As the global economic crisis deepens, financial guru Suze Orman has been receiving even more attention than usual with her advice to consumers about how to weather the economic storm. This weekend, Suze took advantage of that bully pulpit to focus attention on the inequality of the nation’s marriage laws. Specifically signaling out Proposition 8 in California and Proposition 2 in Florida, Orman exhorted her viewers to understand just how unjust these anti-gay initiatives are in financial terms.
As we’ve blogged before, the decision by public figures to come out and to be vocal can have an enormous impact on how society at large views our community and acts on the issues of concern to us. Suze Orman’s very public coming out in The New York Times and subsequent public statements on Larry King Live and elsewhere have certainly helped raise the visibility of our issues before audiences that might not otherwise be aware of them.
You might argue that Suze could have and should have been much more vocal much sooner about Proposition 8 and the other state ballot initiatives, particularly given how often she speaks about the benefits of marriage. That’s a valid point, but I think it’s also valid to praise Suze now for so forcefully, and directly, making the case that LGBT rights are human rights by couching them in financial terms that are so easily understood by so many.
I’m still a fan and I’m still hopeful that Suze will continue to leverage her voice and her position to advance issues of importance for all of us. Thanks to AMERICAblog and Towleroad for the tip on Suze’s comments (in the video below).
What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.
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