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TOP LGBT Bloggers Call for Resignation of Joe Solmonese

Posted by: Lez Get Real on December 11, 2010.

: Joe Your Time is UP!

Melanie Nathan – Dec 11, 2010 - The power of the LGBT Blogosphere is yet to be fully realized; now may be our time. Most people have no idea about the amount of work and dedication that goes into blogging; the news, politics, campaigns, commentary. opinions and the ultimate scoops. We often cover what mainstream media dare not, and then we have our own ‘bloggerish’ – or as I like to call it -”bloggers license.” Often we see results and changes because of our work, including making enough noise for mainstream media to follow our lead.

Many of us take great risks, where we know we may not end up being popular for some of what we say and do. For me personally, this platform for my activism has been a powerful entry into realities and hardships of life. So we do what we can and many of us do it for no financial gain at all.

Sometimes as Bloggers we are at ‘loggerheads; and sometimes we are at ‘bloggerheads;’ I commend my muses and colleagues; you have all accomplished so much over the years. Today is unifying day where we can be at ‘bloggerheads!’ Now it is time for the Bloggers to come together as we often do, however in a bigger way.

Bloggers are calling for the resignation of Joe Solmonese of the Human Rights Campaign, HRC. The Bloggers have emerged as an integral catalyst of the new emerging LGBT Civil Rights Movement, with much credit to social media. Many of us have positioned ourselves with contacts and sources and are poised in unison to assert our unified power.

Some LGBT Organizations have failed miserably in the political commisisons of their duties. While some have done extraordinary representative -hands -on- work, others stand out, and those are the ones that tend to claim domain of a particular piece of legislation or an issue they purport to control.

Bloggers, are now sharpening their keen pencils and spreading the word. We want a movement and we want those who have claimed they ARE the movement to step back and allow for the emerging grassroots to head to the streets.

Fellow Blogger, Michael Petrelis, has noticed that there the recent trend, heightened by the failed DADT repeal, where Bloggers are calling out loud for the resignation of Joe Solmonese of the Human Rights Commission HRC. Joe is known for his large salary and fancy suited front face who has access to the President. According to Trelis the following bloggers have called for Solmonese’s resignation : “Such bloggers include Pam Spaulding of Pam’s House Blend, Melanie Nathan of LezGetReal, Joe Jervis of Joe My God, and Joe Sudbay of AmericaBlog.”

Michael petrelis - says : “Many prominent LGBT bloggers are calling for Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese to resign.
I‘ve started a list of folks who’ve called for Joe Solmonese to resign at my blog: http://mpetrelis.blogspot.com/2010/12/list-who-wants-hrcs-solmonese-to-resign.html. Today I found a blog post at a site I’ve never visited, and it claims you, or in John’s case his colleague Joe Sudbay, have endorsed the resignation call: http://justifiableanger.blogspot.com/2010/12/hold-your-friendly-fire.html ”

So please go to The Trelis site and comment about your feelings on this – If you want Mike to include your name as a fellow blogger or otherwise, be sure to get in touch with him – feel free to comment here – or start a Face Book page and let us know so we can link it too.

UPDATED List….

godlovespoetry.com
Ethan August: Gay comedian, Palo Alto
Paul Barwick: Plaintiff, 1971 gay marriage lawsuit, SF
Dustin Lance Black: Liberal writer, Los Angeles
B. Daniel Blatt: Conservative pundit, California
Paul Brown: Gay businessman, San Francisco
J. Todd Fernandez: Activist, New York City
Rick Garcia: Equality Illinois, Chicago
Jeri Hughes: Transsexual woman, DC
Marc Forrest Kaplan: Activist, North Carolina
C.D. Kirven – Activist & Writer
Melissa Kleckner: Writer and Straight-ally, Hoboken
Will Kohl: Radical pundit, Ohio
Bridgette LaVictoire, Writer, LezGetReal, VT
Melanie Nathan: LezGetReal , Activist , blogger, California
Michael-in-Norfolk: Moderate writer, Virginia
Justan Peterson: Activist, Utah
Michael Petrelis: Radical activist, San Francisco
Robbie at Malcontent: Liberal pundit
Fritz Rathmann: Gay activist, Georgia
Allen Roskoff: Political advocate, New York City
Gregg Simmons: Gay advocate, New York City
Pam Spaulding: Liberal writer, North Carolina
Andrew Sullivan: Conservative blogger, DC
Scott Wooledge, Clarknt67 @ Daily Kos.

Andrew Sullivan – mad at Solmonese – giving away leverage on core issues while gays risk their lives in military – A Betrayal! when he said ‘we can wait for DADT till 2017.’

Calls for Joe’s resignation- this was in my post in 2009:-

UPDATE # 2 For those who have commented hear Joe make promises at a fund raiser. And you don’t want him held accountable?

