Aww, we didn’t mean to leave Joe Solmonese out of the pundit-fest on all things Obama/National Equality March. So we’re including his mid-march interview on CNN here, where the HRC chief defends Barack Obama because the president is acting vigorously to … um … wait, what exactly?
But here’s what’s interesting about Joe’s latest: He’s revealed part of that secret strategy he and the president have! (Cue to 2:40.) You see, Obama sometimes calls Joe up to strater-gize about various legislation, to check in on how many lawmakers they’ve got on their side, because apparently Joe knows better than the White House.
Oh, no, we were wrong! HERE’S WHAT’S INTERESTING ABOUT JOE’S LATEST: He represents all of you! Because HRC is “the largest LGBT organization in the country with nearly a million members,” he says, “… we absolutely represent the LGBT community.” We have a feeling some of you might find that a curious declaration.
Ted B. (Charging Rhino)
What one-million members?……!!
The HRC was challenged on this back in 2004…and they couln’t back their claims up then, or now. They have no membership rolls, they just count everyone who’s bought a t-shirt or button as a “member”. And if you buy two t-shirts, that’s “two’ members…. And, if you bought one last year and anther this year, that’s “two” members….
Cam
If you buy a shirt or a Christmas ornament in the HRC store they ask for your info, if you give it to them you are added to their membership list even though you are never ever asked if you would like to join.
kevin57
HRC is a joke, and I think they’re starting to realize that the gay community is catching on to their delay tactics. After all, if gays do gain equality, they’ll be out of work!
Matt
More “politically aware?” It seems that Joe Solmonese’s standard for “awareness” would be the amount of money one has to donate to the HRC. Cash in American politics is such a fundamental problem with the system and the misalignment of the HRC with actual LGBT people is a testament to that. Glenn Greenwald was right to point out that a majority of Americans support things like civil unions and abolishing DADT, so for HRC what really seems to be “at stake” is the HRC coffers.
Brian
Joe is like Obama’s Cinderella. Always asked to clean up his act with lavish PR stunts, but never being asked to go to the ball. He is like the ugly girl at the dance, always pandering, a forever wanna be. Cinderella has to deliver gays to the 2010 midterms, and re-elect Obama, all with no time guarantees. His “strategy” assumes democrats will still control the goverment in November of 2010, which they may not.
All Joe’s dinners and standing ovations will leave us with our dicks swinging in the wind. And Bill Clinton signed off on DADT (“We found out you’re gay, now get out”) and DOMA (“No full faith or credit for your legal state marrigae at the Federal Level”) Democrats just don’t want to correct their bad karma.
Qjersey
I don’t recall a vote electing HRC to represent me.
And HRC doesn’t represent most LGBTer’s with their middle class and private college mores.
Does canceling my membership last year count as withdrawing my vote?
ViejoMaricon
Joe Solmonese. His “Citizen Kane” moment at the HRC podium with that gigantic personal photo behind him (circa years past) was just too fucking bizarre. Does the HRC Board of Directors need to take another hard look at this guy and maybe consider whether his contract warrants renewal? Then there’s the larger question: Is the HRC organization fast becoming irrelevent to the LGBT community? Stay tuned. The jury may be coming back in with a verdict in the very near future.
QueerToday
If you are pro-war, anti-labor, anti-choice, anti-immigrant, and anti-health reform, then sure HRC represents you – because those are the candidates they continue to endorse.
All you need to do is look at their endorsements of conservatives over their more progressive challengers.
Old Timer
QJersey, since when did the posing circuit queens in D.C. last weekend represent anyone?
Shannon
Joe speaks just like the guy that was just hired by GLAAD – they have the same lips. I heard that a guy named Jeff Campagna arranged all the events in DC this weekend. It took a New York guy to get the gay community pulled together.
Takonta
Joe’s BF is a real snot. You should have seen him at the event. He was acting like first lady
Brian
Joe is the consummate bitch bottom, promising to keep giving democrats their victories without anything in return.
walt
Doesn’t represent me. I’m not one of those “A” gays.
InExile
Does he really represent us? Does he?
I am not so sure!
Alan
The people that claim the HRC and the Democratic party are not representing the LGBT community need a reality check. Just because you don’t agree with an organization 100% doesn’t give you the right to claim that they’re somehow elitist or disconnected, frankly it just makes you sound ignorant for trying to diminish the efforts of the HRC to increase our visibility in mainstream DC politics. Going on parades and doing “grassroots” work may make you feel good, but the reality is we need representatives in DC that work within the system. If you don’t want to give money to the HRC, fine, no one is forcing you to, but to just categorically say everyone in the HRC somehow working for a useless organization is ridiculous and counter-productive. Resorting to this class warfare type of mentality is self-defeating, and the fact is all of us in the LGBT community want the same things on ENDA, DADT, DOMA, and hate crimes legislation, we just have different ideas on how reach those goals. The real enemies are the Republicans, the religious right, and those that work with them; they actually want to TAKE our rights away not just delay them.
Bitching about how we deserve (which we do) and want everything right now is simply short-sighted and unrealistic (repeal of DOMA simply DOES NOT have the votes in Congress). It is better to do what we can, support those that commit to the LGBT community, and make concrete gains, than it is to just complain and create a backlash. Yes, justice delayed is justice denied, but forcing legislation that we deserve during a bad time only wastes resources and riles up the opposition.
