The Greater Phoenix Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce isn’t so pleased with the calls for a boycott of Arizona over its ridiculous immigration law. Namely, because they’re being made by national queer groups Human Rights Campaign and the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, who evidently forgot that gay persons still live, work, and run businesses in the state, and a boycott could potentially upend their livelihood.
Just how living are members of the Phoenix business consortium? Enough that they found FoxNews.com to be the only outlet for their frustration, and that’s saying something. HRC, for its part, revised its original position — the organization has a history of making grand pronouncements and then retracting them — to say its boycott support only pertains to conferences and meetings planned in the state.
“They haven’t even read SB 1070. … They don’t even really know what’s going on around here,” Joseph Gesullo, chairman of the Phoenix gay chamber, said of the organizations calling for boycotts. “It’s really just hurting the people of Arizona.” Gesullo told FoxNews.com on Tuesday that the groups are “grandstanding.” The Human Rights Campaign and National Gay and Lesbian Chamber were joined by 21 groups in announcing a boycott several weeks ago.
Gesullo said the national chamber has since shown a willingness to reach a compromise. Indeed, the group sent a letter to the Phoenix chamber June 16 expressing support for Arizona businesses. But Gesullo said the Human Rights Campaign has “absolutely” resisted requests to tone down the boycott. He accused the group of kowtowing to Latino advocacy groups as well as the Service Employees International Union and expressed concern that the move would discourage gay and lesbian couples from visiting Arizona. That, in turn, hurts the hundreds of Phoenix businesses that count themselves as chamber members, he said.
So what’s HRC’s response? Enter the org’s crisis manager Fred Sainz:
Referring to a conference call held two weeks ago during which Gesullo tried to convince the other groups to drop their boycotts, Sainz suggested that the Phoenix chamber was making the problem worse by talking about it. “My counsel to them was if you want to draw attention to it, they should speak to the media,” he said. “I’m like, the best thing you can do is say nothing in that situation, and they clearly didn’t agree.” He denied that the Human Rights Campaign launched the boycott just because the SEIU wanted it, but said there’s nothing wrong with working as a “coalition.” He said there’s a strong connection between those who support Arizona’s immigration law and those “who would bring similar harm” to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.
That’s right, local gays: Shut up and stop interfering with HRC’s national effort. What do you think HRC is, a transparent organization that cares about people on the ground or something?
How about we take this to the next level?
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Brutus
Arizona’s ridiculous immigration law also hurts LGBT people.
Sooo…yeah. There’s that.
whatever
CoCs are filled with conservative quisling gays. They are toeing the teabagger line.
And plus the chamber should be all against this immigration law. It interferes with their Allah-given right to employ cheap labor.
Jere
Yes, the boycott is going to hurt non-immigrant Arizonans. That’s sort of the point. All Arizonans should feel the sting of the boycott until they vote OUT the bigots who passed a bigoted law.
whatever
@Jere: All Arizonans should feel the sting of the boycott until they vote OUT the bigots who passed a bigoted law.
Yes, this. They voted in this retrograde inbreds (except Gov. Pruneface; she assumed the office) so this is what the people of AZ are reaping.
Qjersey
Did HRC forget to take its tongue of politicians’ asses so it could actually talk to the community it supposedly represents?
HRC must hurting, their marching contingent in the NYC Pride March was really small, like maybe 12 people.
whatever
@Qjersey: The chamber of commerce does not represent me! Queerty is engaging in its usual HRC bashing, but they are completely unjustified here.
In this case, it’s the CoC that has its tounge up Brewer’s ass. Eww. Eww. Eww.
I apologize for that image. You can thumb me down for that. I deserve it.
Jake
I’m going to do something I’m reluctant to do, support HRC in calling for a boycott of Arizona — even if they revised their original boycott support to a limited one.
You wrote that HRC and NGLCC “evidently forgot that gay persons still live, work, and run businesses in the state, and a boycott could potentially upend their livelihood.” I think GPGLCC forgot that there are gay and lesbian couples like Jay Mercado and Shirley Tan. Instead of a federal agent knocking on their door to inform Shirley that her asylum request was denied and taking her away in handcuffs, with a potential outcome being that their twin sons would lose a parent, Arizona’s draconian law allows its own law enforcement officials to target and harass anyone who looks different and demand people like Shirley to ‘show their paper.’ As the law stands, Arizona can and will arrest anyone, even if they are undergoing their due process with immigration, because they did not have the right document.
