2014 Gay Pride Parade Has Message About Inequality
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Rochester's Gay Pride parade kicked off on July 19 despite rain. While most of the marchers were still celebrating New York's legalization of same-sex marriage two years ago, Rochester Red and Black was calling attention to another struggle that affects 99 percent of all genders. That matter is economic justice. The marchers led off with a banner calling for a $15 per hour minimum wage. While this might sound shocking compared to the current Federal minimum wage of $7.25, the true shock is how low $7.25 really is. The minimum wage has not kept up with increases in the cost of living. If it had, it would be
$14.75 an hour now, close to the $15 the marchers were demanding. Even more troubling is if the minimum wage had kept up with productivity increases of American workers, it would be $23 to $35 an hour depending on the industry. Instead, all of those benefits have gone to the owners who comprise less than 1 percent of the population.
What has this got to do with gay issues? The group is quick to point out what it calls "gay assimilation" where a company will embrace a popular social cause to make it appear responsible and caring, while continuing egregious and harmful practices out of sight. This is similar to Greenwashing, where a company will put up an appearance of being responsible toward the environment but keep creating pollution out of public scrutiny.
By coincidence the group marched immediately in front of the delegation from Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart is one of the largest purveyors of inequality paying its workers so poorly that most earn so little they qualify for public assistance. The Walton family, who inherieted their wealth from the founder of Wal-Mart, is the country's richest family. By coincidence again Wal-Mart is considered by many to be the nation's worst Greenwasher as well.
