Transgender activist Monica Helms posted this video of the aforementioned HRC protest. Now we’re passing it on to you.
Also, it’s nice to hear Joe Solmonese finally came to his senses: we should not endorse a split ENDA. Gay rights should not move forward without our trans allies. Period:
The last two weeks have been the most heartbreaking and gut-wrenching of my life–and I know I’m not alone in that sentiment. Ever since we received word last week that the original, complete version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act was in trouble, many in our community have spent more than one sleepless night tossing and turning, trying to figure out the best strategy for moving forward. And although there were different views on which road to take, I personally received strength in knowing that our goal–enacting one bill that protects the entire GLBT community–would be the ultimate destination.
Three rock-solid principles have guided my decision-making throughout this ordeal: a) In the context of decisions that lawmakers had made, HRC must craft a strategy that would achieve an inclusive ENDA most expeditiously; b) an “incremental” strategy that said we’d “come back and pick up gender identity in a few years” was not acceptable; and c) we couldn’t affect change if we weren’t part of the legislative process. Those principles have dictated all of my actions and will continue to do so.
And all it took were a few vociferous voices of reason.
Leland Frances
“Gay rights should not move forward without our trans frights.” “trans FRIGHTS” Assuming that was just a Freudian slip…. Admirable of you to feel so strongly about something. But talk is cheap. What are you doing other than that? Any gays who want to show REAL solidarity with the Ts must do the obvious thing and quit their jobs. If Ts can’t have job protections, then gays can’t have job protections. If Ts can’t have jobs then gays shouldn’t have jobs. Otherwise all your pontificating when YOU already have a job is meaningless grandstanding.
Of course, if one recognizes that transgenders have no more right to tell gays they can’t have job protections than gays have to tell them the same, then we might be able to get back to the reality of the situation and move forward one victory at a time. If not, then we expect your resignations on your bosses’ desks in one hour.
Bill Perdue
The unexpectedly overwhelming hard-edged rejection of the Democratic Party’s attempt to gut ENDA surprised many. The resulting debate exposed deep divisions in our GLBT communities between activists and activists groups on the one hand and rightists, careerists and Democratic Party apologists on the other.
It’s an old story in our movement that can be traced back over fifty years ago when rightists split and then wrecked the Mattachine Society. It’s been replayed at each March on Washington, in fights against antigay ballot initiatives in California, and when the New York State ENDA was gutted to exclude transsexual people. In the New York betrayal the Democrats promised transsexuals a separate or amended bill but it’s been several years and the Democrats and their shills are still sitting on their hands.
The debate over ENDA and the Democrats attempt to gut it highlights the need to reorder our organizational priorities to reflect this renewed radicalization of the GLBT communities. Under the impact of the betrayals by the Democrats and the Clintons who supported and enacted DOMA and DADT and the barrage of repressive antigay legislation and hatemongering by the Republicans our movement has suffered from widespread demoralization and a rightward drift. The rage at the treachery of HRC, Pelosi and Frank et al means that period is over. The option of militant struggle is on the table again.
To give that an organizational expression we should do three things.
First, promote and support the explosive growth of GLSEN/GSA chapters and college GLBT groups. The size, weight and militancy of this new layer of activists will transfuse and transform the movement.
Second, our movements’ power or clout in the twin parties is limited by the marginalization and ineffectiveness of front groups like HRC, Stonewall and Log Cabin, who exist only to provide cover for politicians who don’t want to budge on status as second class citizens. We need a political party that can provide an effective conduit for our struggle and right now the best choice is to join and build the union controlled US Labor Party. The LP has, in addition to ourselves, a natural and very large base because of the war and blows to our stand of living. After the Democrats win in 2008 and become the established party of war and reaction the playing field will open up for the USLP.
Third, As national politics heat up and our own internal debate become sharper we need to create a fighting leftwing organization to counter the wealth, privilege and treachery of the rightwing in our communities.
Bandwagon
Ugh. It’s a different fucking issue: Gender identity vs. who you sleep with. But whatever. Jump on board.
Leland Frances
“gut”? “rightists”? “treachery”? “militant struggle”? “rightwing”? Mr. Perdue, please discard your dogearred copy of “Armchair Hyperbole for Dummies” and go back to raising chickens.
Bill Perdue
L. Frances,
We’ve come to rely on your shrieking temper tantrums to clarify our opinions. If reactionary antiquated fuddy-duddies like you are for it there’s a good chance most of us won’t be.
You’re in a tiny minority on this and most political questions. That’s a testament to the growing militancy and political good judgment of our movement.