GPGLCC and the writer of this post should know that the Arizona law, not the boycott, will “upend (gay people’s) livelihood.”
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
This Arizona debacle is just another result of the clusterfuck of what is this countries immigration “policy”. Those who legitimately attempt to come to the US are put through a maze of obstacles. They recently significantly raised the cost of those seeking legal entry. There are Gays who are facing imprisonment, torture, and death in many countries who have zero chance of getting into this country. Yet we basicaly allow anyone sneak into the country to bascialy walk in.
We put up the charades of having our elderly Grandmothers do a burlesque show at the airport in name of “security” and yet terrorists can simply waltz into the country by walking across the border. We need to secure our borders, if you have a legitimate need or want to come into our country legally go thru the system and we welcome you. If someone can not adhere to that and attempt to gain acces to our country by illegal means we need to have a solid system which prevents them from entering the country……….
JAW
What the heck is HRC doing getting involved in this… I feel like we are on wheel of fortune… when HRC started in was for G&L rights then we added a B and a T… lately Q has been added, some people have bought a vowel and added an I to the list… guess now we add an H or perhaps M to the list… if we keep this up we will be running out of letters to add to our list of people our donations are supporting.
The Az law is bad… but I also think that we need to focus on our core group… let the far right waste money on this. Don’t forget that the law also targets members of the LGBTQI community.
If HRC and the NGLCoC wants to help members of our community… then perhaps they need to work with the people of Az directly… see what they need
Jake
@JAW: There are people of color who are a part of the LGBT community. Immigration issue is also gay rights issue. Consider Prop 8. Unfortunately, California passed Prop 8 with the support of POC communities. Had the LGBT community reached out and communicated to these POC communities, maybe the outcome would have been different. Harvey Milk worked with other minority supervisors in SF, supporting their agenda and in return getting their support for our agenda. HRC should be involved in this nationally and locally.
eagledancer
As an American Indian living in Arizona, (and as a result, just as worried about being pulled over and attacked as any other POC, now that local law enforcement has been given another excuse to do so)I completely agree with the “punishment” my fellow Arizonians should go through to teach them the consequences of electing right-wingnuts and bigots into office or not impeaching appointed officials like Brewer. We also have “good ole” Sheriff Joe, who has been under federal investigation for racial profiling as he regularly makes raids on businesses to snoop out “illegals” under the suspicion they are people of color. The best moment was last week when even the local TV channels “outed” Brewer for fabricating facts that “half” the “illegal aliens” were drug mules and criminals before they stepped over the border, and having Sheriff Joe saying she was wrong. It’s a sad day when the rabid Sheriff Joe publicly states you’re exaggerating reports of criminal activity.
So–boycott Arizona as long as it’s trying to push a racist agenda. As the cute mayor (youngest in history of mayors of major cities) of San Antonio said last night to Jon Stewart–this law isn’t about the issue of addressing immigration reform in a reasonable manner.
eagledancer
Btw…It’s going to be a high of 111 degrees AGAIN today–a solid week of triple digits that should last through August. If you don’t want to boycot this place for political reasons, stay away for your own health, lol.
Action Jackson
There is litte to be concerned about here. The HRC has no impact on the State of Arizona. Arizona is not concerned about the HRC, or any efforts it may attempt to cause a negative fiscal impact on the area. HRC needs to focus on greater causes in Washington. It also needs to focus on gaining and retaining the support of more within the LGBT community. This current move is not the way to achieve that support.
CJ
The last time I looked, there are several states that actively discriminate against gays. How much attention do these states get by the LGBT community?
ForeverGay
Where is a gay organization that cares about gay issues first and foremost? Where are gay people who care about gay issues first and foremost? Looking at the history of haterosexual oppression there is no need to carry haterosexuals’ water.
missanthrope
“The last time I looked, there are several states that actively discriminate against gays. How much attention do these states get by the LGBT community?”
Well, that’s supposing that the HRC cares about everyday queer people who don’t send in donations (they don’t).
But anyway, that’s faulty logic, it’s not a one or the other thing, a gay organization can resist racism in Arizona and fight homopobia in other states to.
“Where is a gay organization that cares about gay issues first and foremost?”
Because there aren’t gay hispanics right? Seriously this isn’t a zero-some game for human rights here.
