Was the National Equality March A Success? It Depends On Who One Asks.

There has been a great deal of sniping going on between proponents of the National Equality March and those who opposed it and/or resented the fact that they could not control it. Some have cynically sought to diminish yesterday's accomplishment while others are seeking to blame the March's organizers for "splitting" the gay rights movement. From my view as a relative new comer to the battle for equality, I believe far too many of the comfortable "insiders" of the gay rights movement have become complacent and, since their lives are not as adversely impacted as those of many others in the LGBT community, are willing for crumbs to be thrown their way. Rex Wockner described the "split" as follows:

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The praise for Obama inside HRC's fancy dinner and the denunciations of Obama in the streets of D.C. seemed to unequivocally confirm the split that's emerged in the gay community in the aftermath of the passage of Proposition 8 in California. On one side, the grassroots, the netroots, many younger GLBT people and the Stonewall 2.0 folks, who are pissed off, mad as hell and aren't gonna take it anymore. On the other side, the gay activist establishment, which seems to believe that business-as-usual "slow and steady" is still the way to go.

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For background, I concede that I am by no means a part of the "gay activist establishment." I did not come out until age 49 and when I did, I was forced from my law firm which did not want an openly gay partner. Under Virginia law, my treatment was perfectly legal. That experience was followed by a horrific divorce in a legal system where homophobic judges can financially crucify gay spouses with no fear of recourse against them. I know only too well what many other LGBT Americans experience because we are not allowed fully equal protection under the civil laws. Admittedly, my move into activism was quite by accident. It began when I helped Wayne Besen "out" Jerry Falwell's protege and national "ex-gay," Michael Johnston. That experience was followed by my giving Mike Rogers the information needed to start the process of outing former Congressman Ed Schrock. Subsequently, having decided that I wanted to make a difference, I helped found Virginia's only affiliate of the NGLCC. In addition, I have been on the committee for Equality Virginia's Legends Gala for the last four years and co-chaired the event last year.

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From this short education and my political activities before coming out, I believe I have a perspective that the jaded, comfortable insiders of the activist establishment lack. And from my perspective, I think that those condemning and ridiculing the March as meaningless and unsuccessful are missing other very real and relevant meanings of "success."

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I traveled to the March yesterday with about 100 individuals from the Hampton Roads area of Virginia by bus (many others traveled by car and made a weekend of the event). The majority of those attending the March had NEVER been engaged in a protest/demonstration of this type. And that includes my partner/husband. Moreover, half of the people I traveled with appeared to be under age 25. They were highly energized by the March and returned home excited and MUCH more likely to get truly involved in the push for legal equality than ever before. To me, that is a "success." I suspect the same thing happened many times over with the groups I saw at the March from many other states across the nation.

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Those living in Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, New York City, and other much more LGBT friendly areas - where LGBT people actually have some legal protections unlike we here in Virginia - fail to assess at times how depressing and demoralizing it can be living in a red state. States where - as in Virginia - despite the valiant efforts of local and state LGBT activists little or nothing positive has come to fruition on the civil equality front. In fact, in Virginia, other than the Lawrence v. Texas decision striking down the sodomy laws, things are now worse for LGBT Virginians in terms of civil legal equality than when I came out in late 2001. Indeed, many of us Virginia activists get utterly demoralized at times. I and others like me found the March reinvigorating as did a number of the older set in the group I traveled with. That DOES count for something significant. Hope is the fuel to keep the struggle moving forward. That too is "success."

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"Success' also includes showing LGBT Americans living in "enemy territory" (or "behind enemy lines" as one of yesterday's speakers called it) that they are NOT alone. Demonstrating that there are many of us who are pushing and will continue to push the envelop for real action can make or break a person's spirits. There are huge numbers of us outside the world of the comfortable, self-congratulatory crowd at HRC who value access to power for themselves more than action that benefits ALL of us. Giving others that sense of not being alone and perhaps even disseminating a bit of hope to isolated LGBT citizens is also "success."
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I fully realize that yesterday was just a beginning. A fact recognized over and over again at the rally on the west lawn of the Capitol. What we all need to do now is follow up on the Equality Across America mission to organize in EVERY Congressional district and not take "no"or "be patient" for the acceptable response of our elected officials. When that happens and the LGBT community can better pressure passage of ENDA, and the repeal of DADT and DOMA, then the March will have been a "success" on yet another scale.

