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Campaign 2010: We’ll Give When We Get Equal!
Melanie Nathan- 10/05-10
Today, Robin McGehee, Co-Founder and Director of GetEQUAL announces a new campaign by the fresh and rabble rousing LGBT equality group, GetEQUAL, under the campaign banner “We’ll Give When We Get Equal.”
In McGehees words: “As I watch my inbox fill up with reports of LGBT young people taking their lives, I am sick with disgust when I see countless political fundraising emails asking me to give time and money to campaigns. While we sit under the crushing weight of homophobia, biphobia and transphobia endorsed by the federal government, I’m getting totebag offers from the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
I have had enough!
Today, GetEQUAL is announcing a campaign called “We’ll Give When We GetEQUAL,” asking LGBT Americans and straight allies to withhold time and money from political entities that are not fighting as hard for our equality as they are for our checkbooks and our volunteer hours.
There are numerous promises that we need our elected officials to make good on, but for now we’re asking for just one: an Executive Order signed by the President that will immediately stop military discharges under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
Click here to sign the “We’ll Give When We GetEQUAL” pledge: www.getequal.org/givewhenequal
Since GetEQUAL launched six months ago, we’ve always been honest with you — pointing out broken promises from our elected leaders [1], and taking bold action to move the fight for equality forward. We’ve all seen the fundraising appeals from Democrats, and even some Republicans, clamoring for LGBT dollars while disingenuously promising to fight for us. It is clear they can identify our struggles, but I want tangible change that protects our children and gives our community the rights we deserve. It’s time to draw a line in the sand.
Democrats and Republicans are holding our equality hostage — promising progress if we vote them back into office year after year, but never actually delivering on those promises. It’s time for us to call them on their game of chicken. We are insisting on progress before we will prop up political parties and committees that expect us to donate while they fund anti-equality candidates and fail us time after time.
Are we asking you to not vote? No — too many social movements have fought for that hard-earned right to throw it away now. Are we asking you to not support pro-equality candidates? That answer is completely up to you — though we believe that it’s good practice to support candidates who have proven that they support us by being champions for LGBT equality.
Are we asking you to withhold money and time from political parties and committees that cash our checks, without ever finding concrete ways to work toward our collective equality? YES!
Sign on to the “We’ll Give When We GetEQUAL” campaign: www.getequal.org/givewhenequal
There will be some who say we haven’t given Democrats enough time, and that Republicans are finally turning a corner on LGBT rights. Neither of these claims are true. Both are excuses that we have heard for decades, and that have brought us no closer to full equality. Our tolerance and patience — while we lose our jobs, are denied our right to marry, are forbidden to serve our country openly, and are forced to watch our youth kill themselves because they have no dignity or hope — is GONE!
There are a host of ways to hold our elected officials accountable for promises they’ve made, but we’ll get things started with a first step — a way to see whether those who are asking for our money and our support are *really* willing to work for our equality. We are asking President Obama, the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, to sign an Executive Order to IMMEDIATELY halt all military discharges of lesbian, gay, and bisexual soldiers — and we’re inviting you to participate in that effort.
Sign the “We’ll Give When We GetEQUAL” pledge and download an Executive Order to deliver to President Obama when he comes to your town: www.getequal.org/givewhenequal
Why continue to organize on behalf of politicians when we need to be organizing for ourselves?”
Caveat by Melanie Nathan:- So with tat said, we urge you to follow your conscience – in which ever way it directs you, mindful of the fact that your Democratic Vote is still imperative and candidates who are progressive and who have always been unwavering allies ought to receive your support. There are not many of them – you know who they are!!.
I for one will continue to support Barbara Boxer, Jerry brown, Gavin Newsom, Kamala Harris, in any way possible. These have been true friends. I will also honor the important new progressives coming to the fore such as Steve Pougnet and Bill Connors, Joe Sestak, Senator Gillibrand, and our very dear friend Senator Patrick Leahy - the latter few for Congress/ Senate.
Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com
@oblogdeeoblogda
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8 Responses to Campaign 2010: We’ll Give When We Get Equal!
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AndrewW
October 6, 2010 at 1:50 pm
If you have any action on your cheerleader post for GetEqual it is Kip and Robin.
I don’t support Democrats. I understand there is no “political solution” to LGBT equality. this November it’s 1994 all over again. So much for your politics.
