I am steaming right now after having read this posting from Robin McGehee of Get Equal. Read the Posting
As someone who became politically active during Howard Dean's campaign for the Democratic Presidential nomination, I am 100% supportive of standing strong and holding the Democratic Party and our elected leaders accountable and pushing on the grassroots level to make them move our agenda forward.
However, as an African-American, LGBT Democratic Party activist, and social worker I find the call for Democratic activists and donors to stand down during the 2010 mid-term elections selfish and elitist.
I get it, we are done standing by and being told we have to wait and we are tired of waiting. I am just as outraged over not seeing ENDA passed or DADAT repealed as others.
However, it is a privileged position to be able to make the calculated decision that you coan choose to sit this election cycle out, and it isn't a position that most LGBT Americans can afford to make. I want to see ENDA passed, I want to see DADAT repealed, but I also want to see my family put back to work. I also don't want to see the progress that has been made on healthcare, education, and financial reform set back.
Not participating in the 2010 mid-term elections does NOTHING to push the agenda forward. If anything it will set us backwards. It will set us backwards due to the races those withheld donor dollars could have helped push over the edge, it will set us backwards due to the voters those volunteers and organizers could have contacted with our message, it will set us backward because the hope that reigned down in 2008 will take yet another heavy blow to the morale of our country.
I'm not saying don't fight the fight and don't press the Democratic Party and President Obama to stand behind his promises, I'm just saying don't do it at my expense or at the expense of my friend Terry in North Carolina, who as a gay American and veteran also wants to see ENDA passed and DADAT repealed, but who has been out of work for two years and who's mother has been battling cancer for the last 3 years.
I'm asking you not to fight the fight at the expense of all the young people I work with who may now have a chance at getting a college education and not ending up in mountains of debt.
We can continue to fight for our full equality without separating ourselves from the broader progressive movement and doing to our allies and those within the LGBT community who can’t afford to sit this election out, what has historically been done to us.
Let’s Get Real about what this means, then maybe we can actually Get Equal
As someone who became politically active during Howard Dean's campaign for the Democratic Presidential nomination, I am 100% supportive of standing strong and holding the Democratic Party and our elected leaders accountable and pushing on the grassroots level to make them move our agenda forward.
However, as an African-American, LGBT Democratic Party activist, and social worker I find the call for Democratic activists and donors to stand down during the 2010 mid-term elections selfish and elitist.
I get it, we are done standing by and being told we have to wait and we are tired of waiting. I am just as outraged over not seeing ENDA passed or DADAT repealed as others.
However, it is a privileged position to be able to make the calculated decision that you coan choose to sit this election cycle out, and it isn't a position that most LGBT Americans can afford to make. I want to see ENDA passed, I want to see DADAT repealed, but I also want to see my family put back to work. I also don't want to see the progress that has been made on healthcare, education, and financial reform set back.
Not participating in the 2010 mid-term elections does NOTHING to push the agenda forward. If anything it will set us backwards. It will set us backwards due to the races those withheld donor dollars could have helped push over the edge, it will set us backwards due to the voters those volunteers and organizers could have contacted with our message, it will set us backward because the hope that reigned down in 2008 will take yet another heavy blow to the morale of our country.
I'm not saying don't fight the fight and don't press the Democratic Party and President Obama to stand behind his promises, I'm just saying don't do it at my expense or at the expense of my friend Terry in North Carolina, who as a gay American and veteran also wants to see ENDA passed and DADAT repealed, but who has been out of work for two years and who's mother has been battling cancer for the last 3 years.
I'm asking you not to fight the fight at the expense of all the young people I work with who may now have a chance at getting a college education and not ending up in mountains of debt.
We can continue to fight for our full equality without separating ourselves from the broader progressive movement and doing to our allies and those within the LGBT community who can’t afford to sit this election out, what has historically been done to us.
Let’s Get Real about what this means, then maybe we can actually Get Equal
Well said, Jeffrey. When I got involved in the movement in the early 70's, virtually no one was interested in military service. On the contrary: we wanted to disarm and defund the military. And marriage was a sexist, patriarchal institution to be ignored a the very least and preferably, radically changed. The movement has been co-opted by those seeking accommodation with the conventional. I get that we're entitled to serve like any other citizen and entitled to any publicly issued license whether for fishing, boating, using the town dump or marriage. But with a nephew on his way to Afghanistan, a sister who's facing foreclosure, a brother-in-law who's been unemployed for almost 2 years, and as someone who's had 3 surgeries for cancer, I think the President and the party have their priorities just about right.
ReplyDeletePitch perfect blog post.
ReplyDeleteWhile it vital DADT and DOMA be repealed, UAFA and EDNA be passed, Obama still has two more years left to do it, and work has been done. And I give credit to groups like GetEqual for keeping those issues on the agenda.
But lets not kid ourselves, issues of the economy and health care are a lot more important to voters, including LGBTQ voters. While many may not want to get married or know anyone in the service, ALL need to have a job, stay in their home and enjoy quality affordable health care.
We all have the same goals in mind, but we have to be sure our strategies don't negatively affect or isolate the rest of our family.
AMAZINGLY right on target, Jeffrey! I hope I see more of how you think and write. Thank you for bringing the clear-headed viewpoint you bring. Now, I LOVE Robin and Kip and Dan and my heart aches at the struggle for things that should NOT have to be struggled for, but I cannot subscribe to turning my back/vote away from the Democratic candidates who are at least of a mind to help. The road to EQUALITY is not paved by Republicans or Independents or indiference. I won't abandon being a Democrat.
ReplyDeleteExcellent, Jeff.
ReplyDeleteI would only add that the for many of the GETEQUAL big money donors, we would be better off with them on the sidelines. Narcissistic and self-rightous big money gay who live on the Upper West Side of Manhattan and demanding they alone set the gay agenda and Democratic Party's agenda have been unhelpful in the stuggle for social justice.
Let's not beg them to stay involved in our movement but waive good-bye to them as we quickly forget all about them.
From my understanding GE is saying do not give $ to the Dems only they are not saying don't vote.
ReplyDelete