In Yet Another Blunder, Deeds Tells LGBT Virginians That He And McDonnell are Interchangeable

Fresh back for the National Equality March where frustration with the national Democrats was clearly in the air, I find an article in today's Virginian Pilot where both Taliban Bob McDonnell and Creigh Deeds are asked a series of questions on "social issues." On the issue of gay rights, the two candidates' response on gay marriage are basically interchangeable. Sadly, BOTH seem to believe their personal religious views should trump full equality under the civil laws, including civil marriage.

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GAY RIGHTS

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Q. What thoughts would you share with your children concerning same-sex marriage and partner benefits? Any experiences or insight that helped shape your opinions?

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Deeds: We have taught our children that marriage is between one man and one woman, but discrimination is wrong and people should never be denied basic rights. My experience in the General Assembly working with legislators on both sides of these issues has taught me a lot about basic fairness and the possibility for finding common ground in many cases.

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McDonnell: My Catholic faith teaches me that all human beings have intrinsic value and equal rights and I do not tolerate discrimination. I support the marriage amendment ( to the Virginia Constitution) and believe marriage should be between one women and one man. As attorney general, I hired the best and the brightest personnel based solely on merit and that is what I will do as governor.

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When are the Democrats going to "get it" that taking various segments of their base for granted and occasionally patting them on the head like good little lap dogs is not going to work anymore. If the end result will not be significantly different, why bother to support Democrats who talk the talk but do NOT walk the walk - and why send them one's hard earned money?

Christianist Hate at NEM

The only unpleasant moments at the National Equality March yesterday occurred shortly after the beginning of the March when the boyfriend and I found ourselves face to face with hate merchant extraordinaire and murder advocating anti-abortion loon Randall Terry (at left). Terry was yelling nastily at marchers with a megaphone and calling us freaks and sinners. Quite a few of us had words with this man and even the boyfriend yelled back at Terry - who I deem to be one of the leading false Christians today which is quite an accomplishment given the number of vile professional Christians one encounters. Other than this unexpected face to face encounter, the entire mood yesterday was one of determination and good cheer. The ONLY hateful language we heard all day came from Mr. Terry - something that is all too typical of the most visible Christianists.
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In contrast, retired Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu had a beautiful letter read at the March in full support of full LGBT equality both within and outside of the Church.

Monday Male Beauty

Obama's Speech gets an "F"

We spent most of the day yesterday afternoon will members of the Washington Blade staff in the press area, but I had not had an opportunity to see Kevin Naff's editorial on Obama's speech on Saturday night until this morning. Kevin gives Obama a failing grade and rightly so in my view. Besides providing no time table whatsoever as to when this "fierce advocate" might push for enactment of long over due legislative action, Obama was silent on matters that he could have mentioned and where he could have condemned today's equivalent of the segregationists of old. So yet again, more pretty words and ZERO action. Here are some highlights from Kevin's column:

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President Obama gets an "F" for his speech tonight on gay rights. This wasn't so much a policy speech as a recitation of old campaign promises reheated for a breathless audience on its feet. I'm glad I skipped it and stayed home. There was no mention of the fight in Maine to preserve marriage rights, which were enacted by a democratic vote of the state legislature. This omission was not an accident -- Democrats like Obama are desperate to distance themselves from the marriage issue. Obama's silence on the Maine struggle is inexcusable, yet perfectly consistent with his silence on California's Prop 8 fight, which could have benefitted greatly from his involvement.

