From Justin Patrick Jones:
HRC’s support of the divisive ENDA proved shortsighted, yet they have failed to recognize their mistake fully. San Francisco’s LGBT community must reject their decisions and let it be known in no uncertain terms.
Not to quibble with a nice op-ed, but has the Scampaign really recognized what it did as a mistake at all?
Yes - quibbling.
More substance:
Boycott: Join the protest at HRC’s annual San Francisco Bay Area gala, which takes place at the Westin Hotel on July 26, 2008. Local LGBT activists will protest outside the gala’s host hotel, entitling it “Left Out” for the LGBT people excluded by the divisive ENDA. Few, if any, major local politicians have agreed to attend the gala. Call (415) 848-3628 to participate.
Funding: Donate local and stop sending HRC your money. This year, HRC is working hard to use the California anti-marriage initiative to solicit money from our state. Local organizations like Equality for All (www.equalityforall.com) are actually doing most of the work, fighting on the ground and employing our neighbors. We do not need to subsidize HRC brass’ salaries to beat the anti-marriage initiative.
Communicate: Visit www.hrc.org and find contact information for HRC, their President, Joe Solmonese, and their Board of Directors. Email, call, and let them know that you have not forgotten HRC’s betrayal. Tell them that while you appreciate that their Board of Directors made the right decision in the end, it should not have taken a nationwide LGBT political schism for them to do it. They are supposed to represent our entire community and should do so at all times. Send this article to your friends across the country, and tell them to contact HRC too. Encourage your friends who are interested in the California marriage fight to donate to our local organizations.
Volunteer: Help work toward the passage of an inclusive ENDA in the next Congress. Thankfully, the divisive ENDA has been stalled in the U.S. Senate, so we have an opportunity to fix HRC, Rep. Frank, and the Democratic leadership’s mistake. Visit www.unitedendaca.org to learn more.
For the anti-marriage initiative, consider volunteering with one of our local organizations, like Equality for All. Other local organizations fighting for LGBT causes are always looking for volunteers, too. Use the Internet and research which ones are doing the work that interests you.
I’ve been saying it for almost a decade about the Scampaign: STOP SENDING THEM YOUR MONEY!!!!!!!!!!
And, if you’re in the Bay Area, make the rich, out-of-touch transphobes who think that the Scampaign represents anyone or anything other than rich, out-of-touch transphobes see you. Make them see your life.
It might not help - but it might.