We reject you and the jackass you rode in on.
Now take you lithium, have some relaxing tea and crumpets and then take a nice nap.
Leland Frances
Bill, Bill, Bill. I’m so proud of you! You were finally able to write something without the autogenerated reference to the impotent “Labor Party.â€
But if you think I’m shrieking, then you need to turn your hearing aide down, girlfriend. Or look up the meaning of the word. But we’d encourage you to start with the meaning of “gut/gutting†first. No one knows the number of transgenders in the US when including all types of atypical gender expression including drag queens. As far as transsexuals go, even the National Center for Transgender Equality claims no more than 2% of the US population [and as little as .25%]. What percentage of Americans would you say are gay and lesbian? If one uses the conservative 4% and the NCTF’s generous 2%, that means that twice as many gas and lesbians would be affected by ENDA than transsexuals. [While most “cross dressers†are heterosexual, few are likely to show up at work that way whereas virtually all drag queens would be covered under ENDA because of their sexual orientation.] Put simply, if there are 2 oranges, 2 apples, and 2 strawberries in the fruit salad and you take out the 2 strawberries no one could mathematically claim you have “gutted†the salad. Strawberry lovers might but that’s what got us in this insane mess to start with.
“tiny minority� Billy Boy, you must be confusing your genitals with the number of people who think the way you do. Granted, the screeching tranny wheels have gotten a lot of oil by several politically correct organizations [NCTF head Myra Kiesling is claiming over 300]. But if they disagreed with you you’d be the first to say, “Well, they only represent themselves and not the millions of gays and lesbians in the US, and they’re always exaggerating their membership roles.†Do tell, among those 300+, how many members does the National Student Genderblind Campaign, Equality Project Investor Advocates, Queer Muslim Revolution, Transgender American Veterans Association, or the Muhlenberg College Gay Straight Alliance of Allentown, PA, have? And how honest is it not to acknowledge that many those groups shouldn’t be counted because they are represented by the national group? E.g, counting the Massachusetts Chapter of the Transgender American Veterans Association (TAVA) and TAVA as different groups?
The unfortunate fact is that the majority of average LGBs are indifferent to transgender issues; many even hostile. I emphasize my general disagreement with them for other readers, not you Billy Boy, because you, like most tin pot socialists, are addicted to “group think†and “party line.†Anyone not agreeing with you totally is the enemy, guilty of “betrayal” and “treachery.” Blah Blah Blah.
Random evidence contrary to the exaggeration of the importance and meaning of the mindless stampede of overlapping membership groups? See the similar thread at today’s Towleroad, a site, for whatever reason, with far more reader commentary typically than Queerty. While the original thread on the topic generated several comments, it’s such a yawn today that there have been only two comments so far: YOUR copy/paste of your first one above and one simply dissing Nancy Pelosi’s clothes! By contrast, there are FORTY-FIVE posts so far about the nude pictures of slime ball Tom Ford in fag rag OUT. And maybe three dozen anti HRC demonstrators outside its dinner Saturday night and how many THOUSAND inside? Some revolution you’ve got, Commissar Perdue.
What you call “overwhelming,†a rational, HONEST person would call the tip of the ice cube.
Bill Perdue
L. Frances,
You’re in a tiny minority on this question. There’s you, Frank, Pelosi, Aravosis, John Sullivan… and? That’s a testament to the growing militancy and sound judgment of our movement. You and the jackass party are going to be made to back down on this question. Get used to it.
Your usual dose of shrill gibbering offered precious little in the way of facts and not a shred of scientific analysis. In fact, amidst the rug chewing rant I only found two actual ideas, both dead wrong.
First you revealed that gays, lesbians and bisexuals are a minority. Duh. And that transsexuals are a minority within a minority. Duh. Then, in your bitter backward-looking politics that somehow justifies gutting ENDA and betraying transsexuals. Why? Because your Nancy told you so? The customary spinelessness and deceit of the jackass party and its apologist shills is not a sufficient or honest reason, it’s a contemptible reason.
300 odd organizations have drawn a line in the sand and told the jackass party that they’ll cross it at their jeopardy. And your comment? It’s an worthless list because there may be cross membership and one or two or the groups might have a small membership. What shabby grasping at straws. The list of groups is a who’s who of the GLBT movement and includes many heavy hitters like NLGTF.
And finally, in your first post you you tell your critics that they must quit their jobs or you’ll think less of them. Please compile a list of those who take your advice so we can gauge your power and authority. Get back to us Frances, whenever you’re ready.