The disastrous attempt at organizing a March on Washington for equality this fall just met its latest pitfall. First, activists like Cleve Jones along with the Courage Campaign’s Rick Jacobs and Torie Osborn declared October 11 would be the date America’s gays would rally on Washington, only to find out three other organizations (with attendance of 135,000 expected) already secured permits for the National Mall that day. Then came a reminder that Congress would be in recess that day, significantly hindering that whole “send a message to legislators” thing. And now we learn that this supposed “grass roots, net-centric” attempt at organizing — which will supposedly attract some 450 delegations from around the U.S. in just four months time — lacks one thing that really helps coordinate these things: an email address.
Osborn, who’s working with a few others on the “National Equality March,” helps operate the single-page website NationalEqualityMarch.com. Yes, there is just one page at that website, consisting of an email sign-up form. No social networking tools like Twitter or Facebook links. No viral videos for YouTube. Just an opportunity to receive notifications at some point in the future.
But what email address did Osborn enter in that form? Because she just told activist Michael Petrelis she doesn’t even have an email address set up yet for the march.
We’re four months away from the march, and there’s no preferred way to contact Osborn?
How about we take this to the next level?
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NationalEqualityMarch.com says they’re engaged in “decentralized organizing for this march in every one of the 435 Congressional districts [and] will build a network to continue organizing beyond October.” How about a network to begin organizing before October?
In the meantime, Osborn’s operating email address is [email protected] — but don’t email her there, she says. “This is my WORK email. PLEASE DO NOT SEND EMAILS HERE. In process of getting another email and will let you know.”
We’re not even debating whether the march is a good or bad idea — that’s a separate conversation. But if we’re just 120 days away from a nationwide call for equal rights, with tens (or hundreds?) of thousands of supporters expected to charge the National Mall, shouldn’t we at least know how to contact those in charge? You know, the folks who put themselves in charge of a movement without asking anyone else for their input.
Mike
Queerty, why are you hellbent on making sure this thing is a total disaster?
george
@Mike: shouldn’t you be more concerned about ORGANIZERS making sure this is a total disaster? i APPLAUD QUEERTY for pointing all all the mistakes they are making. when the march on washington blows up in everyone’s faces, and accomplishes nothing, and blows through huge wads of cash, you’ll be thanking them. they want a whole network of activists to be built before the march? i’ll believe it when i see it.
Ted B. (Charging Rhino)
Nothing’s changed in the fifty-years since Ray Kohn excoriated the behind-the-scenes/closeted D.C. gay-elites with “…they couldn’t fix a parking ticket.”
Qjersey
The last march was an organization disaster. I say we just simply show up, no bandstand, no agenda, no performers, just SHOW UP.
Mike
@george: George, there’s no lack of concern on my part for the organizers. But the thing is that there are a lot of small organizations…even individual groups of friends…that are planning on taking part. This has the potential to grow in spite of the organizers. It’s just strange to read 5-6 articles, daily, from Queerty that are so negative about anything to do with the gay rights movement.
It seriously makes me not even want to get involved with any gay organization.
Duane
It’s quite easy to bitch about the mistakes that are being made, but what are YOU doing to help? This is very typical of the gay community that a few people step up and at least try to do something (and do all the work) only to be criticized later. A more appropriate headline for this piece is the gay community doesn’t have its shit together!
Mike
@Qjersey: That’s kinda what we were thinking.
douglasgibsonjr
Why would you publish someone’s work e-mail?
SFNative
@george:
I can tell you that the organizers are working as best/fast they can to get everything up. Stay tuned, and you will have more information very soon. If you’d like to help, please let me know.
SFNative
@Duane:
Big Amen! We all need to stop complaining, come together and work towards full equality.
edgyguy1426
Unfortunately it might take a few stabs at organization before anyone gets it right. No central leaders to co-ordinate things makes us helpless in the hands of chaos..
InExile
Maybe things are not perfectly organized because of our lack of one leader but it does not mean this march will not be a success.