TonyD
The last time I checked, when one minority’s civil rights are in danger, everyone’s are up for grab- you can’t pick and choose who deserves dignity and who deserves their human rights revoked; it makes me sick to see the battle between racial and sexual minorities.
whatever
@TonyD: welcome to queerty. i am honestly surprised that no has that we shouldn’t do anything support illegals because illegals vote (!?) against gay interests.
Baxter
I’m really not sure why people are so bent out of shape about this law, considering it just mirrors a federal law that has been on the books for years. It just adds a misdemeanor charge onto what would already be a misdemeanor under federal law. Arizona’s law also doesn’t allow racial profiling any more than is already allowed under federal law.
Basically, if the federal government would actually do something about immigration, maybe Arizona wouldn’t see the need to create state laws just to enforce laws that already exist.
D.B.
I totally support all Arizona boycotts, including the one by the HRC. The HRC certainly deserves it’s fair share of criticism, but this isn’t one of those instances.
Yes, boycotts can hurt all Arizonans, not just those directly responsible for this misguided law. But as noted above, that’s kind of the point — money motivates change, and change is needed in Arizona.
If we in the LGBT community — people who know discrimination first-hand — cannot stand up for others, than how do we expect our allies to stand up for us?
TonyD
@Baxter: Obviously you haven’t faced the embarrassment of being stopped or followed for “reasonable cause” aka “racial profiling.” As a racial minority,I faced this as a kid without cause and it leaves a cynical perspective on law enforcement and people in power. As a PhD candidate, I’ve been stopped twice on the University of Denver’s campus on the way to the library with the lame excuse, “Sorry, but we usually don’t have many people out this late,” while I see other individuals on their merry way. I can just imagine what Arizona is like, or what it’s like to be African American. Last I checked, I pay tons of taxes, attend a private University, stand in excellent standing, have an immaculate criminal record, and a full citizen; regardless, every human deserves dignity and deserves equality, no matter what pile of dirt they stand on!
whatever
@Baxter: The law allows a person to be stopped upon reasonable suspicion that he or she is here illegally. What does a person who here illegally look like? Answer that, please.
And can you really expect Sheriff Joe Arpaio and his band of thugs to enforce the law in a race-neutral way?
truthreller
@ Jaw
“What the heck is HRC doing getting involved in this…”
Does a gay person have to be white in order for HRC to have your permission to speak up?
“The Az law is bad… but I also think that we need to focus on our core group…”
I guess you answered my question, thanks.
Baxter
@whatever: It actually doesn’t allow the cops to stop you for looking like an illegal immigrant. They can only check your immigration status if they’re already stopping, detaining, or arresting you for breaking another law. You might want to actually read the law before you critique it:
“For any lawful stop, detention or arrest made by a law enforcement official or a law enforcement agency of this state or a law enforcement official or a law enforcement agency of a county, city, town or other political subdivision of this state in the enforcement of any other law or ordinance of a county, city or town or this state where reasonable suspicion exists that the person is an alien and is unlawfully present in the United States, a reasonable attempt shall be made, when practicable, to determine the immigration status of the person, except if the determination may hinder or obstruct an investigation. Any person who is arrested shall have the person’s immigration status determined before the person is released. The person’s immigration status shall be verified with the federal government pursuant to 8 United States code section 1373(c). A law enforcement official or agency of this state or a county, city, town or other political subdivision of this state may not consider race, color or national origin in implementing the requirements of this subsection except to the extent permitted by the United States or Arizona Constitution.”
JAW
@truthreller:
Color has nothing to do with this… and I feel sorry that you make it a racial issue. If I give money to a group… to help, and to speak for, me and other GLBT people, I would hope that is where it is going. If I were giving money to the NAACP, I would hope that the money is going to advance the rights of, and speak for Black People, If a woman gives money to NOW. I would bet that she is planning on it helping the rights of women.
My family had to work for, and wait for over 20 years to immigrate to the USA. They did not come here by just getting on a boat, plane or sneaking across a border. My family was poor and struggled to get here, and struggled after they got here. They taught me how to respect this country and it’s laws.
I would hate for anyone to be stopped on any street anywhere in this country, just for the hell of it.
Clint
regardless of your stance on the az boycott, why would you give a shit about what hrc has to say?
ossurworld
The New Puritans will punish anyone for anything because it enhances their inadequacies.
Cam
I get why HRC is doing this, but I also see a long history of HRC carrying the banner for other causes and organizsations, say for instance “Planned Parenthood” rather than doing what their primary mandate is. Their excuse is always “Well we have to build alliances with these other organizations.”
