When the Wisconsin Gazette, the publication that was created in November 2009 as a statewide LGBTQ publication, printed its final edition in September, several people—including a number of the leaders in the LGBTQ community—contacted us asking the Shepherd Express to expand its LGBTQ section and become a larger voice for the community.
The Shepherd Express has always been a strong supporter of LGBTQ struggles throughout our 36-year publishing history. For example, the Shepherd took a leadership role as the first publication to host same-sex personal ads. Back at that time, there was a strong reaction, and we lost both advertisers and pick-up locations. It cost us, but it was absolutely the right thing to do, and our readership continued to grow.
We are now honored to be asked to help fill the gap left with the closing of the Gazette. We will expand our LGBTQ section starting with adding columns with two new writers. However, we need your help. In our efforts to fill the gap, the Shepherd Express wants your ideas and advice concerning what we can do to be a strong voice for the LGBTQ community to the broader Milwaukee area.
Because the Shepherd has been serving the Milwaukee area since 1982 as a leader on many progressive issues, we have a much larger audience than the Gazette, with well more than 200,000 readers of the newspaper and another 100,000 who read it online. We also have a strong social media presence and a huge email list. We will use all of our resources to expand both our advocacy of the social justice issues that directly affect the LGBTQ community, and, with leadership from Ruthie, we will also provide you with a listing of where to go to relax and have fun.
Why More Coverage of LGBTQ Issues is So Essential Now
Fighting for social justice for the LGBTQ community has become more important now than it has been in the past few decades. Unfortunately, the Trump administration is working to seriously reverse the gains of the past few decades with executive orders, appointments of federal judges who share Trump’s reactionary agenda and by giving a green light to violent homophobes by labeling white nationalists in Charlottesville “fine people.” Getting accurate information and news about the LGBTQ community and the message of fairness, respect and social justice out to the broader community cannot be more important.
Looking back over the past few decades, we were pleased to see great progress on many LGBTQ issues. However, we are also seeing an erosion of those gains and what appears to be a green light given to homophobes from the highest levels of our government. Responsible media like the Gazette and the Shepherd certainly rose to the occasion and helped bring a number of LGBTQ issues out of the closet by rationally reporting on these issues and defending them against attack. Same-sex marriage was a great example.
Back in 2006, the Republicans in the state Capitol were quite transparent about using an anti-same-sex marriage constitutional amendment to drive their extreme conservative base out to vote. In Wisconsin, there has to be a final public vote before a state constitutional amendment can become part of our constitution. The Republicans, who controlled the legislature, strategically put the final vote on the November midterm ballot where it drove out more conservative voters and passed decisively.
The LGBTQ Community Fights Back
Members of the LGBTQ community in Wisconsin and the nation began to build support for same-sex marriage arguing the issues of fairness and social justice regarding the right to marry who we love. Progressive and honest media played a big role in this effort. Also, more members of the LGBTQ community came out to their families, and the families had to do some serious soul searching. They also pursued a legal challenge to such anti-same-sex marriage bans throughout the country, which ultimately made it to the U.S. Supreme Court.
In June 2015, the Supreme Court justices, seeing the changes going on in the world, decided it was time to take up this issue, ruling that same-sex marriage is guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution which, of course, voided the Wisconsin’s constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.
The rapidity of this change was virtually unprecedented in recent American history. In less than a decade, there was a sea change on a very controversial wedge issue. After the Supreme Court had spoken, the opinion polls began to clearly reflect a change in the public’s view on this issue. A large number of Americans became more tolerant and open-minded and changed from being strongly anti-same-sex marriage to pro-equality and fairness when it comes to whom an individual may want to marry, completely reversing an inflammatory wedge issue. This change gave many people hope that America was definitely moving forward.
Fighting Back in the Trump Era
Our current president’s efforts to demonize various non-mainstream groups and divide America using hate and fear has again put the LGBTQ community on the defensive. He is talking about legally redefining gender by making it determined by the genitalia at birth. Essentially, he is trying to wipe out the entire transgender community. He may think this is good for getting the hateful and reactionary part of his base out to vote, but we must make it very clear that this is both totally unacceptable and totally un-American.
We have to understand that there will always be blow back when progress is made. For example, perhaps the most popular policy in the U.S. according to the pollsters, Social Security, was a major wedge issue 80 years ago. After it was passed, the Republicans strongly ran against Social Security in the next three elections, and, of course, labeled it socialism. However, with honest media coverage, the public grew to understand that if this was socialism, they wanted more of it.
Eventually, the Republicans realized that attacking Social Security was not smart politics. Today, we are seeing a reaction to the attacks on the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) as people begin to appreciate its benefits. Opposing it can now put you at risk of getting voted out of office. Progressive and honest media certainly played a big role in explaining exactly what changes the Affordable Care Act brought to our health care system and why voters began to change their views on health care.
We are truly at a pivotal time in American history where we have a president attacking our democratic institutions, including the FBI and the intelligence agencies. He is also targeting the LGBTQ community and its supporters. We will get past this if we keep ourselves informed, involved and active in our civic life. A courageous and honest media is critical. This is why, with your help, the Shepherd Express is proud to help be a voice in the fight for social justice for the LGBTQ community.
Louis Fortis
Publisher/Editor
Shepherd Express