Organized or disorganized this thing needs to happen. America and our politicians need to know our community is serious about equality and tired of being run over with the bus.
chris
Congress is not in session.
Other groups hold permits the same weekend.
No email. No apparent ability to make a damn thing happen.
Time to pass the torch dinoactivists.
J.Lowrot
Nothing of any import or substance has come from any of the past marches. What do the organizers expect from this one?
InExile
@J.Lowrot: In the past there was no momentum in the states regarding marriage equality. Also, in the past we did not have a President that made us a list of promises. The President needs to be held to his promises and a march might help if it is large enough.
DuttyBarb
Typical! American Gay community once again being reactive instead of proactive.
Queerty, while you tend to make over-the-top, exaggerated and sometimes downright ridiculous statements about the imagined social injustices of your pple…this time u have a point!
Has anybody asked or even done any qualitative survey and determined that America needs ‘another’ rally about LGBT rights. Really? When i saw the feed and showed my colleagues we all got one great laugh at your expense..thanks. We are sick and tired of hearing about you all, there are bigger issues in the world.
2 American journalists are facing labor camps for 12 years, kids are being raped in war torn countries…hell David Carradine died doing some weird sex atrocity.
In summary, we do not care anymore and are tired of your whining..Gay marriage is a sin..it may become legal but society will never fully accept you pervs. Really think about it. Outside America you have no rights unless maybe some disgusting European countries and really there a man can legally have sex with his dog and his infant child…so its really a safe haven for perverts. Get Jesus y’all.
imayogi
Keep ’em honest and on track Queerty. “We” don’t need to be embarrassed by self-appointed, entitled “leaders”.
Mike
@DuttyBarb: Worst attempt at trolling EVAH!
Lance Rockland
@DuttyBarb: So what the hell are YOU doing here? Checking out the hot male flesh gets you hard, I bet!
HAHA!!!!!!!!!! CLOSET QUEER! CLOSET QUEER! DUTTYBARB IS A CLOSET QUEER!
Trooper
This is a noble effort – and one the community should be supporting, not trashing. No matter how many attend, good things will happen, connections will be made, progress will occur. When you are grassroots, money doesn’t come easily…so a little patience please.
Mike
@DuttyBarb: Your duty in society is to tend house, have babies and serve a man. Now…off with you.
DCGal
The Washington Blade had it right. Hats off to Lynne Brown and Kevin Naff. They are on the ball and are truly turning the paper around. This Pride season has been the best they ever had I heard from an insider what was not a disgruntled ex-employee. That is terrific news. The moral is incredible and David Unger is planning a trip down to DC to give a huge cocktail party to thank the staff for working their butts (and vaginas) off for the good of Window Media. Go team!
CityPeach
Yea Blade! The company is in full swing to pull out of near bankruptcy. The brand that has played a major role in our Lesbian and gay lives is triumphant. Go Blade group.
AirlineAirline
I will be at the Expo. The entire Matt Bank & David Unger empire is on an uptick and we need to celebrate Lesbian and gay business. Go for it team!
just me
@Mike: looks like this skank has been tearing up the interwebs with her homophobic rants. anyone got her email? i got her home address and home phone…..maybe we should give her a call…see how bitch likes it.
just me
@just me: i meant for ‘duttybarb’ quick and easy to get the info with a quick google search.
CURLEY
Finally, good news for the gay world. The march was a flop but gay media lives
J.Lowrot
@InExile: I don’t see how your reasoning results in a march on Washington. How does a march on Washington bring gay marriage to New York and New Jersey? How does a march on Washington pass ENDA?
Sure marches are fun, but how do you propose converting people on the Mall to letters, calls and meetings with legislators?
In addition to siphoning off money that could be much better spent in Maine defeating a ballot initiative or in California repealing Prop 8.
michael
Of course this march needs to go off as well as it can and we need to help when and where we can. Queertys info is good for letting us know whats going on but tearing these people down does none of us any good. We have got to love each other and cover each others backs here people. A house divided cannot stand. We need to ask what we on the outside can do to help.
