If I had the cash for tickets to NYC, I'd just send that instead.
My years as a bisexual activist taught me that the HRC are the Republican right-wing assimilationists of the lot, despite their size. They occasionally remember to add "bisexual and transgender" to their documents, but almost never to their policies. They favor assimilationism and "we're just like you - we're white church-going Republicans who ski and drive Volvos, it's just that our daughter is a lesbian" (and that's almost a direct quote from an ad campaign a few years ago) philosophy. They refused to work with us at Anything That Moves - at the time we were one of the largest bisexual nonprofits and the only national/international published voice of bisexuality - because our name sounded too much like sex. Sex isn't something the HRC wants to admit that gay people have, you see; it scares Republicans.
Also, the HRC is still dealing with the financial aftermath of the March on Washington and may still be under investigation by the Feds for having lost a lot of the money they brought in.
The HRC has admitted that it supports the scientifically inaccurate "we were born this way, we can't help being gay" stance (which coincedentally leaves bi and trans folks and people who choose way out in the cold) because surveys show more Middle American voters feel "sorry" for gays and lesbians if it's something you were born with, like a birth defect. I can understand a conservative political strategy in some cases, but they've got the nerve to ask bi and trans organisations for money to support this stuff which patently won't help us. (Also, I believe in choice, and I don't want middle America's pity for liking girls as well as guys.)
So I'm more inclined to support Lambda, who've been much better about supporting bi/trans/freaky queer folks instead of just the ones who are socially acceptable these days, and whose finances I'm more inclined to trust.
I have to say, I've been angry at HRC and a lot of other gay activists for being angry at Newsom because this "wasn't the right time". Despite my incredibly pragmatic bent (whatever works), it was never going to be the right time, and now that Newsome has created this rather insane momentum/moment in time, it is time to get the hell on board, and when I see folks not doing that, I am peeved, peeved, peeved.
I love Lamdba legal to death, I just feel like in addition to the legal bills, I want to get behind educating people about the entire situation -- from "gays are not scary" to "this is what ammending the constitution means to our national identity" -- which isn't really LL's department.
GLAAD has done good work both in defense and "offensive" education and programs for years. They already have some good marriage stuff available on their Web site. I'm a fan. HRC tends to concentrate most on working in DC on legislation, although GLAAD and IGLHRC also do some lobbying. (IGLHRC is an international-targeted org defending queer rights in other countries, based in the US, and working on stuff like asylum issues.)
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no subject
Date: 2004-02-24 07:35 pm (UTC)My years as a bisexual activist taught me that the HRC are the Republican right-wing assimilationists of the lot, despite their size. They occasionally remember to add "bisexual and transgender" to their documents, but almost never to their policies. They favor assimilationism and "we're just like you - we're white church-going Republicans who ski and drive Volvos, it's just that our daughter is a lesbian" (and that's almost a direct quote from an ad campaign a few years ago) philosophy. They refused to work with us at Anything That Moves - at the time we were one of the largest bisexual nonprofits and the only national/international published voice of bisexuality - because our name sounded too much like sex. Sex isn't something the HRC wants to admit that gay people have, you see; it scares Republicans.
Also, the HRC is still dealing with the financial aftermath of the March on Washington and may still be under investigation by the Feds for having lost a lot of the money they brought in.
The HRC has admitted that it supports the scientifically inaccurate "we were born this way, we can't help being gay" stance (which coincedentally leaves bi and trans folks and people who choose way out in the cold) because surveys show more Middle American voters feel "sorry" for gays and lesbians if it's something you were born with, like a birth defect. I can understand a conservative political strategy in some cases, but they've got the nerve to ask bi and trans organisations for money to support this stuff which patently won't help us. (Also, I believe in choice, and I don't want middle America's pity for liking girls as well as guys.)
So I'm more inclined to support Lambda, who've been much better about supporting bi/trans/freaky queer folks instead of just the ones who are socially acceptable these days, and whose finances I'm more inclined to trust.
no subject
Date: 2004-02-24 07:39 pm (UTC)I love Lamdba legal to death, I just feel like in addition to the legal bills, I want to get behind educating people about the entire situation -- from "gays are not scary" to "this is what ammending the constitution means to our national identity" -- which isn't really LL's department.
Maybe split the fungs between them and GLAAD?
no subject
Date: 2004-02-24 08:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-02-24 08:20 pm (UTC)