In a just-delivered email demanding another $200,000 from its 725,000 “members,” Human Rights Campaign chief and future job quitter Joe Solmonese announced all of America is now focused on LGBT equality. It is?
“This weekend was big. From President Obama’s speech at our National Dinner to final House passage of hate crimes to the National Equality March, the nation’s attention is on LGBT equality – we have a burst of momentum. But this is no time to grow complacent. We need your help to capitalize on this moment. The next month and a half will be tough – while we fight against anti-LGBT ballot initiatives in multiple states, we must also act NOW to push our federal agenda to its tipping point, or we could miss this window.”
See, we thought the nation was focused on the enormous split in the gay community — between those who still believe the HRC will play a role in delivering equality, to those who have grown critical of the Gay Inc. group and are turning to grassroots activism.
But HRC has a direct line to the White House, which in turn knows exactly what America is thinking, so our assumption must be wrong.
How about we take this to the next level?
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(NB: The one person who might come to Joe’s side and insist there’s not a sizable gap between old and new school activists? That would be Hilary Rosen, who says the discontent is exaggerated. “It bothers me that there’s an enormous amount of division here being expressed, because it doesn’t really exist,” she told CNN. Rosen, of course, is was HRC’s interim director in 2004, following then-partner Elizabeth Birch’s 1990s turn as HRC’s executive director.)
Oh, hey, here’s Joe at HRC’s dinner on Saturday. Just for kicks.
schlukitz
Another $200,000., on top of what they collected at the annual dinner in Wash. DC
There is no end to the incredible hubris of Joe Salmonese.
Brian
I will decide in 2017 if HRC deserves any of my money.
Andrew
HRC donations are decreasing and Activist Group memberships are increasing. This is clearly a shift of attention and maybe even priorities. People have lost confidence in HRC and most of Gay Inc. We need a new Plan.
Brian
There really is a division. There are those who want to praise Obama and the democrats, like the loser dad at the kid’s baseball game, “You gave it your best try!” and throw them parties and give them standing ovations, and those who recognize that the democrats now control the government, and have to be held accountable. If you go to the HRC website, there is only lavish praise for Obama. No one is encouraged to write him or complaint to him or about him. It is 100 percent useless sugar. The HRC wants to give him until 2017, assuming democrats will still be in power then. Gays and gay vets have been put on the bottom of the to do list, and many gays are angry about that.
Others jump up and down with joy when the are in the presence of a commander in chief who stands by while our gay vets are disgraced. All those soldiers who died for the country are disgraced, too; not only by Obama, but by all the gays leaping and screaming his praises at the dinner.
schlukitz
Others jump up and down with joy when the are in the presence of a commander in chief who stands by while our gay vets are disgraced. All those soldiers who died for the country are disgraced, too; not only by Obama, but by all the gays leaping and screaming his praises at the dinner.
It’s enough to make a grown man sit down and cry, Brian. Absolutely incomprehensible.
It’s mind-boggling that so many LGBT people are, nevertheless, willing and ready to lay down their lives for a country and military system that uses LGBT people as as a mat to wipe their feet on.
A-Gay
HRC donations are decreasing and Activist Group memberships are increasing.
According to HRC’s financial statements, their 2008 revenue was $43.9 million, 4.6% higher than $42 million in 2007.
InExile
HRC’s pass for the democrats until 2017 is incredibly short sighted. Their deadline should be November 2010 since according to reports I have read, the democrats will lose some seats in both houses. Our chance is now, not after November 2010. The fact Joe Solmonese cannot see that shows either he really wants to keep his high salary job forever or he is completely out of touch.
I agree with Andrew Sullivan, time to find someone else to head HRC.
Justin Hager
Hilary Rosen’s belief that the split is over-exaggerated couldn’t be further from the truth. As an active leader in the LGBT grassroots movement, a member of the 2007 Soulforce Equality Ride, and Co-Coordinator of the 2008 National Out and Greek Conference and a member of the new generation of great LGBT leaders, I for one am personally saying that I’m tired of seeing my money wasted by HRC to support views that are not mine. Views that are transphobic, racist, and tell people of faith and people from rural communities that they are not welcome in our larger LGBT communities. I refuse to be bound by the big yellow bars of HRC. The time for revolution is now and only we can make it happen.
Grey
I have had an uneasy feeling about HRC’s effectiveness since the last time I gave them money … which was 1989. Even then, I felt my money was better directed at organizations that took a more grass roots approach. Some of my friends disagreed, some agreed, some were apathetic. But never, ever have I known so many people who are now so disillusioned with the HRC. (Even some of my apolitical friends think they’re a waste.) Sure, I still have friends who are involved with and apologize for the HRC, but they increasingly seem more and more embarrassed about needing to make apologies.
Brian
Wow. A-Gay. Stop making posts and run to some of those meeting you thought we would be going to if we were not B-gays — The choice of fine chocolate to put on Obama’s bed committee, the standing ovation knee recovery committee, the smile improvement committee, the gift basket 2015 committee. Remember, these things cost money. You don’t want to spend top dollar for second-rate pre-dinner lattes.
Andrew
HRC’s 2009 Income will be $30 million. Down 25% from 2008.
You have to be very foolish to give HRC any more money. Their game is over.
David Alex Nahmod
I’ve long felt that HRC is holding us back on purpose. They don’t care about equality~~they care about their jobs.