Asher
This so-called march should be called off completely. What a complete disaster it will be if it moves forward. There is NO WAY in HELL I’m going to spend money on plane tickets and a hotel room to travel from California to DC without some assurance that this thing is actually going to happen. I’d guess anyone outside of 100 miles of DC feels that same way.
I went to the March on Washington in 1993, and it was poorly organized, but at least the Mall was reserved!
Phyllis Wilson
1. October 11 is a Sunday, Congress is usually off on Sundays, as are most people, which is why we have marches then. Congress is back in session on the 13th — as I understand it, the event is not intended to be a one-day show, but to include networking and training to send people to their congressional offices on Tuesday, when Congress is in session. I REPEAT — CONGRESS IS IN SESSION!!!!
2. The fact they have a crappy website and no email as of yet is proof that this is anything but a money-making scheme. I say give ’em a week, or two, this is a grassroots deal…they’ll get there.
3. Bayard Rustin & MLK pulled off the March on Washington in 6 weeks using postcards and…wait for it…a decentralized organizing strategy. These guys have 4 months, Facebook & Twitter. OH NOES THEY HAVE NO EMAIL!!!! HOW WILL THEY EVER GET ONE???? AHAAHAHAAA!
4. As for this comment: “the folks who put themselves in charge of a movement without asking anyone else for their input.” — there are doers and then there’s…well…people like you, Queerty — who just sit back and bitch about everything.
penelope1975
@Mike: I agree with Mike. This seems like a really negative site. I attended Meet in the Middle and have never seen our community so united. I was proud, and, for the first time, felt as though I really was part of a community. This is the start of us blowing the door wide open and finally being recognized by our government as a legitimate segment of the population. While I don’t doubt that there is pettiness going on behind the scenes, it’s time for all of us to get on board because this time we really have a chance to make this happen.
InExile
@J.Lowrot: Calls and letters are not working!!! The politicians are not listening to us. We have a President pretending we do not exist. The only thing left is to take to the streets. Beinging passive will bring us nothing but what we have now, nothing! Enough is enough.
40 years is long enough to wait for equality.
galefan2004
Queerty is hell bent on calling it what it is. The fact that it is a total disaster is just an unpleasant after thought. In this chicks defense, setting up an e-mail is hard. Its so hard, that if you give me 30 minutes I can come back with 30 different e-mail addresses. Anyways, I just find it funny that they are reaching out to all 435 districts when I’m on the HRC mailing list and on the Equality Ohio mailing list, and I haven’t heard anything about it. Of course, I haven’t donated money to either cause because I’m on a fixed budget, and I understand how pay to play works. You might say, well you are just another face in the crowd. That is probably true. The only difference is this face volunteered a good 200+ hours in 2006 and a good 150+ hours in 2008 to get my United States congressman elected, and I am still on a first name basis with him. I’ll do my part for the cause though, I’ll go visit my congressman in his home office that day. You know what really sucks the most about this is that the congress of the United States DOES NOT represent the United States. United Stats congressmen and women represent the people from their district, so they look at a march on Washington and think how does this affect my district. That is a lot worse than them looking at organizational efforts in their own district and thinking about how it affects the country.
galefan2004
@InExile:
You must be kidding right? The time to push for more rights was right after the Mathew Shepherd death. The country was much more behind gay rights at that point than it even is now. Presidents have made many promises to many groups just to get elected ever since this nation existed (with the exception of Washington). Most of those promises have never been kept.
galefan2004
@Trooper
You see the thing that people fail to realize is that when you are grass roots you are IN THE COMMUNITY. So, this is a huge grass roots approach for Washington DC. For everyone else, this is just another Million Man March on Washington DC, and those marches have never accomplished anything. It wasn’t the marches led by MLK Jr that we remember its his death.
