We are not crumbs; we must not accept crumbs -- Larry Kramer

[Duncan Grant]

WE ARE NOT CRUMBS; WE MUST NOT ACCEPT CRUMBS
Remarks on the occasion of the 20th Anniversary of ACT UP,
NY Lesbian and Gay Community Center,
March 13, 2007
By Larry Kramer

We are the only people in America that it is socially acceptable to hate and discriminate against. Indeed so much hate of us exists that it is legally acceptable to pass constitutional amendments to hate us even more.

This is democracy?

This is how our courts and laws protect us?

These are the equal rights for all that America’s Bill of Rights proclaims for all?

The biggest enemy we must fight continues to be our own government. How dare we stop? We cannot stop. We are not crumbs and we must not accept crumbs and we must stop acting like crumbs.

Text to the full speech is HERE. It's worth every bone-crunching-marrow-sucking moment! Now go read it and then caste a new eye on what's happening more and more frequently in this forum...

edit: date

[DURHAM D]

1. I clicked because I thought this was about Obama's media event yesterday. nt

[Duncan Grant]

8. More talk than walk, wasn't it? n/t

[GodlessBiker]

2. I used to dislike Larry, but now I think he is one of our best voices.

[Duncan Grant]

9. The guy is prescient.

I've grown to appreciate him more and more with each passing year.

[msongs]

3. change we can believe in. don't forget your bible when you sit at the back of the bus. nt

[lovepg]

5. Change i can believe in ....

turns out to be in the jar on my dresser where i keep change from my pants pocket.

[Duncan Grant]

10. We're still the only group in America that it's okay to discriminate against.

Some change, isn't it?

[DURHAM D]

14. Only a male would say such a thing.

And, there is another group. Are you not sensitive to gypsy discrimination? You can say absolutely anything awful about Romas and no one will admonish you - not even gypsies.

[Duncan Grant]

16. Zooommm. Over my head and into the next county...

:shrug:

[xchrom]

4. recommend

[Duncan Grant]

11. Thank you, you're fierce.

;)

[donco6]

6. "Who cares if a faggot dies".

The sad truth is evident.

[Duncan Grant]

12. It's 1985 all over again, just a different context.

I liked that passage myself. :hi:

[donco6]

15. That piece should be studied in school.

It's a great, blow-by-blow of the maturation of the gay rights movement.

[MuseRider]

7. Thank you.

I have always liked Larry Kramer. His anger is well deserved. The history of this kind of treatment should have every human remorseful because even those of us who have supported the GLBT citizens and their struggle for equality are still here working and the advances are apparently not as great as I thought they were. We have not done enough and most of us have done all that we thought we could. I think we can do more. I am ashamed of myself. I have taken a break because of a personal tragedy but my tragedy is only my own while this goes on for so many and it seems to be almost going backwards. Back to work. This has to stop, it is cruel and there is no reason it should be like this.

Edit to change wording

[Duncan Grant]

13. You have done more than your fair share.

If everyone in America had done 1/10 of your advocacy, we wouldn't be in this situation.

And I am most grateful to (and inspired by) you. :hi: