It’s only been a few months since GLAAD anointed Jarrett Barrios its new leader, so he can be forgiven for not giving HRC’s Joe Solmonese a run for his media soundbite. But it’s nice to see Barrios finally making a full-fledged effort to get into the talking head game. So what is he “condemning” or “applauding” this time around? Obama’s report card!
While we expect Solmonese to give Obama a shoulder rub at every turn, we thought Barrios might be a smidge different. But on CNN yesterday, it’s clear which side of the fence Barrios is going to stand on: straddling it!
While Barrios isn’t Obama’s grand apologizer, he’s certainly not his critic, either. He does make the worthwhile point that the White House isn’t the only game in town when it comes to gay rights legislation; Congress has to get in on the game, too.
But good to know what we should expect from GLAAD moving forward.
How about we take this to the next level?
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Brian NJ
Another frightened banquet server who can’t say one bad thing about their overlords. When asked — twice — if Obama was doing enough, what do you think he would say?
“No, he is not doing enough by any measure on the most important aspect of gay rights, the repeals of DADT and DOMA, which are two simple repeals. We at GLAAD can’t image for the life of us how Obama has prodded and labored with congress to take quick action on complex new policy initiatives, but these old hate laws just stay on the books, with no effort from congressional leadership and the White House to move this up from the bottom of the to do list, where it is. We at GLAAD feel that right now is a crucial time to repeal the laws, because in six months, congress will not want to do it because it will be close to the midterms. The democratic party controls the legislative process right now, and right now is when we demand that the governemnt deliver on its promises.”
But no, he just has to go stick his ass in the air for another democratic party pounding. Too many dinners to plan, I guess.
Mike L.
You’re racist santorum Brian (read the lang meaning for it). “banquet server” when refering to a the Cuban American GLAAD leader.
Brian (Original)
Regarding Maine and Washington State, Barrios said:
“We’re watching that closely.”
Oh, great.
Why do we still have GLAAD? They spend $30 million a year of our money – for what? Watching? Closely?
Andrew
The Hate Crimes Law doesn’t protect anyone. It does not come with a 24 hour security force. It only punishes bad behavior – hateful behavior.
It’s naive and dishonest to claim “protection” results from a law making something illegal. We have laws against many crimes, including murder, and they don’t protect anyone, either.
Equality is the only thing that will protect us. Think about that.
wondermann
Andrew, could you elaborate more on your statement? I’m trying to understand your point.
Andrew
The “Hate Crimes” bill is an aspirin to the LGBT Equality headache. A little something for the symptom, but nothing for the problem. It does not create or contribute to our equality.
HRC and other professional LGBT advocacy groups operate with a mindset that seeks to delay equality for as long as possible. They have no incentive to do anything quickly. Because of this – most of our donations are wasted on salaries, not strategies.
Equality is something we – as a movement – will have to do. We are not much closer to equality than we were 40 years ago and WE DO NOT HAVE A MOVEMENT. If we did, more than 10% of our Community would actually be involved.
The Hate Crimes Bill may have a placebo effect and lessen our pain and frustration for a moment – but, it should not be celebrated as a “victory.” It does not contribute to our equality – it only punishes bad behavior.
Our equality relies on changing minds (like these young men were doing in Maine, door-to-door: http://www.queerty.com/2-minutes-of-your-time-a-maine-marriage-equality-canvassing-diary-20091030/) and not on changing laws. Laws do not create equality – people do.
Collectively we seem to keep obscuring the real goal – equality. “Equal Rights” are not equality. Making us a “special class,” “protected class” or a “minority” only perpetuate our differences – instead of confirming our “sameness.” As a gay white man I do not want to be “tolerated” or “protected.” I would rather not gain “minority” or “victim” status, either. I think it is counterproductive. We will be equal when people believe we are. Unfortunately, the scattered efforts within the LGBT Community seem completely fixated on “equal rights” and not equality. They are very different.
I am not dismissing any efforts or their sincerity, but I am asking that we reconsider our goal. If we truly want equality we must have conversations with our fellow citizens – friends, family, neighbors and even strangers. Two thirds of our fellow citizens will support us, but we are not having those conversations. We need to. We need to ask for their help.
Perhaps, instead of spending all our resources on political and judicial solutions, we should focus on creating a viable strategy and plan for our equality. One that will unite our community and ignite a real, sustainable “movement.”
wondermann
Thank you, Andrew
Brian NJ
@Mike L
The banquet server reference was to all the dinners and banquets HRC and GLAAD have to appease the democratic party, as opposed doing what they are supposed to be doing — fighting the government for refusing to repeal Federal hate laws.
dontblamemeivotedforhillary
Glaaaaaaad you came to our fundraiser wraaaaaaapped in plastic…
*J_C*
I honestly believe GLAAD is becoming what the democratic party along with the republican party have turned into, a husk of ideas dried up by greed and the search for power…. time to revolt, time to delete our daily, weekly news letter; delete our GLAAD accounts and withdraw our donations and start going at this one city one town at a time throughout the USA. LGBT group stop aiding these fight out of sate and start creating small movements in your community show our representatives, because that’s what GLAAd really is our issues; by bringing them close to home. Yes we have so many issues pulling us every which way, but by concentrating on small issues that our close to home the movement will grow. I think we have tried fighting the big bad norm that expects us to be a specific way, love a specific gender, be a specific gender; but were not and now we need to pull a page from what the (air quote) republicans have been using (Grassroots efforts)and bring it home.