Xposted on mydesert.com, the online edition of the Desert Sun
Rally this afternoon in Palm Springs and tomorrow afternoon in Beaumont to protest the unconstitutional removal of 'fundamental right to marry' for gays and lesbians:
I went to the HRC protest event in San Francisco last night. I will say that I was pretty anti-HRC before it was cool. I mentioned in my last post that they don't represent a good value proposition in attaining full equality. There are other more efficient and effective groups. But, the failure of HRC to support an inclusive version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) was the breaking point for many others. And by failing one part of the LGBT community, they fail the entire community.
The event itself outside the hotel went quite well. The keynote speaker, LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, canceled this week as he didn't want to cross a picket line. The protest was covered by the local media and made a few stories outside of the Bay area.
In the comments of the previous thread, janinsfran noted that there was a bit of controversy inside of the dinner. I'll see if I can find any information on that.
We have a number of tough fights this year, marriage not being the least of them. However, we can't drop some issues because there are others on the front burner. You can give to the Equality for All campaign (No on 8) here, and find out more about the United ENDA campaign here. We can walk AND chew gum!
(Just about an hour... - promoted by Brian Leubitz)
I'm not a huge fan of the Human Rights Campaign. I think they soak up a percentage of gay rights dollars that is far larger than their utility. And they endorse Republicans who happen to vote with us on a few issues, but that vote for virulently anti-gay leadership in the House and Senate. (I'm looking at you Mary Bono Mack.)
But what has many LGBT activists mad at HRC these days is their support for a version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act that does not include protection for transgendered individuals. This is unfortunate. We have learned from state laws that it isn't simply a matter of a few more years to get that protection added in a different piece of legislation. Gender queers deserve the same protection as gay, lesbian and bisexuals, and it will be a long, long time coming if we don't pass it at one time. I understand that not everybody feels that we need to stand together (like HRC chief Joe Solmnese), but it is through our unity that we can achieve our goals. HRC fails to recognize this, and chooses to leave the gender queer behind.
If, like me, you find this troubling, you should boycott the HRC Gala in San Francisco this Saturday. But don't worry, you can still have a great time. Pride at Work and some other great groups are organizing a "Left Out of HRC" Party in Union Square across the street from the St. Francis where the HRC gala will be held.
I don't see anything about this on The Human Rights Campaign's website, but if the report of HRC' "Ultimatum" to Senator Barack Obama is true, then it is my considered opinion that all well-meaning Democrats ought to be outraged at the apparent incongruity of an organization devoted to the advocacy of "inclusiveness" demanding that the same consideration be not extended to another person or entity with which it disagrees.
(I've written before about my qualms with the HRC and over at DownWithTyranny, they have as well. An HRC endorsement alone should not be enough to warrant support, a little research can go a long way. - promoted by SFBrianCL)
those of you who already know me might also know about my blog Turn Tahoe Blue which aims of doing just that and covers news and campaigns in the Lake Tahoe area.
Today, I started a new one-issue information blog called Pink Campaigns. This blog intends to inform you on what Democratic candidates for Congress and Governor state on their campaign websites on GLBT issues. If you would like to know more on the "What? Why? Who? How?" please read on below the fold.
