Urvashi Vaid remembers moving to the United States in the 1960s with her parents. Later as a teenager, she received a green card, identifying her as a "permanent resident alien."

"We [LGBT] live on a permanent green card," Vaid says. "We pay taxes and then are denied personal liberties. When LGBT are treated as second class citizens, our liberties and values are endangered."

"We are in a fight for moral, not just civil equality." LGBT persons need to "claim our seat. We stand against tradition. We must transform society, not just fit in."

Vaid, executive director of the Arcus Foundation and a national advocate for LGBT issues, spoke today at a luncheon for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Coalition of the United Church of Christ.

It's been 40 years since the Stonewall riots in New York City, considered a watershed event in the LGBT movement. Since then, Vaid says, the LGBT and progressive movements have come a long way and those involved have learned a great deal, but she cautioned not to become complacent or comfortable with the progress that has been made.

Too often, she says, some LGBT people enter a comfort zone with terms such as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" where no risks are taken while no gains are made. Quoting the poet W.H. Auden who wrote "Each in the cell of himself is convinced of his own freedom," Vaid urged all to move forward in securing rights.

"What we're up against is values," she said, values that have become part of a norm that must change.

The LGBT movement cannot be silent on issues of economic and racial justice, Vaid says. "Social justice is the ground on which we fight and on which we stand. "We must work for racial justice in order to win. We have to [help] the voice of LGBT people of color."

Vaid also believes the culture wars are wearing people out. "The right [wing] is not less powerful, only on simmer." Their ability to have "traction" on LGBT issues is changing. People are turning away from divisive tactics, but slowly. While acceptance of LGBT persons is rising, polls still find some areas of "queasiness" in regards to personal issues.

"The moral condemnation of homosexuality has a direct and immediate result," leading to shame, fear and separation from the wider community. She believes some people are rethinking their support for LGBT persons. "It is important for our straight friends to talk about their LGBT support."

The LGBT community, she says "need to claim our seat." The old systems of thinking are "collapsing," and the ability of "power and violence and terror" to keep the LGBT community is going away.