Brian
The HRC still thinks that the right, who does not control the government is “the opposition.” HELLO! The GOVERNMENT is the now the opposition. That government, remember? The Democratic Party, that controls the house, the senate and the presidency? They protect DOMA and DADT, and all the HRC knows how to do is to throw them parties. Bill Clinton, a democrat, signed DADT and DOMA, and the HRC only knows how to get on their knees. MAN UP and hold the government accountable.
BobinLA
I would never elect someone to represent me who looks like a cross between pee wee herman and charlie mccartney (the puppet).
Brian White
HRC has milked the LGBT Community of $300 million over 29 years and they have nothing to show for it. Nothing.
At best they have about 100,000 annual contributors.
HRC does NOT represent me. (Solmonese is a weasel).
No More $ For HRC
Just stop giving HRC money. Money is ALL they understand.
schlukitz
BobinLA, I believe you mean Charlie McCarthy, the ventriloquist dummy created by Edgar Bergen.
While Joe Salmonese may look like a cross between Pee Wee Herman and Charlie McCarthy, he sounds like Mortimer Snerd. ;D
OrganizerJeff
QJersey is obviously an idiot.
EP-an1
HRC represents me? That self-righteous group of sold-out queers?
As long as they keep their corporate Fascist jobs and go along with the drama they will be fine-car lease and all. What about the rest of us unemployed, angry, frustrated –and lied to Gays?
Bill Perdue
HRC doesn’t know it yet but they’re extinct.
The images of the HRC elitists giving a standing ovation to the jackass whose bigoted battle cry ‘gawd’s in the mix’ was successfully used to torpedo same sex marriage in California is another very big nail in their coffin.
Democrats, including those self appointed hustlers who make big salaries running the “equality business” and lobbyists are front groups for the Democrats operating in our communities. They may support our struggle, on our terms, but they have no right to pretend to be leaders. They’re the opposite of that – they’re lap dogs of the Democrats.
The time when the debate was framed by differences between Democrats and Republicans or liberals and conservatives, who are really the same animal with different stripes is over.
From now on the debate will be increasingly be a fight between Democrats and Republicans on one side and socialists, trade unionists and radicals from the GLBT communities and others under the gun.
Our first goal is to build a nationwide, politically independent movement geared towards repeated mass action to get 50 state equality. It has to be publically disconnected from the Democrats and their junior partners in crime, the Republicans and it hast to have a democratic internal life.
Our second goal is to embed ourselves in union building and the AFL-CIO controlled Labor Party. We have to join in the fights for socialized medicine, a 99.99% tax on the wealth and income of the uberrich and against foreclosures on homes and family farms. We have to make non-stop efforts to build alliances among other minority groups.
Markie-Mark
Bill Perdue – I’m with you!
Josh
Solmonese is a snake.
Scott NYC
No. 15 “Alan” is Joe Solmonese.
schlukitz
@No. 15 Alan:
Ah Yes. HRC purchased a building at a cost of $9.8 million, spent another 19 million refurbishing it and took a 30 year mortgage, so we can readily see the “timetable” for getting gay civil-rights, can’t we.
Oh…and then there was the matter of a $400,000 deposit on a vacant lot they were looking to purchase, but backed out of when the B’nai B’rith Building became available.
Chances for a refund of that deposit looked very slim and since nothing further has been said about it, it looks that issue was just “swept under the carpet”. Apparently, like the Church, things like that can be done without further explanation when you are a not for profit organization supported by membership dues and contributions.
But what the heck. The building was a “Good investment” and what’s the big deal about $400 grand anyway?
It’s only a year’s salary for “Citizen Kane”. (Joe Salmonese)
Dale
It is well known within the HRC itself that Joe covets a high-level job in the administration. He thinks that if he carries water for Obama he has the potential to ascend to something grander, like DNC Chairman or Deputy Secretary of something. Even an ambassadorship would likely appease him.
The HRC’s agenda is all about Joe’s ego. He wants to rub shoulders with the powerful so there is no ass he won’t kiss as long it’s a Democratic ass. In return he gets to talk freely about his conversations with the president, something that most people who truly have the president’s ear wouldn’t do so as not to diminish the weight of their guidance. Joe has courtesy calls with the president–nothing more. The White House needs Joe to appear to be in the loop because they need the HRC’s cover.
I know a lot of gays in DC who can’t stand the HRC because they see how it operates. The fancy office building, the endless black tie galas with Nancy Pelosi and Patrick Leahy, the store on Dupont selling branded merchandise to tourists–and counting each and every one as a “member” from then on out. I think they would be wise to ditch Solmonese and go with someone who is focused on the present rather than his own future.
the crustybastard
Yeah, HRC represents me.
The Catholics still count me too.
Dumbasses.
A-Gay
The people who are dumping on HRC never gave a dime to begin with. The minute anyone rises, they want to take that person down to their level of alienation and misery. So don’t give any money. Hell, you never did anyway, and you never would have. All you can ever do is carp from the sidelines.
Gay people need a lobby in Washington, and the rules of that game are what they are. “There’s a certain way we all must swim/If we expect to live off of the fat of the land.” – Bob Dylan.
Solmonese knows how to play the game, and we need someone who can do it. You’re not giving any money anyway, so why do you care? If HRC accomplishes nothing, the only money they “skimmed” was mine. Not yours.
Change takes time. You don’t want to hear that, because you have the attention span of a fruit fly. But it’s the truth. To change things, you have to build change, brick by brick. There’s a hate crimes bill that is about to become law. That did not happen by accident. ENDA will become law. That won’t happen by accident. The president of the United States made a series of specific pledges, and that didn’t happen by accident.
Don’t contribute to HRC. Really, don’t do it. See if those of us who do give money (and time) give a shit. Hold your marches and feel important. Tell yourselves that you are doing something.
schlukitz
What flavor Cool-Aid did you ask Joe to pour for you?
And you, of course, have a crystal ball that enables you to see who gave to HRC (good boy)…and who didn’t (bad boy) come Christmas time.
Play Santa Claus much, do you?
A-Gay
It’s hilarious to see these pledges never to give anything from people who never gave a nickel to anything in their lives.
schlukitz
And you, of course, have documentation to back up your baseless assertion?
Such obvious displays of infantilism are embarrassing to the LGBT community
A-Gay
Oh come on, it’s obvious. Most of the condemnations of HRC are shot through with class envy. It’s got nothing to do with effectiveness or lack thereof. The issue for most people here is that they can’t afford a suit. Well, that’s a shame, but you’re really not the target fundraising audience, are you?
schlukitz
Do you make it a practice of coming on line after your mommy and daddy turn in for the night?
How do you ever manage to get up in time to attend classes at the elementary school you go to?
A-Gay
Come to think of it, Schlukitz, I think I would like a latte. And could you put a rush on that? Meeting in five minutes.
what
I’d like to know what the HRC has succeeded in legislatively in their 29 years (and not just things that once successful they’ve attached their name to while others were actually doing the work and making it happen.) That’s the measure of success and effectiveness for the money spent.
As far as I can tell, they’ve accomplished nothing and spent a lot of money. The ACLU would be a much better organization to donate to based on their accomplishments.
Steve
I don’t want to participate in the HRC-bashing, as fun as it is. Any organization that grows will eventually become too big. And organizations will usually put the internal needs of the organization ahead of the mission and purpose. Eventually, the purpose of the organization becomes, “raise enough money to pay the payroll.” I gave a few thousand dollars to HRC over a period of years. I stopped supporting HRC a few years ago, after I realized that they had hit me for “annual” money three times in the previous year.
It is much more effective to write letters directly to your own Representative and your own two Senators. If each person who attended the March last Sunday were to write just three letters a month, they would get noticed. If each person who thought about attending the March last Sunday were to write just three letters a week, for the next year, they would get bills passed.
When big lobbying outfits want to put pressure on congress, they do it by organizing letter-writing campaigns. But you can write letters without being organized by a million-dollar “leader”. In my opinion, $100 spent on postage and stationary is much more likely to get results than $100 donated to any particular organization.
Here is the contact information:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml
Mike
Hey A-Gay,
“The people who are dumping on HRC never gave a dime to begin with.”
You are totally, totally wrong. I gave money to the HRC for years, and a lot of it, before I quit several years ago when I could see what was happening to them. And I’m not alone. I’ve talked to dozens of people and all of them have a similar story: all of them used to give, quit giving, and now most are having a hard time getting the HRC to quit nagging them for more money.
Having lobbyists in Washington works for you if you have deep pockets, like the health insurance companies, because then you can literally buy votes even if more than 70% of the public is against you. It doesn’t work for the HRC, when they don’t have anywhere near that kind of budget. That is a model that will never work for us, and we need to focus on things like the Courage Campaign, because grass roots organization and getting more LGBT politicians elected is the only way to go.
Robert, NYC
I’m with you Bill.
The problem with the HRC is that its not aggressive enough pursuing full equality. Too much political correctness for my comfort and the reason why I don’t contribute to them.
All of us need to band together and put the Dems on notice. If they don’t deliver on DADT before 2012 or DOMA, expect NOTHING from us. For too long, they’ve taken our votes for granted. Its time to get tough with them. We need one large organization with as many straight, progressive allies on board including a strong union presence led by a national, competent, intelligent spokesperson to lead us, someone of the Peter Tatchell ilk who isn’t afraid to spell it out, loud and clear.
Brian
If anyone has a lick of a doubt that the HRC has become a bunch of insider elitist brats, just read the comments of “A-Gay” above. He thinks there are A-gays, B-gays and C-gays. What a tool.
A-Gay thinks that if you did not give any money to HRC, you don’t have any right to criticize them. WRONG. They are standing in the way of gay equality, so yes, B, C and D gays, — any and all — poor gays, rich gays, criticize away.
I totally agree with Dale, that the New York and Washington gay elite, the “A-gays” have fallen in love with their own celebrity, and have become indistinguishable from the people who refuse to take DADT and DOMA off the books. The elites and the democrats are just sickening. All they know how to do is flatter each other, throw parties for each other, and praise the efforts of each other.
The standing ovations for Commander Fucktard were the most disgusting display of weakness imaginable. I wanted to smack those wine glasses and H’orderves right out of their hands.
Cam
No. 15 · Alan said…
The people that claim the HRC and the Democratic party are not representing the LGBT community need a reality check. Just because you don’t agree with an organization 100% doesn’t give you the right to claim that they’re somehow elitist or disconnected, frankly it just makes you sound ignorant for trying to diminish the efforts of the HRC to increase our visibility in mainstream DC politics.
_____________________________________________
Alan, it isn’t that I disagree with HRC’s stated goals 100%. They SAY that they are for gay rights. That is fine, but the problem is, they have not had one sucess. Origionally they were opposed to gay marriage because it would be too upsetting to straights and we needed to sit back and stay quiet. Well then the laws in some states started to change so they grudgingly shifted on that, but not to the point where they will do anything about DOMA. They were not for DADT until it became a cause Celbre in the news media. But again, they sent out fundraising letters MENTIONING DADT but got into trouble when people found out that the money collected was not going to be used to specifically fight it. They have been all about Hate Crimes and ENDA.
