Everyone’s Agenda

Last updated on: December 17, 2012 at 2:13 pm by Andrew Marin

Everyone’s Agenda 2012-12-17T14:13:17-06:00 Andrew Marin

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Recently there have been multiple references to me by Christians about the ‘gay agenda.’ I want to make one thing very clear:

Everyone has an agenda. I don’t care who you are or what you’re about. You have an agenda – Christian, gay or whatever. And the broader community or population of people you affiliate yourself with (or are just similar to) have an agenda as well.

For years I have said that I don’t believe in a ‘gay agenda.’ It’s a mythical gathering of procedures, that, as the myth goes, is intended for gays and lesbians to take over the world. However, the more I’m around and involved the more I realize there is a gay agenda. Not to take over the world, but because everyone universally and innately has an agenda – person or communal. And it’s no more or less of an agenda than the Christian one.

Here’s a quick note I want to point out from a sociology standpoint:

We have to start realizing that the dominant, majority culture’s agenda is always the acceptable agenda, taken at face value. And it’s always the minority culture’s agenda that gets deemed evil, bad or threatening. Why? Because the minority culture’s agenda is at some level universally asking the majority culture to relinquish some of their power; or at least realize the privledge that comes with their dominant cultural status. Therefore the minority culture’s agenda always gets the negative label because it’s a threat to mainstream culture’s status quo. Status quo can also be renamed as ‘majority culture’s agenda.’

Fear is easier to react to than intentional constructive tension. I am not even talking directly about the Christian/GLBT culture war. This is applicable for any population or culture, in any situation.

I just ask that you please think of your own agenda (because you have one, no matter how well intentioned) the next time you’re about to exclude or speak bad about something or someone because you label it/them as having a negative agenda.

Much love.

www.themarinfoundation.org

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