Matt Lyman
Hi,
I am INSANELY busy. But I am willing to organize in Massachusetts. Never done this before, so it should be interesting. You need to shut your pie hole with all the negativity. You don’t think a good party in DuPont Circle will attract a crowd regardless of the permits and whatever else?
Matt
Jordan
@george: Yes George, because if the march fails, it’ll be SO wonderful to finally have the opportunity to say, “Queerty told us so!” Gosh, what a great feeling that will be!
InExile
@galefan2004: Do you honestly think mainstream America cared about Mathew Sheppard? For the last 8 years we had Bush and Repugs in congress and senate so it was pointless to push for anything. In the last 8 years attitudes toward gay people have changed dramatically. Now we have Democrats in all three branches that have made promises, now is the time to push. If we wait, we will miss the opportunity!
edgyguy1426
@Lance Rockland: I think she’s threatened to leave like for ever
InExile
@galefan2004 President Obama would barely spare 5 minutes to meet with Judy Sheppard, what does that tell you? Our politicians don’t care very much about the struggles and injustices gay people suffer, they care about themselves only.
galefan2004
@InExile,
I don’t think they did. I know they did. Why else do you think the entire country turn out in masses in every major city to mourn his passing? It wasn’t just gay people that were turning out, there were plenty of straight people as well, and it was even done on the door steps of churches. The democrats make a lot of promises to get elected, any time a politician makes a promise to you to get your vote you can tell they are a politician. The congressman I supported made one major promise and that was that he would listen to the people he represents before making any major decision. Maybe he is from east bumfu Ohio, so he doesn’t get the same attention that some congressman from NYC or LA gets but he carries the same vote. Also, learn your freaking history. When Mathew Shephard was killed we had Clinton in the white house not Bush. On top of that, the numbers have been about 50/50 since I graduated high school in 1997. The numbers aren’t that different now then they were then. Many of the states have passed gay marriage since that time (yet again proving you wrong). The problem is that marriage is NOT a national issue. It never has been and it never will be. The United States congress has absolutely no powers given to them (by the United States congress) to pass any gay marriage law (DOMA is unconstitutional by that same measure). Any congressman that has sworn to uphold the constitution should give respect to a little thing called STATES RIGHTS.
Progressive America
Kettle meet black. You obviously don’t read what you report on. The march website allows for comments that will get a reply. And clearly the organizers are quick in putting up the initial site with more to come. Pretty simple stuff Queerty. And if you bothered to listen to or read the reports on the march you would answer some of these ridiculous accusations you make. The others that have applied for permits have no plans on actually having a march. For example Million Man March for God has been contacted several times by Mall Police with no replies. Translation there is no Million Man March. You would also know, had you bothered to listen instead of just talk, that there are no plans for hundreds of thousands to march rally style, it is in fact instead an opportunity to pull together the willing and able organizers congressional style to further organize and strategize. What is the obsession with Queerty trying debunk organizing efforts.
galefan2004
I don’t think they did, I know they did because I am a mental retard. I have always had Problems Learning and Functioning since I graduated high school in 1997,
I never learned my freaking history because I was the kid at school who seemed different. You’ve heard people say he’s “retarded,” but you’ve also heard people use that word to make fun of each other. You see the thing that people fail to realize is that when you are a stupid, loser ass hole with not life and work at MacDonalds that you are IN THE COMMUNITY.
Queerty is hellbent on calling what it is, mental retardation (say: ree-tar-day-shun) is a term that was once commonly used to describe someone who learns and develops more slowly than other kids. But it’s not used as much anymore because it hurts people’s feelings, like my freakness.
Instead, you might hear terms like “intellectual disability” or “developmental delay.” The fact that I am a total disaster is just an unpleasant after thought. My parent wished they had aborted me, but it was in the fourth trimester and was against the law.
But all these words mean basically the same thing. Someone who has this kind of problem will have trouble learning and functioning in everyday life. This person could be 10 years old, but might not talk or write as well as a typical 10-year-old. He or she also is usually slower to learn other skills, like how to get dressed or how to act around other people.
