There are always going to be people who are against same-sex marriage, and our efforts to convince them otherwise will be wasted breath. But then there are people like Senator Alesi who are on the fence, who are really tortured because they want so much to do the right thing. They want to vote with their conscience. And when they do, it’s important that we remember that these people put their political futures on the line to support us. We need to be there for them in the next election, and the one after that. And we need to be there in larger numbers than the people who may want retribution against these brave allies of ours.
– Openly lesbian Sex and the City actress Cynthia Nixon explaining the financial reality of gay politics in a Newsweek opinion piece. The National Organization of Marriage has pledged to bury the political careers of the New York senators who voted for marriage equality, just as Bob Vander Plaats successfully vowed to remove the three Iowa Supreme Court justices who voted to legalize marriage equality.
The reminder to support pro-gay politicians is an important message for idealists—as well as Senator Ruben Diaz, the anti-gay New York senator who called the financial support of New York’s pro-gay senators “bribery.”
via Newsweek.com
Daez
I can’t see a post like this without thinking of the season in QAF where everyone is willing to not vote or to even vote for the scum sucking slime ball that wants to end gay life in Pittsburgh simply because he is so hot. That is pretty much where the gay community stands. It is in my opinion that maybe 10% of the community actually bothers to get political even when it comes to their own rights. Younger people normally don’t bother to vote, and most of the truly out gay people that I have met in my life are younger.
Henry
@Daez: Young people in general these days are much more apolitical than they used to be. That seems to make it harder for gay people to connect with young people, when it’s already hard enough, because a lot of gay young people don’t grow up in a supportive environment. The young people that are political are surprisingly conservative. It might have something to do with growing up during 9/11. Anyway, in reply to Daniel’s article, I agree it’s important to support tolerant Republicans. In some states they might prove a tipping point when the vote is very close.
Cam
@Daez:
I just love all of your little pronouncements. Really? And your reasoning for thinking that way? Your links? Did you happen to miss all the movement we’ve had in the last few years BECAUSE of gays mobilizing and voting?
But then again, sitting on your ass and bitching about unproven statements is much more fun now isn’t it?
Jeffree
@Cam: Daez is probably working off talking points provided by someone else, as shown by how his language level / spelling / grammar vary wildly & widely when he’s working off script. You can see that on many of his comments.
@Henry: I was part of a group working at a univ. to enroll student to regïster to vote. Total fail….”no interest in politics” was what we heard most. Sad.
Daez
@Cam: What movement? Seriously! You call this movement? There has been more set backs than advancements. You really want to get into this? Exactly what have you guys accomplished?
I never said that there wasn’t a SMALL MINORITY in the gay community that loves to get organized and fight for equality. Its simply not the MAJORITY that gives a damn about it. Most of us are apathetic and sit by the side lines sharing in your victories. Doesn’t it annoy you that you can’t even garner support for your causes in your community?
30 states have anti-gay marriage amendments with even more coming up this year. It is NOT appropriate for gay men to not give a damn about politics. I don’t need to link studies. The results of elections kind of speak for themselves don’t they? We by far outnumber and can by far outspend the Christian Right Fundies at this point and we don’t because most of us simply don’t bother getting out there.
RomanHans
No matter how much I want pro-gay politicians, I simply can’t concede to the idea that to get them, we have to PAY.
Daez
@Jeffree: Yup…those variations mostly occur when I give a damn about editing. But, yes, I’m working for the Bachman PAC and I’m here to troll QT because I get paid $100,000 a year to do so. Oh, the fun times of politics!
You can’t possibly believe that!?!
Daez
@RomanHans: Welcome to politics. Its all pay to play. If you don’t have the biggest wallets or the biggest mouths don’t expect any support. That is what is so great about being an American.
JAW
I agree with Daez… We need to do more then just vote for the democrat… we need to get those people that have helped us elected. As Cynthia Nixon stated… we need to support people like senator Alesi.
The way he needs our support will start with the Primary Election… NOM has a target on his back AND the others that supported gay Marriage. … their goal will be to not have them even Nominated, let alone elected.
LGBT people and our friends that live in those districts will need to register as Republicans (I know that scares a lot of people) so that they can vote in the primary. These people stuck their neck out for us… so we better be ready to do all we can to get them re-elected… by Registering as republicans and voting in the primary, boots on the ground for them and of course the things that buys ads… donate MONEY
Oh Dear (John From England)
I hate to say it but Daez is SPOT on. Don’t listen to him at your peril. If you want linked studies just go on google and see what has happened in Europe, though in the UK where I am from, we have a very strong lobbying group but that wasn’t always the case.
Please see pre 97 UK politics. I hate Blair but the Labour government is why we have what we have now.