My criticism of GetEQUAL is how they have presented us in the world – like childish misfits that simply believe we can embarrass and irritate people into submission. It is stupid and counterproductive. They have done two dozen “actions” and never got more than a half-dozen people to show up. That’s because we know their publicity stunts don’t help us, they simply make us look foolish.
In order to obtain our full equality we need to educate, enlighten and enroll. GetEQUAL works against that effort in the same manner Westboro Baptist hurts Christianity.
AndrewW
October 6, 2010 at 10:35 am
This is Robin McGeehee’s ego trip. One guy - Jonathan Lewis (Progressive Insurance) hired Robin and Kip to run around and “embarrass Democrats.” That isn’t a strategy to help the LGBT Community it is simply expressing anger at Democrats. It helps Republicans.
None of the other “progressive” issue groups heckled the President, engaged in childish sit-ins or stopping traffic or tiny street protests. GetEQUAL did and they have alienated Democrats. We have become the crazy misfits of progressive politics.
Thankfully, people are NOT donating to this band of idiots.
Melanie Nathan
October 6, 2010 at 11:54 am
Andrew, you seem to be stuck in the infancy of GetEQUAL; like all infants we grow- we become toddlers and then kids …etc, How GE started may well not turn out to be how GE evolves. That is why here at LGR we provide the information. Allow the metamorphosis to continue – instead of impeding the potential…
Melanie Nathan
October 6, 2010 at 11:55 am
We are all in this for the same reasons. I do believe that
AndrewW
October 5, 2010 at 10:03 pm
Less than a half dozen LGBT media outlets are covering GetEQUAL – they get it. This small band of ignorant idiots is hurting the LGBT movement. By extension, that means LGR is too. GetEQUAL is only trying to get attention so that they can raise money – you shouldn’t help them.
GetEQUAL has wasted +$750,000 with a childish strategy of “embarrassing Democrats.” While we are disappointed in many Democrats, helping Republicans is just plain stupid. If people donate to GetEQUAL they are simply delaying our equality. They need to go away and the sooner the better.
Melanie Nathan
October 5, 2010 at 11:12 pm
Andrew, you will notice we at LGR have never been persuaded by what others are reporting. As it happens we have a great ranking and I suspect it has something (inter alia) to do with our unique content and commentary. That said we have shown support and criticism for many different LGBT orgs. and in some cases we have have reported neutrally as we have done here – oh yes _ I believe I did add a caveat. Maybe some people do want to join GetEQUAL – just think it may be a great outlet for the frustrated – imagine if Robin et al caused the swell to become huge and it actually had an impact? So it is not whether we support these actions or not – its about reporting and allowing the tide to develop. Either she will be ignored, criticized or her aspect of the movement will take off.
I want you to look through LGR and you may find some pointed criticism at GetEqual’s antics. In fact it was us who outed Dan Choi for the conflict of interest between high speaking fees, rejecting engagements for LGBT college kids who could not afford to pay him and noting the conflict of interests between the antics as they impacted his increasing speaking fees.
SO – GetEQUAL can do with its money whatever it wants. Its an accomplishment to have raised that much money – would you not agree. Someone must think the antics worthy. That said I appreciate your perspective and we are here to hear your angle on it.
Janice
October 5, 2010 at 7:45 pm
Yes, but the worry is that there will be plenty of people who might just take on board what this woman is saying. The answer isn’t to not vote, but I think the sensible LGBTQ community will know that.
I think you’re missing the point of reporting news; whether you agree with it or not. Maybe, by reporting on this, and pointing out the childishness of such groups, you might end up swaying those who could have been taken in by their stupidity.
AndrewW
October 5, 2010 at 6:14 pm
The rest of the LGBT media has the sense to ignore the childish shenanigans of GetEQUAL, what’s your problem?
It is becoming very clear that the in-your-face and immature publicity stunts of GetEQUAL have alienated us with other Democrats. At the recent “Progressive March” in Washington D.C. LGBT-issues and groups attending were shunned and even ignored. That is the result of GetEQUAL’s idiotic strategy of “embarrassing Democrats.
The attention they seek now is simply to help them raise money. Giving them any attention hurts the LGBT community. Please consider that when publishing their silly “campaigns.” GetEQUAL is and has been counterproductive and the evidence is mounting that they should simply disappear.