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There were no timelines for advancing any of the LGBT-related bills pending in Congress and no promises to use the bully pulpit to push Congress to act on any of them. The audience blindly jumped to its feet when Obama invoked the House passage of the hate crimes act. But Obama conveniently omitted mention of the fact that it passed as an amendment to the Defense authorization bill, not as a standalone bill.

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We have heard all of this before from Obama during the campaign -- he supports us, he will sign certain bills. He can crack jokes about Lady Gaga. But what we are lacking is that "fierce advocate" he promised to be. No timetables. No words of support for those fighting in Maine. And no news. We've heard this speech before and nearly a year into his administration, nothing has changed.

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As for the Human Rights Campaign, its president, Joe Solmonese, expects us to wait until 2017 before we judge President Obama's tenure. That's too long to wait for LGBT members of our military being expelled. That's too long to wait for those being fired from their jobs for being gay. That's too long to wait for couples being financially destroyed because our relationships are deemed inferior to those of our staight counterparts. That's too long to wait for me and it should be too long to wait for you and all of us.

National WEquality March - Reflections the Day After

While it is not fully official, Metro Police officials off the record are saying the march was more like 250,000 people. Just so you all know. Amazing, truly amazing! Take that Barney Frank.

David Mixner

Cast of Hair

The blogosphere seems full of accounts of bloggers doubting Obama's commitment to the issue of LGBT rights. And on this issue, just as in the botched health care reform fight, Obama appears to be his own worse enemy. Frankly, he does not seem to get the fact that how one leads as a senator in Congress and how one leads as president of the nation are two VERY different things. I'm afraid we are going to continue seeing bungled messages and many instances where opportunities to use the bully pulpit of the presidency are are passed up and opponents to progress will be allowed to win out. A common message given by speakers yesterday is that we who are pushing for full LGBT equality NOW are on the right side of history. Those who embrace hand wringing and incrementalism at the pace of a crippled snail are not. For all his pretty words, Obama and the weak kneed Congressional Democrats are not on the right side of history and will someday be judge accordingly. There are some great clips up on You Tube of some of the speakers yesterday, and I am posting a few so that readers can hear the messages themselves.



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National Equality March Message: No Excuses, No Delays

It has been truly a long and utterly amazing day, beginning at 5:00 AM when the alarm went off so that we could meet the buses carry about 100 of us from Hampton Roads to the National Equality March in Washington, D.C. (many more from the area went up prior to today). The boyfriend and I did the entire march route slightly ahead of the huge main body of marchers, including the block right past the White House where the photo at the bottom of this post was taken. Along the route we were interviewed by CBS News - I have no idea if the footage was used or not- as we walked down the center of Pennsylvania Avenue seeking to arrive at the Capitol ahead of the massive crowd so that I could secure my press credentials. I have yet to see an estimate of the numbers, but it was a very, very large crowd.

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Sadly, from the few sites I have checked since arriving home, it seems Obama - through unnamed sources, of course - is having a hissy fit and John Harwood at NBC News stated:

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For a sign of how seriously the White House does or doesn't take this opposition, one adviser told me those bloggers need to take off the pajamas, get dressed, and realize that governing a closely divided country is complicated and difficult.

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Hmm - the same bloggers who helped get his sorry ass elected and this is the attitude? If Obama thinks it is difficult to govern now, wait until 95% of LGBT citizens take their money and votes away from Obama and the Democrats. Frankly, what is the point of supporting politicans if they do nothing for your equality under the law. Something supposedly guaranteed by the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution I might add. If Obama's attitude and behavior continues as it is towards the LGBT community - i.e., nice, meaningless words like at last night's HRC dinner - I would love to see him face a primary challenge come 2012.

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As for the HRC crowd, today may well have signaled the tipping point where grass roots activists are finally tired of the HRC approach of groveling and begging for whatever political scaps are tossed to it. The crowd today and the messages they heard were VERY clear: no more excuses and no more delays. Andrew Sullivan had an analysis of HRC that I believe is point on:

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Readers know I've long been highly critical of the Human Rights Campaign, because I believe they get nothing much done, and have been co-opted by the Democratic party establishment, and have sucked resources out of local gay groups and states who really are creating change, and because of their insufferable smugness, eagerness to take credit for work others do, and Rotary Club dinners that often form their only seriously organized activity. . . I do not want to tar with one brush many well-intentioned people working for them or with them. But their leaders are just so passive, weak-kneed and apologetic, you could mistake their balls for a couple of peas.