So instead of dealing with the two federal laws on the books that say Gays are inferior to others, they would rather pussyfoot around a hate crimes bill for 15 years. Hate crimes sounds good, and sure, it isn’t a bad thing if it passes, but the facts of the matter are this. If somebody kills a lesbian because they want her purse and gets caught, or if somebody kills her because she is a lesbian, she has still been murdered, and they still go to jail. They go a little longer with Hate crimes.
With DOMA and DADT gone, there is no longer any federal laws that allow our discrimination. The state courts will no longer hear arguments like “The Fed fires people for being gay so it is ok” etc… HRC has done nothing for that. If I was cynical enough I would say that they are very aware, that as a group designed to pressure the FEDERAL govt. if the last two federal laws against us dissappeared their reason for excistance and their high salaries also dissappear.
Cam
No. 34 · A-Gay said…
Oh come on, it’s obvious. Most of the condemnations of HRC are shot through with class envy. It’s got nothing to do with effectiveness or lack thereof. The issue for most people here is that they can’t afford a suit. Well, that’s a shame, but you’re really not the target fundraising audience, are you?….
Come to think of it, Schlukitz, I think I would like a latte. And could you put a rush on that? Meeting in five minutes.
______________________
Oh Sweetie, how sad for you. First of all, if you have to rush for a meeting, then you aren’t as “A” as you think you are. If you were the meeting would wait for you. Second, I used to donate to HRC, go to the events etc.., I stopped because I saw what was going on there, There was much more interest in whether or not the employees could get their pictures taken with Ellen or Rosie, than in pushing for any rights. So you keep on polishing up those Cole Haan Shoes (Two years old..shhhh, don’t tell anybody), and your Cartier watch that your grandparents gave you as a graduation gift so many years ago, and don’t worry about struggling to make the lease payments on that car, I’m sure that all the people at your meeting won’t know that you’re 2 months behind. But be sure to keep thinking that you’re “A”.
Thomas Johnson
@Taknota
Jealous much?
Bash
But what is the alternative to the HRC? Is there an organization that all the people moved to march could join that would offer–over time, even–the national exposure, coordinate calls to electeds, lobby in DC (some people seem opposed to this on its face, but not having a presence in the halls of power would seem to be a very quick way to not get what you want), raise money for local action, act as a resource for the press, etc? It seems that the time may certainly be coming for some new representation, something that would more naturally harness the energies and enthusiasm of the new an first-time activists and young people especially.
I haven’t given a dime to HRC in about 10 years, but as someone who’s spent 15+ years as a fundraiser for progressive NGOs I find the whole “all the HRC wants to do is get rich” line of dialogue (“dialogue,” actually, as it gets us nowhere) really aggrevating. It is not a monolith, it is people who have chosen to pursue a career in public service in hopes of making a difference. I think I had be hard pressed to indentify anyone anywhere I worked ever that didn’t want their organization to have the most resources, the most access to the best donors, and a hearing among our leaders.
It is worth noting that there are a LOT of gays and lesbians out there who don’t agree with or prioritize core progressive/Liberal/Democratic/whatever issues. I personally wish it weren’t so, but that’s a fact. I was a guest of friends at an HRC dinner in Dallas two weekends ago. I’m sure they didn’t all agree on healthcare, taxes, foreign policy, etc., but there were over 3,000 people in attendance who all believe in full equality for our community. Also, 1) in many states HRC is the only game in town. In NYC I can choose to support one of 50 LGBT groups, some, or all. I think in many places that’s not an option. And 2) this brings resources to the local community. 50 percent of the $1MM+ proceeds from that dinner go to HRC in DC, and the other 50 are split between 15 or so local charities–a gay chorus, youth groups, AIDS service organizations, legal groups, religious groups. Charities that need the money and don’t have the infrasctructure to raise it on that scale by themselves.
Cam
No. 45 · Bash said…
I haven’t given a dime to HRC in about 10 years, but as someone who’s spent 15+ years as a fundraiser for progressive NGOs I find the whole “all the HRC wants to do is get rich” line of dialogue (“dialogue,” actually, as it gets us nowhere) really aggrevating. It is not a monolith, it is people who have chosen to pursue a career in public service in hopes of making a difference.
__________________________________
While I’m not arguing witht he overall tone of your post, trying to say that people like Joe Solomnese has chosen a career in public service to make a difference, seems to negate the fact that he is earning over $300,000. The HRC supporters keep saying that he could leave and earn twice that in the private sector…I would like to know where.
The fact is, HRC takes money away from other organizations. They have collected over 300 million, imagine if breaking that down, that each state over the last stretch of time had 6 million for their organizations to spend on fighting for rights. Or imagine if that 300 million was spent on a real lobbying firm. One of the gigantic K St. firms that have relationships with everybody in Congress. Trust me, if Aiken Gump or Alcalde and Fay had been given HALF that much money we would have full rights. Hell, that one lobbyist got Senator McCain to right a very sleazy letter to the FCC with just one meeting. Imagine what she and a few hundred million could have done for us?