But having an intellectual disability doesn’t mean a person can’t learn. I went to high school (did not participate in sports because I was the vice president of the chess club and needed to practice in the corner by my loser self.
Ask anyone who knows and loves a person with an intellectual disability! Some kids with autism, Down syndrome, or cerebral palsy may be described as having an intellectual disability, yet they often have a great capacity to learn and become quite capable kids.
Just like other health problems, an intellectual disability can be mild (smaller) or major (bigger). The bigger the disability the more trouble someone will have learning and becoming an independent person.
I know that I have contributed nothing to this website, but it really made me feel like a big wig by making dumb comments. I better get back to my fat gut and eat some cereal before I got to bed by myself — wait, with my cat.
Galefan2004
I forgot to say that anything I say going forward will make me sound even more retarded. I will be right back I need to go shit on myself then go back to my studio apartment and eat MacDonalds.
galefan2004
Lol, omg…like this was creative. Oh wait, no it wasn’t. OMG, I care what you say and think…OMG wait, no I don’t. You have a problem here dude, if you think insulting me is going to accomplish anything or posing as me will either….you couldn’t be more wrong.
*~*
I don’t think they did, I know they did because I am a mental retard. I have always had Problems Learning and Functioning since I graduated high school in 1997.
*~*
Thank you for your opinion. Its only half right. I would never insult people by calling them retards. I also haven’t had any problems learning or functioning. I’ve had problems putting up with asshats, so I haven’t desired to be part of them.
*~*
I never learned my freaking history because I was the kid at school who seemed different. You’ve heard people say he’s “retarded,” but you’ve also heard people use that word to make fun of each other. You see the thing that people fail to realize is that when you are a stupid, loser ass hole with not life and work at MacDonalds that you are IN THE COMMUNITY.
*~*
Least I can spell MCDONALDS although I don’t work there. I also never claimed to be “in the community”. Please tell me oh GREAT ONE, if you are so into this great thing called a gay community (lets face it that doesn’t even exist the most time we actually spend as a community is scoring the next ass or blow) then why are you on a gay website instead of outside your house being part of your great community. I know why I’m not, its because I can’t stand people like you, and in my experience, the great gay community is dominated with people just like you. I’m cool with that though, I would just never call myself part of it.
*~*
Queerty is hellbent on calling what it is, mental retardation (say: ree-tar-day-shun) is a term that was once commonly used to describe someone who learns and develops more slowly than other kids. But it’s not used as much anymore because it hurts people’s feelings, like my freakness.
*~*
I call them how I see them. I’m not apologetic. I never walk on egg shells to keep from offending people. If I offended you then sucks to be you. Maybe you should realize that when more than half the world hates you just because you love who you want you might want to develop an actual thick skin.
*~*
Instead, you might hear terms like “intellectual disability” or “developmental delay.” The fact that I am a total disaster is just an unpleasant after thought. My parent wished they had aborted me, but it was in the fourth trimester and was against the law.
*~*
This is funny. My parents, as myself, do not believe in abortion. Also, I have absolutely no problem with what someone wants to call me. Unlike you, I kind of realize that words only hurt if you let them. Words only encourage violence in the mind of someone that is already violent. If I wanted to kill someone, for example, I wouldn’t need the television justifying my desire, I would just do it.
*~*
But all these words mean basically the same thing. Someone who has this kind of problem will have trouble learning and functioning in everyday life. This person could be 10 years old, but might not talk or write as well as a typical 10-year-old. He or she also is usually slower to learn other skills, like how to get dressed or how to act around other people.
*~*
Funny, because I am actually way ahead of many of my fellow citizens. I’m so far ahead of them, that I put up with their stupidity and laugh instead of get so inflamed by them I have to pull some childish prank to try to get to them even though I fail miserably at it.
