Tomorrow afternoon in D.C., OutQ radio host Michelangelo Signorile will host The Path Forward, a live panel (with studio audience, video stream, and call-ins) with the likes of NGLTF’s Rea Carey; NCTE’s Mara Keisling; SLDN’s Aubrey Sarvis; Clinton’s former LGBT advisor Richard Socarides; and blogger Pam Spaulding. (We’re told HRC’s Joe Solmonese will be piped in via satellite, or Skype, or something, because he’s stuck in London due to Iceland’s volcano ash.) And there’s a reason none of the panel members are part of the White House administration, or elected members of Congress: “We really wanted to make this a discussion among activists and leaders in the LGBT movement. I know leaders could also be [Rep. Barney] Frank and [Rep. Tammy] Baldwin in Congress. We really wanted to keep it very focused on the strategy of activists. I’ve had Barney, Tammy, and Jared [Polis, out congressman from Colorado] on the show, and we wanted to put the focus on the activists who engage with Congress.” That list, apparently, doesn’t include GetEQUAL’s Robin McGehee; she’ll be in the audience asking a question.
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We’re Expecting a Lot of Finger Pointing at Michelangelo Signorile’s Power Panel
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Cam
So he’s meeting with all of the old guard of “Gay Inc.” but not bringing in the one group thats actually gotten some press and attention recently. I thought he was better than that, but apparently he’s just bringing in his little group of back slapping friends.
NickadooLA
I think the key here is that he’s putting the “focus on the activists who engage with Congress.” If the conversation is going to revolve around getting an understanding of what these people are saying, doing as well as what they’re hearing, then these are they people we should be hearing from.
If the conversation devolves into the standard lip service and talking points, it won’t be worthwhile.
Does Robin McGehee actively engage with Congress, or his she simply a grass roots organizer and campaigner who engages with activists and the community? She would make an extremely interesting guest, but if she’s not actively engaging with Congress, I don’t see how she could very well contribute to this particular conversation.
TiredOldQueen@Queerty
I would tune in were it not for the fact that the man’s voice makes my epilepsy act up.
WiseUp
“Backslapping friends” is right. A group of lame clowns has the Signorile put together here. They should just all go to McDonald’s together.
Storm
On his program, Signorile was VERY supportive of the Tuesday DADT protest/handcuffing at the White House fence and seems enthusiastic about the efforts of GetEQUAL. And Signorile’s experiences with ACT UP and the “Outing” practice give him significant street cred that few people posting here can match. So rather than criticize his guest selection before this event airs, I’ll listen to this Town Hall meeting and see how it goes down.
David Cornish
Nobody on this panel will be able to answer a very simple question:
How and when will we achieve our full equality?
That’s not what any of these groups are about – they are about fundraising or self-proclaimed activism.
Storm
Bullshit. Choose the most radical activist players in the LGBT community, put them on a panel, ask them the same question, and they couldn’t answer it, either, boyo. We’re gay – not clairvoyant.
counterpoll
Can we or Queerty put a stop to this?David Cornish = AndrewW = Someone who hates any form of activism on behalf of LGBT rights?
His ISP/multiple screen-names have been flagged on other LGBT sites. When he has some BETTER IDEA, then great, we’ll listen. But meanwhile he has nothing to add to our discussion other than the two year old child who repeatedly screams NO NO NO.
Aaron
@TiredOldQueen@Queerty: That’s saying a lot coming from a tired old queen.
LoveMoby
No one from Immigration Equality or Out4Immigration. I keep hearing from Signorile how important the UAFA bill is and then it’s not addressed on his panel. FAIL.
AndrewW
During two hours with the so-called “Leadership” of the LGBT Advocacy groups and a bunch of Activists there was no mention of any tactics, strategies or any kind of “path forward.” There was no discussion about accountability. Nobody dared speak about “winning.”
Except for Robin McGeehee who asked for Solmonese to resign and “get the hell out of the way” if DADT is not repealed this year – everyone pretty much congratulated each other. For what, I’m not sure.
There was nothing productive about this meeting/show. Nothing.
Mike
That was a great big non-event. The blogger cried about not being respected or in the loop. The angry GE folks in the audience just wanted to rag on Joe. HRC defended their record and the other orgs came to their defense. The trans group pretty much repeated how happy they were so far because they got theirs in the health bill.
I’m not a fan of HRC by any means but at least Joe wanted to talk about how to MOVE FORWARD. The people that need to be flipped in the Senate.
The only positive thing I can say about the whole thing is I’m a little more away of some of the stuff he have accomplished in the past few months.