Nov 06, 2009  |  By: Peter Rosenstein  | COMMENTS     

ON OCT. 28, we witnessed the signing of legislation in which Congress recognized our community.

I was fortunate to be at the White House as President Obama spoke to our community and to Dennis and Judy Shepard immediately after signing the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, a part of the Defense spending bill. It was an emotional moment for those of us in the White House and for those across the nation who had spent so many years fighting for this legislation. The president reminded us that Sen. Edward Kennedy introduced this legislation nearly 15 years ago and that Matthew was taken from us 11 years ago. It wasn’t just time, it was way past due.

I couldn’t help but think how Judy and Dennis felt standing there with their son Logan, who now works for the Matthew Shepard Foundation, after all these years. Matthew meant so much to so many during his life and now he would mean so much to so many more because of the tireless work his mother did over the years to make this day a reality.

I met Judy and Dennis years ago at a fundraiser we did for the Matthew Shepard Foundation in Rehoboth at the home of Dr. James D’Orta. I sat next to Dennis at dinner and learned about his life and Matthew’s life in more detail. Dennis flew back from Australia where he is working to attend the White House signing. But back in Rehoboth and again at the signing, he gave credit to Judy for dedicating her life to this fight since Matthew’s death. It was Judy who contacted the Human Rights Campaign many years ago and told its then executive director, Elizabeth Birch, that she wanted to work with them on this effort. At a reception at HRC after the White House event, Judy said it was because of Birch that she joined with HRC and because of Joe Solmonese, HRC’s current president, that she stayed with HRC to finish the battle.

PRESIDENT OBAMA WAS eloquent as he always is. He stated sincerely that this is only the beginning of what he hopes his administration can do. He told us that we must keep the pressure on him and Congress to move forward ENDA, repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and to pass the Federal Partner Benefits Act. He committed to working with us and admitted that this is only a first small step in giving the LGBT community the equal rights we deserve.

We should take a moment to celebrate this victory that was so long in coming. As I said to Solmonese and gay Reps. Barney Frank and Tammy Baldwin: Maybe now the community will take the time to thank those at HRC who worked so hard for this victory, and those on the Hill who voted for the bill and ensured it was passed. Frank commented that politicians are needy people and they need to be thanked. Judy Shepard joked with the crowd that I am your mother and I tell you to remember to write your thank you notes. So today let’s thank them and then tomorrow we can continue to demand that they all do more. 

THE PASSAGE OF the hate crimes bill won’t end hate or hate crimes. That will only come as we educate people to understand who we are and that it is God that made us who we are. But it is a step in the right direction and the first time that the federal government says we are important enough for them to care.

We need to rededicate ourselves to the work ahead and to understand that it isn’t each other we are fighting but those that would deny us our rights.

Together we are strong; if we let the other side divide us, then they win. We need to work with our straight allies across the nation and in Congress. We need to reinvigorate our mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, uncles and aunts, and say to them that they need to stand with us now more than ever and speak out against the bigots that still keep us from achieving our rights. We will win this fight because it is our destiny waiting to be fulfilled.