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Sunday, Mar 21, 2010
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SGN interviews Obama Pride's Marsha Botzer |
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| SGN interviews Obama Pride's Marsha Botzer | ||
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by Mike Andrew -
SGN Contributing Writer Long-time Seattle activist Marsha Botzer is optimistic about the future. Recently named one of five National Co-Chairs of Obama Pride, the LGBT arm of Barack Obama's national campaign, Botzer looks forward to the November election. "With politics you are often disappointed," she says, "but in my lifetime in politics I've never seen more powerful opportunities to make a clear choice." Founder of Ingersoll Gender Center, founding member of Equal Rights Washington, former national co-chair of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, pioneer Transgender activist, and militant labor union member, Botzer has been a stalwart of progressive politics in Seattle for many years. This year Botzer feels particularly energized by the prospects of winning back the White House. "There are so many groups waiting, waiting," she says. "The other side can win for a while, but not forever." "There is so much powerful energy," she adds. "I can't help thinking we may be on the cusp of another outbreak of sanity!" As a national co-chair of Obama Pride, Botzer envisions three basic tasks for the group: to do outreach in the LGBT community, to register new voters, and to organize campaign events. "We'll be able to use all the electronic tools in the world," she says, "so everyone can be reached and invited to be part of this project." Obama Pride can be contacted through their website at pride.barackobama.com. Obama Pride is planning a major event for National Coming Out Day, October 11. "Even in these times we can have fun," Botzer says. "We're still working on the details, but we want it to be a positive, energetic, fun event." SGN will carry full details when they are announced. Obama Pride organized a large and very popular contingent in this year's Pride Parade, as well as a presence at the Gender Odyssey Conference over the Labor Day weekend. "There's never before been outreach to gender identity community," Botzer says with satisfaction. "For the first time, the Transgender community is fully and wholly part of this election. It's exciting!" While she expresses disappointment at the "climate of superficiality and fear" fostered by the right wing over the past 30 years, Botzer talks with pleasure about the participation of so many young people in the Obama campaign. "We want to be welcoming and supporting new leadership," she says. "We want to make young activists welcome, to give them a chance to craft tools that work for them - text messages, videos, MySpace, FaceBook - all the things that are now part of the culture." Botzer's enthusiasm is tempered by her sense of urgency, however. "It's a stark choice," she says. "Our future as a community truly depends on the outcome of these elections." As an example, she points to the probability that the next president will appoint more than one Supreme Court justice to a court that is now split 5-4 on many crucial issues. "Under Bush, we've seen an endless array of ideologues," she says, "aiming at stopping us, aiming at harming our community." Healthcare and antidiscrimination protections are also at stake, Botzer notes. While Obama supports civil unions rather than full marriage equality, Botzer remains hopeful. "I wish he supported marriage," she says. "Maybe he will feel more free to be moved in that direction when he wins the election." "My biggest worry is: Can he actually do all the things we want? Or will he be thwarted by the entrenched system?" Botzer asks. "As Transgender person, I'm acutely aware of how easily we're eliminated from equality. The main thing is to keep our eyes on the prize. To keep at it." Botzer especially urges everyone in the community to vote in November. "All this connecting is glorious, but it's no good if people don't vote," she says. If people wish to do more, "they can join Washington State Obama Pride, join the Washington State Democrats. Get involved in your immediate community," Botzer urges. Unlike many supporters of Obama, Botzer is not fazed by John McCain's choice of Sarah Palin as his running mate. "I know something about gender," she says, "and just because you're one gender or another - or another! - doesn't mean you get it." McCain's choice of Palin was "a calculated and offensive pander to his base," Botzer says. "She could be President. That scares me." To supporters of Hillary Clinton who might be tempted by a McCain-Palin ticket, Botzer says, "The best hope of getting all that you wanted with Hillary is an administration that's open to our input and will work towards those ideals. That's not McCain." On Election Day, November 4, "I hope people think about morning, and the future," Botzer says. "More safety, more jobs, more openness. I want people to be able to reach across the table and take their partner's hand and say, 'we're safe, we're happy.'" |
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