*~*
But having an intellectual disability doesn’t mean a person can’t learn. I went to high school (did not participate in sports because I was the vice president of the chess club and needed to practice in the corner by my loser self.
*~*
Actually, you are wrong here too. I went to high school and didn’t participate in any sports because I hate sports. I was the treasurer of the FFA not president of the chess club (hell my school didn’t even have a chess club). I also was one of the most intelligent kids in my school and was very active in the actual school itself and I got to hang out with all the hot chicks which was a total bonus (although I’m gay because the hot chicks attracted the hot dudes).
*~*
Ask anyone who knows and loves a person with an intellectual disability! Some kids with autism, Down syndrome, or cerebral palsy may be described as having an intellectual disability, yet they often have a great capacity to learn and become quite capable kids.
*~*
I agree with you here.
*~*
Just like other health problems, an intellectual disability can be mild (smaller) or major (bigger). The bigger the disability the more trouble someone will have learning and becoming an independent person.
*~*
This is funny because I’ve been an independent person all my life. I actually raised myself with an absentee father and a really screwed up mother. I also had no problem learning. It was just the opposite really, I learned to well. Hell, I skipped most of my college classes and still got As and Bs. I skipped most of my high school classes and still got the same grades.
*~*
I know that I have contributed nothing to this website, but it really made me feel like a big wig by making dumb comments. I better get back to my fat gut and eat some cereal before I got to bed by myself — wait, with my cat.
*~*
Nah, I got to bed myself. My cats come later. Obviously, my dumb comments accomplished exactly what I wanted them to. I post online to piss dumb asses such as yourself off and I take great pleasure when they come back at me. It makes me happy. I’m twisted like that. I also don’t like the idea of being with anyone. I am perfectly happy being single. Don’t blame me because you can’t imagine your pathetic life without your pathetic boyfriend to keep stroking your ego. That is not your fault. Now that this is all said and done, and all you have proven is you have a complete and utter intolerance for anyone that you can’t push over, ask yourself if you feel better. I really hope you do, because you just made me laugh. Good job!
a. mcewen
a lot of folks, myself included, really aren’t for this march because our resources can be better served in our individual states. instead of marches for the sake of transitory visibility, why can’t we work on building our statewide communities and groups. The religious right have organizational networks on a state by state basis. why can’t we do the same?
lwagner
@galefan2004: This ‘chick’ aka Torie Osborn has 40 years of grassroots organizing experience, was the ED of Gay and Lesbian Task Force, ED of The LA LGBT Center during the AIDs Crisis, the ED of Liberty Hill Foundation a strong grassroots support,for a decade and for 2 years a senior aide to the mayor of LA. It is inconceivable to me that people with so much less experience feel so entitled to discount that. Or didn’t bother to google and find that out.
The good news is Courage campaign is a more broadly/ deeply qualified leadership team than those that ran the no on prop 8 campaign in the ditch. To give credit where credit is due, I think the no on 8 team has learned but they came to it all with less overall experience. Having said I think Rick Jacobs of Courage Campaign lost his way with tryng to keep press out of the meet in the middle leadership event last week, but hopefully he got that message and is back in the saddle.
We’re all going to have to get used to accepting some things we’re uncomfortable with because we’re in the middle of a sea change and have no choice but to ride it out and truth be told, it isn’t all about us.
I know its anxiety producing, but I believe in the curative powers of action, if you believe you can do better, for heaven’s sake go out and do something.
However, a line was crossed here, out of 3 co-leaders of this march, it was the lesbian whose experience and credentials were singled out and challenged, the one held responsible for the perceived administrative omissions (of course setting up email was her job)
We’re a better community than that.
Jennifer
Galefan sounds so angry and sad.
Amelia34
SERIOUSLY this has to stop. Rather than bitch-picking at each other we HAVE to work together. I’m tired of fighting with society at large WHY WOULD WE START BICKERING AMONGST OURSELVES?