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This split in the gay movement is not new - if you saw the movie Milk, you could see the same tension between those who wanted to stand up and fight for equality and those who wanted to offer milquetoast, semi-closeted incrementalism with straight power. . . . This weekend, these two tendencies will collide together in DC. Thousands of gay, lesbian, transgender and straight allies will be descending on this town for a classic march to express anger, commitment and seriousness to equality. At the same time, one thousand wealthy, tuxedoed, Democratic party donors will be at the Washington Hilton for the HRC dinner of dinners (which tend to be fabulous and fucking endless).

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It will be interesting to see how this all plays out. Personally, I hope the motivated activist who were in Washington today go home, organize and leave HRC on the sidelines. The energy today was palpible and the event and the speeches were incredibly moving, making me almost tear up on occasion. Turning to happier issues, thankfully, as a contributor to Bilerico-DC we accessed the press area immediately to the right front of the stage. Having the equivalent of front row seats we got some amazing photos ranging from David Mixner who first called for the March back in May, Cynthia Nixon, Dan Choi, Dustin Lance Black (in the photo with me below), Julian Bond, Cleve Jones, Michelle Clunie from Queer as Folk, Lady Gaga and many, many more.

I will post more about our amazing experience tomorrow and over the next few days. The number of great speakers was incredible and I'd like to share my thoughts and impressions on a number of them who delivered thoughtful and provacative calls to activism that hopefully will speep across every congressional district in the nation. The March today is a beginning, not the end and readers need to go to Equality Across America and find a group in your congressional district. If one doesn't exist, then get some friends and start one yourself. Each and every one of us needs to get engaged and DEMAND full equality now. Talk to you members of Congress and state representatives. Beleive me, it is far harder for them to write you off when you are looking them in the face and are no longer some anonymous LGBT theoretical person. If they will not support your cause, then work to elect others who will.

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Over the nex few days, I'd also like to also share more of the 188 photos the boyfriend took throughout the day.

Sunday Male Beauty

Anglicans May Cut Women Bishops' Powers

In yet another sign that the objections to gay Christians and clergy within the reactionary elements of the Anglican Communion is just the tip of the iceberg of a much larger anti-modernity drive, news reports are indicating that women bishops may be facing a reduction of their authority within the Anglican Church. Homophobes like Nigeria's Archbishop Peter Akinola (pictured at left) - who may have order the massacre of hundreds of Muslims - want to take the church back to a time when male chauvinism reigned and women were supposed to be at home pregnant and house keeping. Gays are just the canaries in the coal mine in terms of the goals of these Neanderthals. Here are highlights on the direction the Anglican Church may be going in its rush to return to the Dark Ages:

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The Church of England could restrict the powers of some women bishops under a plan designed to end a rift between traditionalists who want to keep the all-male senior clergy, and liberals demanding equality. The proposal has reignited the long-running debate over a supposed ecclesiastical "stained-glass ceiling" that stops women from attaining the most senior roles in the church. Along with homosexual bishops and same-sex marriages, the ordination of women is among the most divisive issues facing the Anglican Communion, which has 77 million members worldwide.

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While Anglicans in the United States, Canada and Australia already have women bishops, conservatives in many other parts of the Communion strongly oppose them. They say there is nothing in the Bible or church history to support women bishops. Liberals, who argue that women should be treated equally, said the latest proposals to allow women bishops, albeit with reduced powers in some areas, risked creating a two-tier church.

