Groups Debate Slower Strategy For Gay Rights

"Groups" mainly being the HRC:

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/09/national/09gays.html?pagewanted=1&oref=login

Groups Debate Slower Strategy on Gay Rights
By JOHN M. BRODER

Published: December 9, 2004


OS ANGELES, Dec. 8 - Leaders of the gay rights movement are embroiled in a bitter and increasingly public debate over whether they should moderate their goals in the wake of bruising losses in November when 11 states approved constitutional amendments prohibiting same-sex marriages.

In the past week alone, the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest gay and lesbian advocacy group, has accepted the resignation of its executive director, appointed its first non-gay board co-chairman and adopted a new, more moderate strategy, with less emphasis on legalizing same-sex marriages and more on strengthening personal relationships.

The leadership of the Human Rights Campaign, at a meeting last weekend in Las Vegas, concluded that the group must bow to political reality and moderate its message and its goals. One official said the group would consider supporting President Bush's efforts to privatize Social Security partly in exchange for the right of gay partners to receive benefits under the program.

"The feeling this weekend in Las Vegas was that we had to get beyond the political and return to the personal," said Michael Berman, a Democratic lobbyist and consultant who was elected the first non-gay co-chairman of the Human Rights Campaign's board last week. "We need to reintroduce ourselves to America with the stories of our lives."

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Great. First they dump Cheryl Jaques, now they're going to try to negotiate with Bush. No, no, NO, you assholes! These people don't NEGOTIATE! They crush, kill, maim, and destroy! You haven't learned this yet?

Well, at least one guy gets it. From further down in the article:

"'A lot of gay people understand the concept of bullies,' Mr. Foreman said. 'The worst thing you can do with a bully is not fight back because you'll only get hit harder the next day.'"

And now the biggest advocacy organization we had is rolling over for the next punch. You assholes! I've been giving you money for years and I get THIS? What the hell are you, the DLC?

:argh:

The Plaid Adder

:puke: :puke: :puke:

This is very disappointing. King never compromised what was right just because no one wanted to give African-Americans their rights. And a non-gay co-chairman? Why? Would NOW have a male co-chairman? Or the NAACP a white co-chairman? Am I off-base here?

Damn them. They're no help at all, and they aren't getting my money any longer either.

On edit... and :wtf: is THIS: "We need to reintroduce ourselves to America with the stories of our lives."

I do NOT need their "personal" help... I had expected their political help.

and I'm angry.
I say the gay community need not compromise.
I don't need to hear 'personal life stories' from gay people to know the difference between what's right and wrong.
If I as a heterosexual can get married then my gay friends should be able to also!
Sorry but with the fascists we are dealing with what you get is crushed if you give in! There is NO compromise on peoples rights!

I have friends right now looking into getting out of the country after the election. I will not accept giving ground that takes away their human rights. If my friends don't have the same rights as I do then my rights aren't safe that's the bottom line.

Hell, No you do not compromise with these people there's no such a thing with them and they will never ever come around.

Turning tale now is wrong wrong wrong! Bad Move! BAD

They won't get a thin dime from me either Misunderestimator that you can count on.

They've put out a statement:

http://www.hrc.org/Template.cfm?Section=Press_Room&CONTENTID=24412&TEMPLATE=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm

"For example, regarding Social Security, the Congress will be considering Social Security reform. The debates will be both substantive and partisan. HRC intends to use that debate to promote to the country the fact that GLBT people do not have a majority of the social security benefits enjoyed by most Americans right now if we cannot designate a beneficiary to the monies we have earned. We will not be used as a partisan tool and have taken no position to support privatization. Rather we will focus on the need for equality."

Course, they don't say they aren't ever going to support it, either.

The Plaid Adder

and sent an email telling them to cancel my $10 monthly donation. Hilary Rosen was the first straw, this "moderate" approach was the last. Fuck the HRC, the sell-outs.

Well said, as usual, Plaid Adder.

I will not back away. What is right is right.

And the HRC will not be getting another dime from me.

I'm checking into the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, as well as continuing to support PFLAG.

And what about this new Amendment to the California state constitution that Haynes is going to co-sponsor, that wants to attack our domestic partnership rights/benefits in California? We need a strong organization to kill that sucker (the Amendment), and lead the fight to do so!

I've never viewed them as anything more than a late 20th c. Mattachine Society.

Listen, I don't think it is such a bad strategy to-- say-- target the south with a blitz television ad campaign featuring struggling, humanized glbt folks: i.e. my transgendered daughter was murdered, I was barred from my partner's hospital room as she lay dying, etc.

However, 'toning it down' is DUMB DUMB DUMB. So now we're going to slap our own knuckles with rulers for being naughty uppity queers who *gasp* want something?

And what is this shyte about bargaining over Social Security? ARE THEY INSANE? The HRC has no business making statements on national economics. And the HRC is in no business to cut deals. Do they really think that Bush will work with them if they cowtow?

Are they not listening to theocracywatch.org and the yurica report?

I don't give them $ and I will not in the future. I don't have to pay to drink the kool aid, the kool aid's always been free.