Kdogg
WHY ON EARTH ARE YOU SPENDING YOUR TIME ATTACK JOE SOLMONESE AND THE HRC. ATTACK SOMEONE WHO IS ACTUALLY AGAINST YOUR MOVEMENT. GROW SOME FREAKIN BALLS AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE GAY RIGHTS MOVEMENT. THERE IS A REASON QUEERTY IS RATED AS THE #1 THREAT TO GLBT EQUALITY, YOU ARE HATE MONGERERS THAT DIVIDE OUR MOVEMENT.
While HRC is working to get the representatives and senators in the house and senate to support votes on the legislation that will get rid of DOMA and DADT and provide inclusive employment and hate crime legislation, you all sit on your chairs attacking them. Why not contribute, why not work to get reps and senators in our court, why not do anything but divide gays and be hateful.
I used to love reading your blogs, I quit about 4 months ago because I cannot stand your hate-mongering. I returned today just to see if you’ve gotten better and you’ve only gotten worse. GLBT people have families and lives that they are fighting for, you are bitter and need to STOP working to divide the very people fighting for those rights out of the movement. You should be ashamed of yourselves.
The Swimmer
@Alan No.15
I think its pathetic how you tell us HRC is not elitist. Let’s have a reality check Joe. Not everybody can afford to attend your galas in DC. We’re in a recession now and yet anytime I get a letter from HRC it is about some gala, or silent auction, or fundraiser for an unknown politician.
For two decades now we have sat silently and let you guys lobby for us. I am sorry to say the overwhelming super-majority here do not have confidence in your ability to get anything done. We have given thirty-five million and have nothing to show for it except crumbs.
This is what a failed leader does. He rants on and on about all the wonderful things he’s done and defends himself even when everyone around him/her can see how they’ve really done.
What about gay youth homelessness? What about the fact that ENDA didn’t originally have transgendered protections because of you? What about blood donor rights? Repealing Prop 8? Barney Frank’s anti-activist comments? Where is our money really being spent?
As HRC has failed to answer these questions the gay community has moved on. Unfortunately the rest of society has not. Those who support our rights still treat HRC as if they are a legitimate organization and give lots of money to them to feel good about equality. It is now our job to truly educate people on the failed leadership and weak-at-the-knees self aggrandizement of HRC.
schlukitz
The standing ovations for Commander Fucktard were the most disgusting display of weakness imaginable. I wanted to smack those wine glasses and H’orderves right out of their hands.
You took the words right out of my mouth, Brian!
Cam
No. 47 · Kdogg said….
WHY ON EARTH ARE YOU SPENDING YOUR TIME ATTACK JOE SOLMONESE AND THE HRC. ATTACK SOMEONE WHO IS ACTUALLY AGAINST YOUR MOVEMENT. GROW SOME FREAKIN BALLS AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE GAY RIGHTS MOVEMENT.
______________________________________-
Kdogg, if HRC is making backroom deals and telling the White House that they don’t have to move on our rights, and if they are telling us to shut up and that we don’t have the right to say anything about Obama until he is out of office…then they ARE working against our movement. They are sucking fundraising dollars away from groups that are actually doing something.
schlukitz
@ No. 47 KDOGG:
I used to love reading your blogs, I quit about 4 months ago because I cannot stand your hate-mongering. I returned today just to see if you’ve gotten better and you’ve only gotten worse. GLBT people have families and lives that they are fighting for, you are bitter and need to STOP working to divide the very people fighting for those rights out of the movement. You should be ashamed of yourselves.
Ah. then we can look forward to the pleasure of hearing the sound of the door closing. Behind you!
Kdogg
@ THE SWIMMER
You have no idea the political reality of the world in which we live. Supporting GLBT across many communities throughout the United States is one of the most unpopular issues you could support. For many Senators and Representatives it is not only not in their interest to vote for legislation helping GLBT but it actually could get them kicked out of office. This is why a snake like George W. Bush so vocally said cruel and hurtful things in public forums regarding our community. $35 million in donations is nothing over the amount of years HRC has been serving our community when you look at what is on the movements horizons. We now have marriage equality in multiple states, this week we will have employment and hate crime legislation securing our jobs and ensuring that FBI can investigate crimes against the GLBT nationwide (so local police forces can no longer hide evidence, etc to gay bashings) we have a president that not only attends the dinner for the largest gay rights organization but on public television tells the nation he hopes someday all relationships straight or gay will be looked at with respect and adoration (HUGE FOR THE 13 YEAR OLD AT HOME WATCHING WHO IS GAY AND UNSURE WHAT TO DO WITH (HIM/HER)SELF). Not to mention we have real hope that DADT and DOMA will be ended and a commitment to pass legislation ensuring the recognition of our partnerships.
All of this because as a movement we are making great strides both in the hearts of the American people, and more importantly on Capitol Hill.
HRC may not be perfect, but they are a part of why our movement has been successful and will be successful. What is the point in spending so much time hating on an organization that wants equality. Direct your hatred towards the true people that are keeping you from your rights (and I promise you it is not the HRC that desires you to be a second class citizen). Look instead at the Mormon Church, the National Organization for Marriage, the Republican Party. This site and so many of its responders hatred for our own movement is growing tired and is more unreasonable as each day passes. Self-hatred is something gays are unfortunately all too familiar with, let’s grow beyond it and not apply it to self-hating our own movement and attacking organizations that have been fighting for our rights well before any of us were!
The Swimmer
@KDOGG
Buddy, I’ve done more than my fair share of hatred for the organizations you mentioned. I was there in SF when the SCoCA acknowledged the results of Prop 8. It was not pretty!