Well organizations like Planned Parenthood have massive budgets that dwarf HRC’s and yet I don’t recall them ever funnelling a huge amount of money or help back to HRC etc… If people on HRC’s board all want to boycott AZ on behalf of gays, that is great, then let one of the organizations from AZ that centers on gay rights with a focus on immigration take the lead. HRC’s argument is always that they are a federal group lobbying for our rights at the federal level and once again I see them losing focus on that.
whatever
@Baxter: and law enforement never makes pretextual stops. ever.
if you believe that, there’s a bridge in brooklyn that’s for sale.
Baxter
@whatever: Then you should just boycott the entire country, because the Arizona law does nothing that federal law doesn’t already do.
whatever
@Baxter: Immigration is federal law, you moron. The feds are empowered by the Constitution to enforce it exclusively–not the states. Remember that Constitution you teabaggers supposedly wank it to?
Gov. Pruneface is facing an election and she has to pander to racists in her state, as does John McCain, who was pro-amnesty.
Border crossings are down due to the terrible economy; border violence is down, too. This law is in effect to get the angerbear teatards even more riled up.
concernedcitizen
I now only come here for the pictures!
Baxter
@whatever: If the bill created a new immigration status or new immigration crimes, you’d be correct. If the bill said that anyone not born in the US, regardless of naturalization status, was an illegal immigrant or that Mexicans are no longer able to immigrate to the US, it’d clearly be unconstitutional.
That is not what this law does. This law completely defers to the federal government when deciding who is and is not in the country legally. This law also does not create special state-run immigrant jails; instead it requires law enforcement to turn over any illegal aliens to the feds. The Arizona law also does not allow the state to create its own immigration database: it obtains all immigration records from the federal government.
If the states aren’t supposed to help with immigration enforcement, why does ICE provide immigration data to state and local law enforcement? Why does the Illegal Immigrant Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (signed by Clinton!) allow ICE to train state law enforcement (including Sheriff Arpaio’s office) to enforce immigration law?
eagledancer
A) I live in Arizona. I get to listen to the local news–major and alternative– everyday. Most of you don’t–you miss hearing the extent of brutal racism that has operated openly here for a long time. I mentioned in an earlier post Sheriff Joe has been under federal investigation for racial profiling. Perhaps you missed the news that this week the county has stripped Sheriff Joe of the budget he’s been using to make unauthorized raids, hoping to find some illegals. You probably missed the documented death of a woman he picked up “on suspicion” because he kept her standing in the sun until she died of heat exhaustion. Perhaps you also missed the fact today’s local temperature was 115 degrees. Sheriff Joe doesn’t house his prisoners in air-conditioned spaces. He said publicly this is because “all prisoners are guilty and don’t deserve it.” Of course, I thought I lived in a country where one was innocent until proven guilty. Silly me–I live in Arizona.
B) Two supervisors, one deputy county manager, four judges and a supervisor’s secretary have filed $36 million worth of claims against the county, promising to sue as a result of actions caused by Arpaio, Thomas and their sidekicks.
C) Do I (and many other residents of Arizona) trust law officers like Arpaio to enforce the new law fairly, given how badly they enforce current laws? Well, gosh, our appointed governor tells us “trust me–there’ll be no racism involved in how we operate.” I certainly trust her as much as I trust the current Afghan administration–they both have the same level of credibility. Maybe Obama would have given her more support if she hadn’t been caught blatantly fabricating her “facts” on how the majority of people crossing the border are all part of drug cartels. Even Sheriff Joe said on camera she was wrong.
D) I might have different feelings if this new law had been handled better, and discussions had been held regarding exactly how it would be enforced and racial profiling would be avoided BEFORE it was passed. Yesterday, clips of the new state training video were released, basically instructing law officers who were required to sit through it that their actions will be scrutinized by citizens armed with video cameras, waiting for them to screw up and make Arizona look even worse.
E) If you are male, it’s hard for you to fully understand why a woman is uncomfortable walking out late at night to her car by herself, with potential rape always on the back of her mind. It never crosses the mind of most males that they might be raped. Just so, it’s hard for those of you who are White to fully understand why those of us who aren’t are uncomfortable with the idea we can be pulled over at any time by the predominantly White law officials–suspicious because of who we are–not what we’re doing. The oppression was going on long before this new law. The shared reality of Arizona history is why so many of us who live here are giving a side-eye to being told–“This time it will be different.”