Melanie Nathan

nathan@privatecourts.com

facebook.com/melanie.nathan1

@lezgetreal
@oblogdeeoblogda

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UPDATED Sunday 12/13/2010 at 4.45 PM PST:
Another Blogger Ethan August has written the following letter to Joe Solmonese this morning. It seems the shout is getting louder- I am reprinting with his permission and encourage readers to visit his site to comment there too.

Dear Joe,

The Human Rights Campaign has failed our LGBT soldiers, its contributors, and the American people.

DADT continues to remain in effect despite the tens of millions of dollars contributed to the HRC, public opinion in our favor, Democratic control of Congress and the White House for the last two years, support from Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, support from Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen, a federal court overturning the law as unconstitutional, and a Pentagon report encouraging its repeal.

If the HRC cannot accomplish its mission with all of the factors above working in our favor, the HRC and your leadership have been rendered ineffective and useless. You promised that “This year we are going to bring down DADT.” You have failed to fulfill your promise and should therefore resign your position as President of the Human Rights Campaign.

Yesterday, in your letter to contributors you essentially conceded that we had lost this battle in Congress and shifted the pressure to President Obama. You insisted President Obama issue a stop-loss order halting military discharges and cease defending DADT in federal court. In comparison to an act of Congress, these are relatively simple things for the President to accomplish. Ceasing to defend DADT in court would accomplish the same long-term solution as an act of Congress. This is clearly one of the largest strategic blunders in the history of the homosexual rights movement and you should take responsibility immediately. Despite his excuses to try otherwise, pressuring the President to cease defending DADT in court should not have been plan B. A stop-loss order should be issued and remain in effect until DADT is no longer in place via the courts or Congress.

As you know, another separate bill to repeal DADT was introduced today. Yet just last evening you conceded defeat and switched strategies. This leads me to believe that you and the HRC have no insight into what is really occurring in Washington and are simply observing this process just as we the contributors are also doing. Anyone can create an automated email system that prompts our community to email our elected leaders. At this point, that seems to be all the HRC has been able to accomplish.

What our community and the HRC’s contributors now need is leadership that can effect policy change in Washington. Until you resign, and new leadership has established that capability for the HRC, I will no longer be contributing to this organization. I’m encouraging my friends, family and readers to copy this email to you and take the same position.

Sincerely,

Ethan August
http://www.this-gay-life.com/2010/12/hrcs-joe-solmonese-should-resign.html

Watch: HRC President Joe Solmonese Says ‘Every Player’ Involved in the ‘DADT’ Repeal Process Let the Community Down (towleroad.com)
HomoQuotable – Pam Spaulding (joemygod.blogspot.com)
Joe Solmonese Is Smiling Because Keeping DADT Alive Keeps His Job Alive (queerty.com)
HRC Blows It With Analysis Of Mormon Church’s Recent Change Regarding Homosexuality (lezgetreal.com)
Joe Solmonese Joining GetEqual In Calling For Stop-Loss End For Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell? (lezgetreal.com)

51 Responses to TOP LGBT Bloggers Call for Resignation of Joe Solmonese

Carla Lewis Reply

December 15, 2010 at 4:03 pm

@Nelson: I’m sorry; I’m a nobody but I had to address your latest comment. I don’t feel like doing it point-by-point, so I’ll just summarize.

It is in no way required for LGBT people or their allies to “prove” that they are making a difference as you seem to suggest. Every little bit of action or discussion helps build a groundswell of support.

Online petitions are totally bogus. To a politician, it means absolutely nothing because there is no way to verify that the petition signatory is (1) a registered constituent in their district, (2) an actual person, and (3) not a duplicate. Further, there is no actual signature.

To solicit signatories for an online petition to create action against a private individual or corporation (as HRC is) is even more useless as they are beholden to their executive board of directors and paid members. Now if the paid members of HRC created a physical petition to remove Joe they could present it to the board of directors for consideration.

Write your emails, make your phone calls, and rant and rave, but unless you are a paid member of HRC and have support from a large percentage of paid HRC members or you are a national spokesperson for the LGBT movement then don’t expect to have any sway over Joe’s employment.

Now should bloggists at this forum, PHB, JoeMyGod, or others muster enough support for their demand that Joe step down and that demand filters over to the HRC paid members then action may happen. Whether action happens or not does not mean that hearts and minds aren’t being changed by the opinions offered by these writers.

I don’t know you, but my gut reaction is to tell you to get off the cross because someone might need the wood.
Nelson Garcia Reply

December 15, 2010 at 3:36 pm

If you haven’t notice, FAEN, I tagged out of the debating arena four days ago

Listen up; if necessary, Melanie (?) can sign for you. While many of you were doing alot of talk, you weren’t doing the walk. I was the only person to post the names of the HRC board of directors on my blog.

They’re the ones we need to address in demanding Solmonese resign, not some gay white fag hag blogger.

I asked people to give me a e-mail and address so I, can write letters which I was prepared to do on Monday and Tuesday.

As of today, Wednesday/15, neither you, FAEN, nor anyone else for that matter have contacted me with an e-mail or mailing address to these people.