I was on the ground campaigning against Prop 8. Oddly enough I didn’t see much of the HRC. They gave paltry donations to repeal Prop 8 while throwing fundraisers for pro-civil union senators in other parts of the country. However, the day after the election I get a letter from HRC saying “what a great night it was” for LGBT Americans and how they played a role.
They didn’t do jack shit! They are hoarding money away from real causes like The Courage Campaign and Lambda Legal. You know, the same Lambda Legal that has fought for YEARS behind the scenes to get us our rights in all 50 states. The same Lambda Legal that earned us the right to marry in 6 states no thanks to the HRC.
HRC is a political tool for the DNC and as long as they are hogging the spotlight and holding the ear of the President we will have to wait longer and harder for our rights. FUCK HRC and fuck defending them.
It seems every time I support a campaign like Courage, EQCA, or any other the HRC comes in at the last minute to fuck things up and try to take the credit for themselves.
By the way, why should I support an organization that backed pro-Iraq politicians and supported the silent Holocaust going on over there right now?
Kdogg
You have all been reading QUEERTY far too long. Queerty is being listed by GLBT community and blogs as a threat to our equality by the level of negativity they are now bringing to the movement.
Change blogs and get some outside perspective:
http://www.bilerico.com/
ttp://www.pageoneq.com/
http://www.365gay.com
http://www.theadvocate.com
http://www.pageoneq.com/
schlukitz
@ No. 52 Kdogg:
Self-hatred is something gays are unfortunately all too familiar with, let’s grow beyond it and not apply it to self-hating our own movement and attacking organizations that have been fighting for our rights well before any of us were!
Strawman! Attacking an organization that has taken in over 300 million dollars over the past four decades and has so little to show for it’s accomplishments, is no different than attacking religion who also takes untold millions of dollars and uses a lot of that money to take our rights away.
One exists because of the other. If the church were not attacking the LGBT community, then there would be no need for HRC, obviously.
Hating on HRC is not hating on our own movement. It’s simply putting an organization that is cannibalizing it’s own people for their self-aggrandizement and we are putting them on notice that we deserve and expect more for the money, time and effort we give them, year after year, after year.
SOSDD is no longer an acceptable mode of operation, especially in these hard times. The day of reckoning has arrived for HRC. Joe Salmonese needs to shape-up…or ship-out…just like any other employee who is NOT doing his job.
Kdogg
@ schlukitz
You have no idea what you are talking about. Attack the church you are talking about not the organization that has been attacking it before you were born.
Kdogg
UNITE don’t DIVIDE!!
LOVE don’t HATE
EQUAL RIGHTS ARE IN SIGHT BUT YOU HAVE TO WORK FOR THEM NOT AGAINST THEM!
schlukitz
@ No. 56 Kdogg:
You have no idea what you are talking about. Attack the church you are talking about not the organization that has been attacking it before you were born.
I was born in 1936.
HRC was formed in 1980.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HRC
Now, do tell me, yet once again, that I am the one who doesn’t know what I am talking about?
Kdogg
Wikipedia is a great citation, use it often?
Kdogg
http://www.bilerico.com/2009/10/hrcs_rhode_island_avenue_office_vandalized_what_do.php
This is what hatred like that of Queerty is bringing to our movement. Queers Against Assimilation literally attacked and vandalized an HRC office in New Hampshire.
Is this the movement you want?
Brian
That’s all the HRC knows how to do these days — side with the government. They tell us that the problem is only with the gays that complain. The problem is our patience, our failure to appreciate them, our failure to wait until 2017, etc.
What they can’t see is that they are in denial about being sold out by the democrats. So if the HRC is defending the government’s failure to take DADT and DOMA off of their books, then they are an EXTENSION of the government action to oppress gays, not a adversary or an advocate. The have lost INDEPENDENCE. That makes the HRC an OBSTACLE to the repeal of DADT and DOMA. Someone find me a clip of Joe Cinderella actually criticizing the three little pigs, Barry, Harry and Nancy. Where is Joe demanding that they undue the damage of Bill Clinton’s pen! There are lots of clips of them attacking gays. They are not patient enough! They are loudmouth complainers! But find one word of Joe directly criticizing the president. HRC is now undermining gay rights, not advancing them, by being captive to the government’s PR machine.
Kdogg
Siding with the government and working to get government in support of the GLBT movement are two EXTREMELY different things. Even if you disagree with how the HRC is working, stop witch hunting them
http://www.bilerico.com/2009/10/hrcs_rhode_island_avenue_office_vandalized_what_do.php
This article is an example of the aftermath of all your HRC bashing. Stop hating on the GLBT organizations and start gaining support for our community.
Brian
It is only the beginning of the HRC bashing. They deserve it, because they are now a cog in Obama’s PR machine. I didn’t stand up and give multiple ovations to the Commander in Chief who sits by and watches as his gay vets are dumped right before his eyes. Who outrageously suggests that he just signs the bill, but has no power to repeal DADT. When Obama wanted legislation to give a trillion to banks, he got in on his desk in a month! And Joe Solmonese says we can’t judge this bastard until 2017!
The most outrageous thing, is the DADT and DOMA are simple repeals, not crafted new law! Where is the work required! The bill of goods sold to the HRC is mind-numbing.
If the HRC is only acting as political cover for the white house with their applause and banquets, they need to be stopped, because they are corrupt insiders doing more harm than good. They are giving Obama sweet chocolates on his pillow so he can sleep well at night, while his outed troops are being thrown to the curb.
