All the gay organizations do it, even the grassroots-y ones. Like Equality California! On Saturday, Geoff Kors’ group hosted the Palm Springs Equality Awards, one of five statewide formal wear fundraisers that drum up cash for EQCA’s operating budget. This weekend’s event — which honored Assemblyman V. Manuel Pérez, actress Debra Messing, and the very anti-Prop 8 California Teachers Association — raised $2 million! That’s quite a feat, with just 400 guests attending, meaning each guest raised an average $5,000 each. Cheapest ticket? $250.
A nonny mouse
And EQCA says the money isn’t there for a repeal of Prop 8 in 2010? Smell the bullshit, folks.
Fitz
Between this, and her defending the child molester– I revoke Debra Messings’ gay card.
Brian NJ
They need the money so they have have more galas, celebrations and award dinners. They gay rich love activities where they can plan menus and believe they are working for change at the same time. Just look at all they websites. “Don’t miss Pleasure by the Sea!” I mean fawning over democratic politicians and celebrities is not activism, is is sickening pandering. It is like that ugly girl at school that throws a party. All their cuddling with the powers that be has resulted in less than zero because there is no political threat or display of power in a party. Gay activism need more testosterone, and less estrogen, elegance and elan. More fist and less fire under the H’oderve table.
A nonny mouse
By the way, EQCA is about as Grassroots as Proctor and Gamble. I don’t think that EQCA would even claim to be a grassroots organization.
Alex
Just like HRC, these weasels are interested in their salaries, not our Equality. We don’t hold them accountable and that’s our mistake.
Geoff
A quick correction – the Palm Springs Awards actually raised about $250,000 in total, thanks to generous donors. $2 million is the total amount raised by all five of our awards ceremonies in 2008.
EQCA is supported by a variety of donors. In 2009 thus far we’ve had over 122,000 people donate. Their average donation amount is $54.31.
We put this money to work for the LGBT community in advocating for our rights across the state. We’ve passed 11 pieces of legislation through the legislature this year, including the Harvey Milk Day bill, a bill that expanded funding for domestic violence services for LGBT people, and SB 54, which clarifies the rights of couples who marry outside of California. Our field organizers and volunteers are hitting the streets every weekend, persuading more than one in four people that they speak with to become more supportive of marriage for same-sex couples. We’re also generating 2500 calls per week to Maine and Washington to build towards wins in those states. We use any donations we’re given to do the real work to ensure full equality for LGBT Californians.
Regards,
Geoff Kors
Executive Director, EQCA
Sapphocrat
@Geoff: “We use any donations we’re given to do the real work to ensure full equality for LGBT Californians.”
Then where does your $171,000 salary come from?
Sorry, man, but you walked right into that question.
You also leave open the question: What were the _net_ earnings of all these fundraisers, _after_ expenses?
Paul
I still don’t understand why I keep getting emails from EQ CALIFORNIA regarding MAINE’S upcoming November vote. I mean did these bozos flunk out of geography 101?
So they can battle for Maine equality in 2009 but not California equality in 2010? WTF is up with that?
Lead, follow or get the fuck out of our way. HRC wanna beees for sure.
bryan
THIS IS A JOKE
JOKE JOKE JOKE JOKE JOKE JOKE
THEY DO THE SAME LAME ASS SHIT EVERY YEAR. HAVE A GALA AND PRESENT PATTI LUPONE WITH AND AWARD. PUT YOUR BOWTIE AWAY! THEY HAVE NOT DONE SHIT! THIEY WERE NOT EVEN IN WASHINGTON BECAUSE THEY WERE PLANNING THIS GALA.
THEY ARE SETTING A BAD EXAMPLE FOR THE GAY COMMUNITY. STOP THEM NOW. THE MONEY IS GOING TWORDS THE NEXT GALA. HOW EMBARRASSING.