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Call to Congress: No More Friends, Senator Gillibrand – Only Advocates!

Posted by: Lez Get Real on August 21, 2010.

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Melanie Nathan August 21, 2010:

I have always Known Senator Gillibrand to be a great LGBT ally and one of the boldly upfront Senators; impressed by her meteoric significance belying her short time in the Senate. This sense, further endorsed when reading the

“My Lunch With Senator Gillibrand by: Clarknt67 , a Blogger on PamHouseBlend

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“We all got one question. A reporter asked her to address her Latino readerships’ frustration with Democrats’ sluggish advances toward immigration reform. Gillibrand assured her immigration reform was a priority and discussed different timelines and tactics for tackling it, including comprehensive and piece meal passage of existing bills, mentioning the DREAM Act by name.”

The Blogger followed up by asking A question the Senator has been asked by constituents in many instances; about LGBT inclusion in such efforts, and now asked in light of was concerned the coalition being gathered to pressure Congress which has outright expressed that LGBT inclusion was a “dealbreaker,” asking is “there a strategy around that?”
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Apparently according to Pam’s Blogger, there did not appear to be a strategy, at least one they’re ready to enunciate. “And to be fair, there does not yet seem to be, at least publicly, a firm strategy for reform in general. She answered by discussing the importance of winning the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” vote, and how recent court victories help move our issues inevitably forward. She did conclude, “We may not win this fight this time.”

The Blogger continued on PAMS, “Which, actually brighten my mood. I would prefer to hear hard truths from my allies, than be fed false hopes. Many of us tracking the Uniting American Families Act, S. 1328 and efforts for LGBT inclusion in comprehensive immigration reform recognize the long odds we face. The Senator is clearly a strong LGBT advocate, but she is but one woman of 535. If anyone can forgive being outvoted, it’s the gay community. I appreciate being spoken to as an adult who can read the same writing on the wall. I know she’s part of the solution, not the problem, she doesn’t have to tell me what I want to hear to stay in my good graces.”

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Sadly another and probably one of many more lost opportunities – mollified through acceptance of status –quo – minus- 100% – but harsh reality is Broken Promises by a collective of those who ‘wouldst have Equality at heart.’ Where do we all think we are going to get with such complacency couched in patronization of and by our elected?

So many of us fail to ‘carpe diem’ as we fall prey to the overt congeniality and the ‘sacred word’ through our timid sense of the weight of the moment as perceived through that one single question – the very reverence of which becomes a reality – that even we, the casualty, fail to compute.

So I ask when these allies choose to become advocates, then to give me a call otherwise until such time I plan TO report the inadequacy. I refuse to remark at friendship in Congress – they are our representatives for goodness sake – no more friendship. Time to represent fully – and our LGBT basic rights are not for sale – it is a constitutional obligation – it is not a religious stake!

If Senator Gillibrand and other Representatives cannot adhere to the most basic of their Constitutional obligations – then I say all we have left is the “nothing left to lose attitude” – in whatever form they may take!

For now – to me it represents to hell with piecemeal and let us find a brave and valid advocate who is willing to lead on the American Equality Bill.