EP-an1
They are leeches. GIVE THEM NOTHING.
Kdogg
It is fine to enter into debate about what the best course of action is. It is fine to feel that the HRC is no longer an organization that is benefitting the GLBT. But I would hope that as Americans we understand the concept that we all have different thoughts, ideas, and approaches. HRC is a GLBT organization that desires all of us to be given rights.
Agree to disagree, don’t support hatred in the form of vandelism.
ONCE AGAIN HATRED AND DIVISION ARE NOT THE ANSWER. THE REASON GLBTQ WILL WIN OUT IN THE END IS BECAUSE WE ARE ON THE SIDE THAT UNITES FAMILIES AND PROLIFERATES LOVE.
UNITY AND LOVE IS THE ANSWER, NOT DIVISION AND HATRED.
schlukitz
@ No. 60 Kdogg:
Queers Against Assimilation literally attacked and vandalized an HRC office in New Hampshire.
Wrong. The Rhode Island Avenue office of HRC is in Wash. DC, not New Hampshire. Geography 101 must have been a fail for you.
This article is an example of the aftermath of all your HRC bashing.
From Bilerico:
“Queers Against Assimilation” (to the point) tagged HRC’s building with the sentence “Quit leaving queers behind.”
Timothy McVeigh, the Oklahoma City bomber attacked and vandalizing a building and that is an example of the “aftermath”.
Comments from both you and Bilerico are over dramatic and smack of sensationalism.
Brian
It is much more than a belief that the HRC is not super-great, it is anger and a belief that the HRC has become part of the establishment. They are part of this democratically controlled government machine that has made a clear decision that DADT and DOMA will stay on the books until at least around 2017, as HRC Joe has suggested, when the democratic supermajority necessary to get it done is only guaranteed to be there until 2010.
A corrupted organization, which is one that is so friendly with the Democratic house, senate and presidency that it is no longer independent, becomes part of the oppression process. So if a group of gays are angry at the HRC it is because they believe that the HRC has become a lobby for the white house, which refuses to undo the damage caused by Bill Clinton’s evil pen.
Kdogg
I’ve said all I wanted to say.
I’m not an HRC member, I donate to other organizations that I feel will better help our community but I’m so tired of everyone deciding they are the ones to blame for everything. You have all been blinded into taking your frustrations on a organization that you now blame for your very lack of rights.
It isn’t HRC that is to blame. It’s ignorance, its blind faith that tells people homosexuality will lead to the end of the world, its a lot of things but its not Joe Solmonese.
You may not agree with them but you do not have to support such ridiculous hatred. Sensationalism would be you and Queerty’s insistance that HRC is the reason why we don’t have more rights than we do. When I’ve seen them on the ground campaigning in every state that now has marriage equality I hardly find your sensationalism to be informed.
Sorry for mistating that this was an attack in New Hampshire I meant to say New Hampshire Avenue. (I am gay, I am for our rights, I am for a united movement that loves, please do not now make me the cause for all your pain. Realize the world is is homophobic and let’s join together to change it without stabbing out each others eyes from the frustration of it all)
schlukitz
No. 68 Kdogg:
Sorry for mistating that this was an attack in New Hampshire I meant to say New Hampshire Avenue.
Good try…but another epic fail.
National Headquarters’ Equality Center Location: 1640 Rhode Island Ave., N.W.. Washington, D.C. 20036 …
Not to be a nit-picker or anything like that, but mistating is spelled misstating.
Perhaps you really do need Wikipedia much more than you realize?
Brian
Gays are nice people. They wanted to believe that if you were just nice enough to Obama and the democrats, listened to them and “worked with” them, that they would appreciate all of efforts, and that the democrats would account for the laws signed by Bill Clinton, DADT and DOMA, and simply take them off the books while they democrats had the super-majority to do it.
But it looks like, while gays have delivered election wins to the democrats, delivered support and celebratory banquets, the democrats in power, have suddenly lost their desire to act. Of course, they love to butter us up with talk, but behind the scenes they seemed to have this scheme: butter up the gays, but deliver repeals only after the midterms and Obama’s re-election, assuming democrats will in all of those elections.
That is the democrats selling us out. What is worse, is a great big banquet where the HRC gives multiple standing ovations to make the sell-out, look like something other than a sell-out. A lot can change in the years the white house wants us to wait for change.
All the gays need to get on board one battleship. The one that has to mission to reverse this sell-out, and force the democrats to repeal DADT and DOMA before the midterms, when it can surely get done. They are repeals, no real work is required that could take away work from any other important area. When team Obama complains about not being able to repeal DADT and DOMA because he has too much to do — THAT is a lie.
Cam
No. 52 · Kdogg said…
@ THE SWIMMER
You have no idea the political reality of the world in which we live. Supporting GLBT across many communities throughout the United States is one of the most unpopular issues you could support. For many Senators and Representatives it is not only not in their interest to vote for legislation helping GLBT but it actually could get them kicked out of office.
______________________________________
Oh My goodness! How aweful for them! So they are all great people that believe in civil rights, but they just don’t want to miss out on what the Congressional dinning room is serving later.
All I have to say is that lucky for Obama and other racial minorities that Lynden Johnson and the other politicians back then were braver than the ones we’ve got now.
schlukitz
@ No. 71 Cam:
All I have to say is that lucky for Obama and other racial minorities that Lynden Johnson and the other politicians back then were braver than the ones we’ve got now.
Touché!
