To Make Genuine Change,
We Must Make Demands on
BOTH Parties
For too many years the
LGBT movement has been
the plaything of the
Democratic Party.
Courted for money and
votes when they needed us,
abused and disrespected
once they're in power.
Indeed, some of the worst attacks on
our community have come when the
Democrats controlled most of the
levers of power.
Pro-Prop 8 activist Rev. Rick Warren
yucks it up with President Obama.
Don't Ask / Don't Tell was introduced into Congress by none other than
Barney Frank, and passed by a Democratic-controlled Congress and Bill
Clinton. The Defense of Marriage Act was signed by Bill Clinton, who went
on to boast about that fact with paid commercials run on rightwing Christian
radio stations.
The only times we've gotten even minor concessions out of President
Obama have been when we've loudly protested. Thus, when our
community ripped the selection of pro-Prop 8 activist Rev. Rick Warren for
Obama's inauguration, the incoming administration hastily "balanced" him
with gay Episcopalian Bishop Gene Robinson. And when LGBT activists
raised a flurry of protest over the administration's vicious, anti-gay brief in
favor of DOMA, the administration hurriedly introduced some minor
improvements in benefits for federal workers.
Clearly, making demands is the way to make civil rights gains. But rather
than make demands of President Obama, the Human Rights Campaign
(HRC) and Equality March organizers evidently would rather placate him
with speaking invitations so he can sooth us with flowery rhetoric while
delivering next to nothing in practice. In doing so, they are giving a pro-gay
cover to the President's inaction on our issues, and implicitly telling Obama
and his party that our community can be bought off very cheaply, say, with a
fancy cocktail party and a few jobs for A-List gays.
To Make Genuine Change,
We Must Make Demands on
BOTH Parties
For too many years the
LGBT movement has been
the plaything of the
Democratic Party.
Courted for money and
votes when they needed us,
abused and disrespected
once they're in power.
Indeed, some of the worst attacks on
our community have come when the
Democrats controlled most of the
levers of power.
Pro-Prop 8 activist Rev. Rick Warren
yucks it up with President Obama.
Don't Ask / Don't Tell was introduced into Congress by none other than
Barney Frank, and passed by a Democratic-controlled Congress and Bill
Clinton. The Defense of Marriage Act was signed by Bill Clinton, who went
on to boast about that fact with paid commercials run on rightwing Christian
radio stations.
The only times we've gotten even minor concessions out of President
Obama have been when we've loudly protested. Thus, when our
community ripped the selection of pro-Prop 8 activist Rev. Rick Warren for
Obama's inauguration, the incoming administration hastily "balanced" him
with gay Episcopalian Bishop Gene Robinson. And when LGBT activists
raised a flurry of protest over the administration's vicious, anti-gay brief in
favor of DOMA, the administration hurriedly introduced some minor
improvements in benefits for federal workers.
Clearly, making demands is the way to make civil rights gains. But rather
than make demands of President Obama, the Human Rights Campaign
(HRC) and Equality March organizers evidently would rather placate him
with speaking invitations so he can sooth us with flowery rhetoric while
delivering next to nothing in practice. In doing so, they are giving a pro-gay
cover to the President's inaction on our issues, and implicitly telling Obama
and his party that our community can be bought off very cheaply, say, with a
fancy cocktail party and a few jobs for A-List gays.
