing away from them.
So do I vote my social values? Absolutely.
I value equality and respect for all people.
I value expanding the rights of people, not taking them away.
I value the rights of others to live their lives without imposing my beliefs on them in the public sphere.
That's something the so-called "values voters" should take a lesson in. By imposing their beliefs on others and stripping away the rights of others, they have lost all sense of values and morals.
So, I'm taking back the term. I refuse to cede any ground to a group whose "values" include using disgusting tactics to promote their own narrow view on morality and strip others of their rights.
I am a values voter.
For the complete article (non-reader view with multimedia and original links),
Tap here.
Head to the local LGBTQ news, events, directory and people network at ChicagoPride.com