If you had a well-educated, articulate, handsome, gay, atheist friend...

who had a passion for politics but a realistic (ie pessimistic) sense of how much he could achieve given (1) America's bigotry and (2) this person's lack of $$, how would you advise him to get involved? What options would you encourage him to pursue?

This friend of mine is one of those people that can get you to see the truth clearly without being pedantic. Also, he has a pretty strict no-bullshit policy and a pithy way of summarizing his beliefs that makes you feel silly for not thinking about the issue like that before. I really feel like if he were straight and Christian, he could go FAR (especially 'cause he's so easy on the eyes).

Some more info to flesh out the picture: Ivy League PhD (health related), 31 years old, New Englander (jeez, sounds worse and worse as I write this down) from a blue-collar background.

Advice?

run for executive committee member, and help Democrats structure their campaigns as they run for office.

The obvious response is that he should run for office in a local election, perhaps for city council. I'd vote for him.

Ivy League PhD (health related), 31 years old, New Englander (jeez, sounds worse and worse as I write this down) from a blue-collar background.

I'd show him off a lot and be the envy of my neighborhood. :)

Don't let him get away!

:evilgrin:

Yes, advice, but I'm pedantic. We all like to think that whatever we give our energy to has to be worth it the first time, which isn't always reality.

He needs to volunteer his time. Volunteering is like dating. You find some good dates, and some not so good dates, and some really bad dates. He needs to try several organizations over time and see which one he really likes and can get into. He doesn't need to be the token gay, just a volunteer. He definitely shouldn't constrain himself to gay organizations, nor should he identify himself "first" as gay, and second as whatever he really is.

Over time, money isn't required to become powerful in an organization. Your organizational skills, your vision, and your ability to communicate and lead are what get you noticed, and get people behind you. He needs to start small, prove himself, struggle for political ascendancy within the group, and then get a bigger audience. It will take time, and a plan.

Volunteering a lot at many organizations will put him in front of powerful moneyed people a lot, and the more often, the more they will recognize and trust and support his vision if his vision is worth supporting. Growing these personal resources involves being socially active and conversant in topics that matter to them, whether that's politics, art, or golf. In politics, it's not who you are, it's who you know, and eventually, you will be the sought after resource / connection in someone else's black book.

If he's really interested in climbing the political power ladder, the other steps he needs to take are to promote himself for city council in his neighborhood district and be prepared to bust his ass doing it. Even if he fails at trying to represent what he thinks his community needs, he will still pick up supporters and backers for other projects.

His excuse about money is an excuse. Tell him to let go of it so he can get to work on what he really wants.

Thanks. The volunteering is a logical step.

I'm single, wish I could move to a blue state, and he sounds like just my kind of guy!

They've been together for, like, 8 years or something.