It’s popular to hate on the HRC, but they delivered the goods today: an endorsement from Bill Clinton for the impending marriage bill in New York. Here’s what he says:
Our nation’s permanent mission is to form a ‘more perfect union’ – deepening the meaning of freedom, broadening the reach of opportunity, strengthening the bonds of community. That mission has inspired and empowered us to extend rights to people previously denied them. Every time we have done that, it has strengthened our nation. Now we should do it again, in New York, with marriage equality. For more than a century, our Statue of Liberty has welcomed all kinds of people from all over the world yearning to be free. In the 21st century, I believe New York’s welcome must include marriage equality.
Yes, it would have been nicer if it had come 20 years ago when he was first running for President. (Related: Jesus, can you believe it was 20 years ago that Bill Clinton was running for President?) And yes, he’s caused our community plenty of problems by signing DOMA. And yes, on this issue he’s behind plenty of pro-marriage Republicans, including Laura Bush and Dick Cheney for heaven’s sake.
But that’s what makes this announcement so lovely: he’s had to travel a long way to get here, and now he’s joined the nearly 60% of New Yorkers who want marriage to happen. Okay! Let’s roll up our sleeves and get to work.
Cam
Hmm, so rather than focusing on the story, the first sentance was a huge gimmie to HRC, not for getting anything done politically, but for getting somebody, who is already supposed to be our friend, who is more than a decade out of power, to come out and support a right that the majority of other DEMS in Congress already support.
Um….yay for HRC?
gregger
So, HRC got someone who has been making similar statements about marriage equality to make it again and you’re giving them a rah-rah. Excuse me while I don’t clap my hands.
Please, get real. HRC is focused on: throwing cocktail parties, telling people who are filing lawsuits (ie; Prop 8 and DADT) to stand down, riding on the coat tails of the people and orgs that they demean when their efforts are successful, and endless fundraising to keep Joe Solmonese in Gucci loafers.
The group is almost as relevant as Dan Pallotta, the jackhole who was behind the fundraising for the different Aidsrides that pocketed 50% of the monies raised.
Mike
A little late, Bill
Michael W.
Note to the new Queerty: we hate HRC and you must have a similar level of disdain for the organization that clearly bleeds through in your posts here.
Cam
@Michael W.:
I don’t actually HATE HRC. I just take issue with the comfortable nitch they found themselves in. The “Please keep sending us money, but don’t expect anything to get done. People said the word GAY in a speech and all that, so isn’t that great?! And isn’t that worth the 50 million a year that we raise?!” niche.
They got a rude awakening when the community woke up and deamnded action even if it made meetings between them and their “Friends” uncomfortable. They didn’t jump to it and groups like Get Equal showed up and started stealing their thunder.
But if there is ANYTHING that will send a group like HRC into a panic it’s the thought that somebody else might get something done and show them up. So after spending last year attacking Get Equal, it appears they went for some easy press with this Clinton thing.
Pitou
Fuck HRC.
I can’t possibly be the only gay who realizes that HRC will NEVER do anything to acheive equal rights..?
Once we have what we need, HRC becomes irrelevant.
Do you honestly think Joe S. and HRC croonies are actually working to completely erase the need for their jobs?
HRC is a giant crock-of-shit. I will NEVER donate to that organization for the rest of my life.. and I have plenty of years and disposable income to blow through too!!!
Instead of buying Joey-baby some Gucci loafers or contributing to the high-priced felching he does for his “D.C. contacts”.. I just may get myself a pair, and maybe a new car. Felching is gross. LOL
Lonnie
Gay Bashers for Queer Equality!
If Queerty writers are going to be nothing more than whores for HRC and the Democrats, then you’re fucked.
Queers won’t win equality so long as your lips are firmly planted on the asshole of the Democratic Party.
Lonnie
Joe Solomonese played the role of porch queer for Obama and he got his tax cut for millionaires. Did any Queerty writers get one?
Lonnie
At the very least, he could have “come out” when HIS homo-hating party had control of the White House AND both Houses of Congress. Isn’t it funny that the Democrats always love queers when they’re either running for office or when they have no power to change the laws?
What is the purpose of Diane Frankenfeinstein’s bill to repeal DOMA and Bill Clinton’s press release/photo op?
WHEN DIANE’S BILL FAILS, THEY CAN POINT TO REPUBLICANS AND SAY “WE LOVE YOU, THEY HATE YOU, GIVE US YOUR MONEY AND YOUR VOTES.”
THERE’S AN ELECTION TO BE WON. TOSS THE QUEERS A FEW CRUMBS AND WATCH THEM CREAM THEIR PANTS.
matt baume
Hi Lonnie. Thanks for weighing in. Your comments are veering towards hostile personal attacks, which is something we’re not really interested in having on Queerty.
Alan
I don’t hate HRC. I stopped giving them money, because they seemed like they weren’t effective. But lately it seems like they have been more effective, and I may start giving them money again.
Having the former president’s support is better than not having the former president’s support. Yes, it’s a couple decades late, but that was then; this is now. The times, they are a-changin’. And a rolling stone gathers no moss.
We need the “establishment” gays, because the laws are made by the establishment.
jason
HRC consists of a bunch of wankers and self-serving hypocrites. As for Bill Clinton, he’s the man who signed DOMA into law. This is why we’re having all these difficulties associated with state-by-state fights to get equal rights re civil marriage.
Bill Clinton is a hypocrite and does not deserve any respect whatsoever from our community. Ditto HRC.
ewe
Clinton is an annoying media whore. I don’t care what he has to say. No vote for democrat until the talk becomes law.
Yaël
Bill had his chance when he still had, y’know, power as head of the US, and he gave us DOMA and DADT. Yes, I recognise those were compromises based on -yadda, yadda; dabba doo, but it’s still too little, too late.
Kudos to author/host Matt Baume for calling “Lonnie” to the carpet. Keep your eyes on “jason” as well. He was the reason many people stopped visiting Queerty under the old regime.