Daze is simply telling the truth. I’ve been there but now, I just do my bit and not care that non of my friends or others are ‘political’. Whatever. I will not be a second class citizen in my own country, even if it means all I do is robo call or post leaflets through peoples doors for hours.
Ouch, I can barely feel my feet from those times!
jeff4justice
I’d rather support candidates who are pro-equality to begin with even if it means voting for alternative party candidates.
Queer Supremacist
I don’t buy a car without test driving it, and I don’t rent an apartment without seeing it, and a politician is no different.
Besides, we already pay for pro- and anti-gay politicians with our tax dollars. That alone is enough to get me to support a repeal of the 16th amendment.
JAW
@Queer Supremacist: what the Hell are u trying to say???
Queer Supremacist
@JAW: Who the hell is “u”?
I am trying to say that no politician shall get my support or money without a proven track record of 100% pro-gay advocacy. They work for us, not the other way around.
That said, a lot of what Nixon is saying makes sense. But she has it backwards. Why should we support them unless they support us first?
Sean (also from England)
@Oh Dear (John From England):
It’s thanks to gays spending money that we have such a good lobbying organisation here in the uk (stonewall is covered by donations), stonewall even gives a wishlist to the main political parties to get the support of the gays, who (publicly) all support us.
But all this started with the older generation (thank you older generation!) putting money and manpower behind politicians who are gay friendly on both sides of the fence, it’s the only way to stop this gay party/anti-gay party nonsense that the US is still stuck with.
That’s one of the reason’s I dislike it when people hate on GOPROUD and the Log cabin republicans, as these guys, while having problems of their own, are trying to change their party to be better towards gays – which is where the movement needs to be now.
You’re probably asking why I, as a brit, care what goes on in the US? Simple, if the US aligns with West Europe when it comes to LGBT rights, it will spread faster worldwide.
JAW
@Queer Supremacist:
I think that you misread what Cynthia said.
She said that The 4 republicans and 2 democrats that voted for Marriage rights in New York need OUR help for the HELP that they GAVE us. These folks HAVE supported us… that is not backward.
NOM is already attacking them for their support… They need OUR help to counter what NOM is already doing to try to get them kicked out of office for the support that they have ALREADY given to us.
She is saying… why would they or anyone want to support us again in the future if we do not support them now, when they need us, for what they have done to ALREADY help us.
How is that backward????
declanto
How much brain power does it take to figure out “vote the cause, not the party? There are significant numbers of queer-friendly politicians and voters in the conservative camp who dislike the moralizing interference being pushed by the wingnuts. We vote with our wallets as well as our ballots.
Henry
@declanto: “There are significant numbers of queer-friendly politicians and voters in the conservative camp”
Bullshit. There are a handful of them.
Ian
“But then there are people like Senator Alesi who are on the fence, who are really tortured because they want so much to do the right thing. They want to vote with their conscience. And when they do, it’s important that we remember that these people put their political futures on the line to support us. ”
Hmm… so they’re being “brave” and feeling “torn” because they “want to vote their conscience”?? Aren’t they supposed to do the right thing — vote their conscience — in the first place and NOT balance it out against their desire to stay in office?? I get what she’s trying to say, that we should support our allies, but she makes it sound as if we should all feel like shit because these “brave” politicians are voting what they know to be the just and right thing to do. I guess the fact that we voted the “brave allies” into office in the first place isn’t sufficient to expect they’ll carry out the duties of their office and vote in the best interests of their constituents.
JAW
@Ian: If life were as easy as you laid it out in your response.
Politicians are in office to represent their constituents. Representing them means, Voting as the people are telling them, as well as sometimes voting their conscience. A republican, in a district that has a big NOM group, should perhaps vote as they ask him to, since he is there representing them, Four Senators may have gone against what their constituents wanted and voted their conscience.
This happens often… be it for new roads that might go through areas that many in their districts do not want, but would be good for the whole state.
It affects both Democrats and Republicans, depending on the bill to be passed.
I do not think that Cynthia was trying to make us feel like shit… I think she wants to let us know that… Now that we got what we wanted… we need to Thank those that DID Vote their conscience… so that more people out there will see that we have their backs. If we show our support to those that stuck their neck out and voted their conscience, and not voted how a majority of the people they represent had hoped, we will get more people on our side.
GLENN WOODLEY
BECAUSE OF MY PARTNERS SUPPORT AND THE FACT THAT I AM TIRED OF THE AMERICAN DREAM TURNING INTO THE AMERICAN NIGHTMARE SO I AM TAKING A STAND AND HAVE FILED FOR CANDIDACY IN THE 2012 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. PLEASE SUPPORT ME AND SPREAD THE WORD. I AM A LONGSHOT BUT PERHAPS WE ARE IN NEED OF A UNDERDOG IN THE WHITE HOUSE. Maybe my partner and I can share the American Dream
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