That needed to be said and bravo to you for saying it.
How about we send a letter to Mr. Obama in the Ofal Office saying that very same thing…in big, bold, block letters?
Or, would that be considered racist of us?
Andrew
HRC = Weasels
Brian
I bet Solmonese goes home at night, puts on some diapers and drinks from a baby bottle.
michael
I love the defenders of the HRC on this thread. All they can do is say that we suffer from “class envy” and “it takes time”. I think it is you that have class envy and sucking up to those whom you desperately wish you were equal to is not classy. Remember, just because your invited to work in the big house does not make you part of the family. But unfortunately there is a class of gays who are pathetic enough to believe and strive for self worth in this way.
Just take it from somebody who was born into the world your so desperate to defend and be a part of, class comes from within. Class, sophistication and elegance is something everyone can relate to. It does not divide people, as the words we have heard spoken from Joe S. and Hilary R. have this weekend. Class puts people at ease and no matter if it is wearing Prada or The Gap, its light shines through. People with real class are real and it is not obscured nor aggrandized by what they wear, their zip code, or what clubs they hang out in. People with class; JFK jr,
M.L. King jr., Al Gore, Jimmy Carter, Dolly Pardon (my best example) Hilary Clinton, Harvey Milk, Coretta King. These people have it and the common human knew it. And the common human can see that the HRC and its passionless, pathetic leader does not.
michael
And “A-list gay” you are so pathetically overcompensating that it makes your class obvious. You might be living out some screwed up personality disorder here on these Queerty threads but your not fooling anyone. Your actually quite nauseating.
schlukitz
Right on, Michael. And, not to forget Julian Bond, who spoke so eloquently this past weekend on behalf of the LGBT community.
He was mighty classy! ;D
Brian
It is amazing how gays are under this false impression that they are worked “with” instead of worked “on.” It is classic case of the sweet-talking guy playing their partner. “Baby, I’ll always love you!” But he is a player. So while he does love you, watch what he is doing. He is not spending any time with YOU, he is spending time with THEM. He loves you, but he is playing you.
Well, two can play that game — we can walk out. We love him, but it is over, baby.
michael
No. 77 · schlukitz My list is way to short and yes, Mr. Bond is a perfect model of a true class act. Obama could be in that list if he would choose to be.
John from England(used to be just John but there are other John's)
@ Michael
Are you mentally insane?
who T F is defending HRC on this amazingly eloquent, perceptive, intelligent and open for debate thread?!!
Bad is bad.
Good is good.
The world is black and white.
No more, no less.
Phew, happy thoughts.
Jake
how do we get solmonese out?
schlukitz
Jake, I was wondering the same thing myself.
Anyone got any ideas or suggestions?
It's Time To Go Jode
Donations are way down this year. Stop the money, Joe leaves.
JohnVisser
Stopped giving to HRC last year. Solmonese, IMHO, is a make-nicie-nicie-and-if-we-ask-oh-so-nicie-then-maybe-could-we-pleasie-weasie-have-some-rightsies spineless little bunny wabbit. F**k that, we need to demand our rights – and loudly. People like Andrew Sullivan, John Aravosis, Dan Savage and Joe (My God) are the people who represent me – not that coward Solmonese. Every time he speaks on TV all I ever hear is, “If I’m nice enough, maybe they won’t beat the crap out of me after the show.”
And what, exactly, has HRC accomplished anyway?
A-Gay
I doubt any of the haters here have given a nickel.
schlukitz
A-Gay, you sound like a broken phonograph record.
Brian
HRC won’t last another year.
Merv
She’s Secretary of State, for Christ sake, not president. I don’t know why you expect so much from Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Brian NJ
No more money for the HRC. And if you didn’t give any money to the HRC in the past, you are even smarter. I never gave to that bloated banquet house. All their dinners and mixers have made them useless alcoholics.
Don’t let the @A-Gay elites shame you into not speaking out against the damage the HRC has done to the cause. The HRC needs to go. It failed by making a deal with the democratically-controlled government that they can put off gay rights, putting it at the bottom of the list. They are just the gay PR department of the democratic party. They always threaten us by saying the GOP is worse, and it certainly is, but the democrats are the government now and WE WANT ACCOUNTABILITY FOR DADT AND DOMA SIGNED BY CLINTON.
The democratic government, house, senate and presidency may not last until Joe Cinderella’s target date of January 2017, when we are all flying around in hover-cars.
The gay elites love to talk in terms of “years.” They are dumping our gay vets every month!
Time go all DELORES CLAIBORNE on their asses: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWHjCwtryVg
Robert, NYC
Brian NJ:
I stopped donating a year ago. HRC has not been aggressive enough, instead its opted for placating. Obama’s appearance at the dinner last weekend is just window dressing. He’s feeling the heat so he figured he’d showed up just to assuage us as usual. Its so transparent. Actions speak far louder than words.
If unemployment continues to rise for another two years, he can pack his bags, let alone repeal at least DADT before 2012. I don’t see the latter happening so fast since he’s leaving it up to the military to make a decision for him, a military that is infested with right wing religious wackos. Even if the economy the two wars and health care reform weren’t the most pressing issues, I really don’t believe DADT and DOMA would be priorities either. They’d find something else to delay, delay, delay. We’ve NEVER been on the upper rungs of the ladder in the pecking order of things. Its not politically expedient and their careers are far more important than our rights and equality.
schlukitz
@ No. 90 Robert:
You hit that nail squarely on the head, friend.