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[T]he Revision Committee, has voted to change the rules to remove certain powers from female bishops in dioceses where they face opposition from traditionalists. Specially-appointed male bishops would assume those powers and the new system would be written into British law, the committee said in a statement on Thursday. "Where there are parishes who don't recognize women bishops and want to look to another bishop, that diocesan bishop's duties and responsibilities to those parishes would be reduced automatically," a Church of England spokesman said. "Those duties would pass to this other bishop."

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The committee has yet to decide which powers would be removed, although reports suggested they could include things like the right to hold confirmation services. The committee's proposals must first win the support of regional church groups before being put to the General Synod, the church's decision-making body, and then parliament.

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It is a sad statement when the leaders of a major religion make prejudice and bigotry the hallmark of the denomination rather than preaching the Gospel message of love of God and love of neighbor. It is this kind of thinking that will be the death of Christianity in the modern world and leave it relegated to the ignorant and uneducated parts of the world.

Poll Points to Democrat Weakness Beyond Virginia

I have commented numerous times regarding the manner in which the failure of Obama and Congressional Democrats is adversely impacting Democrat statewide candidates in Virginia. True, Creigh Deeds is in my view an uninspiring candidate. But the big problem is that the national Democrats have delivered NOTHING to indicate to voters why they should bother to vote for Democrats as opposed to for the GOP.

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Barack Obama entered the White House with an absolute mandate for real change. Yet he and the Democrats have squandered a once in a lifetime opportunity and allowed the lunatic factions in the GOP to control the debate and block the very changes that Obama was elected to deliver. In Virginia, the members of the GOP - even as crazy and extreme as they are in today's arena - smell blood in the water for the Democrats. Deeds, Wagner and Shannon are laboring to explain why their leadership will make a difference. Meanwhile, A Democrat control of Congress and the White House has in the view of many made no difference whatsoever. It is hard to motivate voters when they have been given nothing to show that their vote makes a difference. Obama and the national Democrats need to wake the Hell up and act in a bold manner or else I fear Virginia will but the first of many states where the GOP will become resurgent. Pretty talk does not equate to the change that was mandated. Here are some highlights from a Washington Post story that ought to be setting off alarms in the White House:
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The latest Washington Post poll of the Virginia gubernatorial race represents more than bad news for Democratic nominee R. Creigh Deeds. The findings paint a portrait of the electorate that, if replicated elsewhere, stands as a warning sign for President Obama and Democrats who will be running in next year's midterm elections.

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The poll shows a lack of enthusiasm among many of the voters who propelled Obama and his party to victory last November, raising troubling questions for the Democrats . . . Four of the poll's findings speak to potentially critical shifts among Obama's coalition.

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First, just half of Virginians who say they voted for Obama last November say they are certain to vote in the gubernatorial election. That compares with two-thirds of those who say they backed Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).

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Second, there is a lack of energy in the African American community. Last November, African Americans made up 20 percent of the Virginia electorate, part of a broader surge that saw record numbers turn out nationally. . . . if African Americans in Virginia were participating at the same level as a year ago, and if Deeds were capturing 90 percent of their votes, the gubernatorial race would be a virtual dead heat.

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Third, the poll shows an even sharper falloff in interest among younger voters. Last November, they accounted for 21 percent of the Virginia electorate. In the new poll, they account for 8 percent of likely voters.

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Fourth, the intensity gap between Democrats and Republicans has done a complete reversal. On the eve of last November's presidential election, 67 percent of Obama supporters nationally said they enthusiastically backed his candidacy, compared with 41 percent of McCain's supporters.

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[A]ll Democrats have a stake in trying to show that the electorate that put Obama in the White House was more than a one-time phenomenon built around his personality. How much Obama can help reenergize that electorate is a question that is likely to linger well past the results in Virginia next month.

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I truly believe that had Obama and the Congressional Democrats made an utter mess of the health care reform debate, not pandered to the insurance industry and pharmaceutical companies, and delivered on other campaign promises, the enthusiasm level for Democrat candidates across Virginia would be much higher. Does the GOP need to take a clean sweep of the statewide offices in Virginia - putting an utterly reactionary and Christianist group in power - before Obama and others wake up in Washington?