LGBT POV

(Editor’s note: GetEqual made some news this weekend at Netroots Nation – stopping traffic on the Strip in Las Vegas and threatening to upstage Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Harry Reid to the point that someone had to negotiate a truce: ENDA was the first question asked of Pelosi. Then came what I felt was a transcendent moment between Reid and discharged Lt. Dan Choi.

But apparently, that was not the outcome Choi intended. In a letter to his supporters Tuesday, Choi wrote:  “As Joan [the moderator] explained to Sen. Reid, I did not give the ring as a gift — I gave it to him as a reminder of the career that DADT destroyed last week. Although that ring represents an earned symbol of my time at West Point, at this moment it means NOTHING without repeal. I have no use of a ring that reminds me of the homophobia written into our laws — written into the laws of a country that I have fought for and that many of my friends have died for.” Choi asked that people help him hold Reid accountable: “Join me in demanding the repeals of DADT this year: www.getequal.org/returnthering”

But all the whoopla – especially challenging Reid, who is in a surprisingly contested race against a Tea Party radical, prompted a heated discussion between Reid supporters Derek Washington (on left in the photo) – also generally a fan of GetEqual – and GetEqual’s Robin McGehee.  That generated so much conversation within the LGBT community that Derek offered his own thoughts – and some friendly advice to his friends at GetEqual. This was initially posted on a private political listserv – but Derek gave me permission to post it here for you to see. – Karen Ocamb)

Some (Respectful) Advice for GetEqual

By guest blogger Derek Washington

Chairman, Stonewall Democratic Club of Southern Nevada

First let me say that Netroots was an amazing event and my getting to know Mike Rogers and everyone else I met will always be something I remember and cherish. Probably the best part of all of this is that Robin/Get Equal and I (along with many in the local LGBT community) were able to disagree with one another forcefully and then party with each other Saturday night. We love each other and support one another in most things.

I would not be an activist today were it not for Robin. I consider Dan a friend whom I wish I had more time with socially. I think, as an act of civil disobedience, you can’t say that Get Equal didn’t knock one out the park by shutting down the Strip. Honestly, I’m surprised the local press hasn’t picked up on Metro not arriving for twenty minutes. Someone should be fired, what if that had been a hostile or violent situation?

I completely disagree with GE attacking Harry Reid (they feel they “targeted”, as a Harry Reid supporter it felt like an attack here. Semantics.), however, who else was making news for our issues before the National Equality March and Get Equal? I mention the two because one begat the other. Notice, EAA has just died a dull death by socialism. No action, no publicity (and we do need publicity), no mojo, GE has, at least, gotten our issues out there. Along with Queer Rising, GE is often accused of being “Fame Whores”. Fame on my brothers and sisters, fame on. When Gay Inc was the only show in town the activist community was lulled into a sorta nowhere land. It was not in The Firm’s best interest to shake up things, they might be sent back to the fields from the comfort of the Big House. Now, like an aircraft carrier trying to make a left turn, Gay Inc has been left behind by an inflatable with a group of insurgents who are grabbing the attention.  So be it.

Please click inside to read Derek’s advice for GetEqual.

I confess, my jaw dropped when I read that GetEqual’s Robin McGehee was making $89,000 as co-director of the new activism group, GetEqual. After all, I work in the LGBT press for enough money for food, rent and to take care of my two dogs.

And after reading the back and forth kicked up by The Bilerico Project’s Bil Browning challenging the legitimacy, authenticity and accountability of GetEqual in his provocative series “Is GetEqual the New HRC?” – one of the primary complaints seemed to be that Robin McGehee and her co-director Kip Williams are getting paid too much money (Kip’s getting $72,000 $80,000) by a private funder. The worry is that they are accountable to no one, least of all the tons of LGBT activists who’ve been working so hard for so long to secure LGBT rights for little or no money.

Please click inside for my opinion on this salary issue, as well as GetEqual and Robin McGehee – as well as interviews with Robin and her GetEqual co-director, Kip Williams.

Dear Unite the Fight Readers,

These past two years have been filled with many highs and many lows – we won the right to marry in California only to have it stripped away in months by the ignominious Proposition 8, the latter galvanizing our community into action that hasn’t been seen in years.

Despite another amazing high point of numerous demonstrations and actions attended and organized by thousands, the California Supreme Court, having once given us the right to marry, would later side with the discriminatory Proposition 8 and uphold it, creating yet again another low point. In spite of all this, our movement has encouragingly moved forward, and not just focused on marriage, but working state by state and on the federal level with a goal of full equality under all laws….

PLEASE CLICK INSIDE TO READ THE REST OF PHILLIP’S MOVING FAREWELL TO HIS UTF READERS.

J.T. Chestnut talks about growing up in North Carolina, his current grassroots work, and standing up for what he believes in.

Standing at dusk with the White House in the background during the poorly attended HIV/AIDS vigil at the NEM event, Atlantic magazine political analyst and longtime blogger Andrew Sullivan lets loose on Human Rights Campaign executive director Joe Solmonese and forcefully calls for his resignation. HRC’s leaders are “in bed” with the Democratic Party and basically sell out the rest of us for access.

Must watch video:

Hat tip to Rex Wockner.

Leslie Ewing wraps up her missives on the NEM – including noticing that someone tagged the Human Rights Campaign headquarters. Click inside to see her post.

Tomorrow – Oct. 12, marks the 11th anniversary of Matthew Shepard’s murder in Wyoming. Several cities throughout the nation are commemorating the anniversary with a new production of the Laramie Project – there’s one in Santa Monica featuring the Gay Men’s Chorus.

Sunday – National Coming Out Day – Matthew’s mother Judy was at the Capitol to speak at the National Equality March.

A one-time skeptic of the 2009 National Equality March has a change of heart. Friday and Saturday at NEM were extremely productive. And we haven’t even marched yet!

Leslie Ewing continues her notes from the NEM with a memory of two after seeing Cleve Jones, founder of the Names Project AIDS Memorial Quilt. Click inside.

Leslie Ewing’s snapshots from the National Equality March catches two boys kissing. Click inside to see.

Leslie Ewing has arrived. At the NEM in DC. It’s hot out. Click inside for her POV.

It’s coming up on Sunday – Oct. 11 – National Coming Out Day. And the media is starting to pay attention. So is CA Democratic Party Chair John Burton – see his statement inside.

Here’s Cleve Jones on Anderson Cooper’s CNN show:

Leslie Ewing is heading to the National March for Equality where she will blog away about the march in her cryptic, often humorous style. Here she muses about the weather and her hair. Oh, and she talks about her day job as director of the Pacific Center which just honored former Assemblymember Carole Migden. Check inside to see why.