BY BEI'H ROBINSON Straightforward: How to Mobilize Heterosexual Support for Gay Rights By Jennifer Gerarda Brown & Ian Ayres Princeton University Press, April 2005 Hardcover, 304 pages he fact is, queer Americans T will never achieve full legal and social equality and inclusion completely on our own; there simply aren’t enough of us. Even the most active recruiting program isn’t likely to change that numerical reality any time soon. (That was a joke.) As a matter of necessity, as well as of justice, the support of our straight allies is essential to our struggle for our own seats at the metaphorical table. Many allies get that, but don’t know how,_exactly, to help. Not everyone has the time or com- mitment to volunteer for a local glbtq civil rights organization or to march as an ally at Pride. Straightforward offers a helpful guidebook for supportive straights of all stripes - from “PFLAG Moms” to supportive non—activists who want to help where they can. _ Husband—and—wife authors Jennifer Gerarda Brown and Ian Ayres weave theoretical reflec— tions about different strategies for dealing with one’s heterosex- ual privilege with specific sug- gestions for straight (and non- straight) folks looking to help further our collective civil rights. The latter offerings - the con- crete and pragmatic steps for advancing social change — are particularly useful to the well- intentioned supporter who’s looking for direction. Day-to Day Advocacy Brown and Ayres advocate that heterosexuals exercise their unique privilege in our society to promote glbt civil rights in every sphere of their daily life. They challenge heterosexuals who say they “have no problem” with homosexuality to translate their global philosophies into daily practice at home. For example, parents should talk to their chil- dren about love and marriage in a gender—neutral way that acknowl- edges that their own child might partner with a man or a with woman, read aloud gay—aff1rming children’s books, encourage play without regard to gender, and talk openly about LGBT friends and family members. Brown and Ayres systemati- cally enumerate similar concrete steps allies can take in the schools - where straight parents with school age children enjoy particular access to power — in houses of worship, and in the workplace to create a more inclusive society for us all, pro- viding their readers with exten- sive resources along the way. some New Ideas Recognizing the power of the economics to promote social good, Brown and Ayres have started two visionary projects to harness straight support to foster social change. Opting for a “buycott” - rather than a “boy— cott” - approach, the two have developed “The Vacation Pledge for Equal Marriage Rights” (www.vacationpledge.org), an online petition by which signers pledge “to vacation in the first state to democratically choose (by either legislation or voter referendum) to legalize same—sex marriage, within three years of the effective date of the legaliza- tion.” The goal is to provide a significant economic incentive - or at least to blunt fears of an anti—gay boycott that may serve as a disincentive - for some state to do the right thing. Readers are encouraged to take the pledge. Why not put your travel dollars to a good cause? Likewise, as set forth on the same web site, Ayres and Brown have developed a “Fair Employment Mark,” a certifica- tion available to employers who have adopted a complying non- discrimination policy, allowing consumers who care about full civil rights to direct the power of the purse to like—rninded busi- nesses. Other creative ideas include an-incremental step toward a Jennifer Gerard: Brown fully integrated military in the form of a “voluntary inclusive command” consisting solely of soldiers who indicate a willing- ness to serve with openly gay colleagues, and an “Informed Association Statute” requiring organizations that discriminate Ian Ayres on the basis of sexual orientation (such as the Boy Scouts) to. obtain written acknowledgments Enlisting Allies for Equality from their members affirming that they have chosen to associ- ate with an organization that retains the right to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation. Although it occasionally bogs down in academic discussions and sometimes in the authors’ meticulous (and admirable) care to avoid giving offense, Straightforward is an important read for anyone — gay or straight - looking for ways to help the cause. I hate to spoil the ending, but here’s a clue: if everyone who professes support for glbt civil rights read the book and fol- lowed just a handful of the sug- gestions, it would involve love, justice, and inclusion for all. Y Beth Robinson is an attorney at Langrock, Sperry, & Wool, and president of Vermont Freedom to Marry. She argued the Baker case before the Vermont Supreme Court that resulted in civil unions legislation. 1 0/22 6-] 0 p.m. “ (Tall 302-863-000."; Heal A Benefit Eur S _a espace .\| .lm-clam .‘§'ilu-rnmn x\ Jlalvrsoln l:I1n'irmnru»nlal ‘(India 2156 I-'iIu- Sn-m-1. I'lll"'iII:§10II' I Tielu‘-1.9 S I 5