Now as far as, “what is marching on Washington going to prove when congress isn’t in?” “When other groups will be there also? PRESS. Come on everyone, media is everything. It wins elections, hell it beat Prop 8. WE NEED MEDIA. More the better. Now as for “Why have it on a weekend and not a Tuesday?” Because more people will be there. We need to be seen, not just the extremes in our community but all of us – standing togeher so they can see how many of “us” there are. This is not rocket science.
For those of you who want to sit back and bitch about what is wrong with this just to say “I told you so.” PLEASE SHUT IT. The reality is this is not a discussion of if, it is happening, if you know how to do it better PLEASE help. Contribute use your powers for good not evil. We may not suceed in one fell swoop, but that doesn’t mean we don’t try. It may not be the best, but it is what we have and it’s bigger than anything we’ve ssen in a awhile. So ladies and gentleman please let do this as best we can, and as brightly and loud and GAY as we can. Let them see us come out together and NEVER go back in. We will prevail.
Progressive America
@a. mcewen: I don’t know why people aren’t picking up on this. But the march is exactly what you’re asking for. There is a great need to organize further but on a national level. Our opposition has it because they already have a national network in churches. We need to build ours. thats what this march is about. building a national network of congressionally based organizers. its not food booths and concerts and after parties. its a small inexpensive smart way to get people connected and gain a little visibility doing it. we have to meet somewhere to do this. netroots is not enough. DC is the most logical place.
Geoff
My partner and I would participate in a march like this…..unless it looks to become a half-assed attempt and will just make us look stupid. Now isn’t the time for ineptitude, we had enough of that in California.
Dave
The problem with gay organizers is that they just don’t seem to want to win.
The No on 8 campaign was more concerned with letting every little group have their voice heard on the organizing committee. The entire process was flawed from the beginning – there are threads upon threads of e-mail messages going back and forth between different people on the No on 8 committee that detail just how much these guys got it wrong in California.
Advocacy is not about letting everyone have their day in the sun. It’s not about letting every leader of every group come up on stage and bore an audience for 30 minutes each. Advocacy campaigns are not about fairness … it’s about winning.
Look at the Pro-Israel Lobby and AIPAC … they do not care one bit if they have a real debate on the issues. They care about winning support for their cause. AND they are damn good at it … look at the Israel Day Parade every year in NYC – they have over 100,000 participants EVERY year. Not once a decade, EVERY year. Call them up and ask them how they organize their march, because guess what they are doing a much better job than the gays.
Hell look at the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s, there were plenty of dissident black groups that were not allowed to speak or were censored during the March on Washington in 1963. Look at the history … This was a delicately orchestrated political event which was handcrafted from the top to have maximum effect. The March on Washington wasn’t a grassroots event, it didn’t magically coalesce out of thin air. People didn’t pick a date to go to Washington and then show up. The planning for an event like this must be made by a strong executive leadership willing to exclude more radical voices from the podium.
The Equality March this fall has to be run well in order for it to be effective – or perhaps it shouldn’t be held at all. I for one will not go down to D.C. to witness a mockery of gay rights play out because a group of gay activists couldn’t suspend their day jobs to make this event happen.
We need to wake up here … this gay rights movement must be about winning not letting everyone have their day in the sun.
InExile
@galefan2004: Well the fact is DOMA is there and is not on the radar screen for repeal. Until DOMA is repealed, marriage is a Federal issue! And if Americans “CARE SO MUCH” about Mathew Sheppard, why has Hate Crimes legislation STILL not passed? Also why did President Obama not give his mother 5 minutes? Going back to the time of Bill Clinton attitudes have changed significantly since then regarding gay people. You cannot compare attitudes then with now.
hardmannyc
@Mike: maybe because it is a total disaster.
Galefan2004
Maybe because we are all losers and cannot get a real job to help spread the word in the media industry but have to go on a blog to be heard?
Douglas Gibson Jr
@Amelia34: at Amelia34: Amen!
Seattle Mo
Has Queerty become the Perez Hilton of queer politics?