You’re the one with the shit between your ears.

But because this isn’t about me, another blogger/activist started a petition on change.org; I can’t help but notice you haven’t signed it, FAEN.

Now why is that FAEN? Are you afraid of putting your money where your mouth is? Or as you content to remain a coward?

The fact is, this Solmonese resignation business is bullshit; it was up to Pam Spaulding and the rest of her disciples to prove me wrong and no one did.

So stop blowing smoke. Just admit you’re a republican hack and get with the fucking program.
FAEN Reply

December 15, 2010 at 11:04 am

It’s really easy to get discouraged these days what with the GOTP soon to be in charge of the House, the WH and the Dems not really willing to spend any political muscle to help us in our fight for equality. Not to mention posters like Nathan and Derrick who seem to enjoy the chaos this all brings. Their purpose is to keep us bickering. Ive said what I wanted and need to to Nathan on a couple of sites. And I’m done with his childish BS. Anyway, when I get discouraged I try hard to not feel sorry for myself. Music helps…..Ive been known to play this a tad louder than I should. Hope this bucks you up a little when youre feeling down. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8KQmps-Sog
Carla Lewis Reply

December 15, 2010 at 8:45 am

Such a thoughtful article and constructive discussion has been reduced to petty bitch slaps.
Derrick Mathis Reply

December 15, 2010 at 2:28 am

Wow Paula. I never noticed how pretty you are. Guess cause you tossed that cheezy profile pic wearing the cowboy hat. I hated it. Good move.

Just came by to say that it looks like the campaign to oust Joe ain’t gettin’ much love. Told you that was pure stupidity. We’re supposed to be moving forwards—–not sideways.

All I can say is that the failure of it helped you and a couple others redeem yourselves for now. Just don’t be that stupid again to co-sign on such ridiculousness.

Now for once, can you do the right thing with your self-proclaimed uber popular blog and start posting things on civil disobedience tactics, examples of winning civil rights battles, and encouraging LGBTs to stand up and fight instead of coming up with another lame reason on why it sucks to be gay in America in such a lame movement?

That would be beyond refreshing. I’m looking forward to some revolutionary ideas and strategies for the people. NOT more schemes for 2nd rate used up dried up LGBT bloggers tryin’ to milk the people for extra hits on their Websites. That was last year’s game.
- Bridgette P. LaVictoire
  
  December 15, 2010 at 8:17 am
  
  Derrick,
  
  Take a look around you some time. This nation does not have the stomach for civil disobedience right now, especially on the Left. Not after the threatened violence of the Tea Party.
  
  You also forget that there is, ultimately, a price to pay for that kind of disobedience. How much blood do you want on your hands in order to force the status quo to stay the same?
  
  I keep this song on my iPod to remind me of the consequences. This song is about Kent State. Peaceful protest that resulted in the deaths of seven. Civil disobedience can very quickly turn into violence, Derrick.
- Clarknt67
  
  December 15, 2010 at 10:40 am
  
  I agree the gays of the nation are not inclined to civil disobedience. But I think attitudes are changing on that. There’s a very good article up on Newsweek right now that examines the sea change in our movement since GetEqual showed up. I think increasingly people are recognizing standard inside game tactics cannot do it alone and are ready to step up.
  
  Yes, there CAN be unintended consequences. But a well-planned demonstration, where all the participants are well-trained offers little risk. I participated in the last White House event, and it could not have been more civil and calm. Participants and police were cool and mutually respectful from start to finish. Good training and careful selection of demonstrators (no hotheads or loose canons please) can go a long way to creating drama that is not dangerous.
- Bridgette P. LaVictoire
  
  December 15, 2010 at 11:13 am
  
  Rallying civil disobedience is not my job. That should be the job of the HRC. My job is to report the news- not be it.
Derrick Mathis Reply

December 13, 2010 at 5:50 am

Why do I have to be a racist to tell the truth?! Why is that?! Why is it when I put the cards on the table it’s wrong?

i’m just calling a spade a spade.

Comfortable gay white middle-aged people are not going to win this fight. Look what they’re doing! Look at their priorities! Way wrong Mel and you know it.

If we’re gonna get anywhere it’s time to get honest and get these bozos out of the way for good.
Derrick Mathis Reply

December 13, 2010 at 3:16 am

Paula you jackass. LOL! I can’t see your comment here but I’m going to respond to you anyway.

You just don’t get it. It flies so above your head it really is a waste of time trying to dialogue with you about it. But here it is just the same:

If you are expending any energy in a call for action other than mobilizing the masses in mass protest and civil disobedience, you’re an UNOPPRESSED comfortable white gay person who has too much time on your hands and what others to indulge you in it.

Do something original for a change Paula. Call people action as though you can’t take another minute of being an unequal citizen in the country. Goddamn, is that so far fetched?

Of course it is for the rich white comfortable lesbian blog lady who has everything she could possibly want. .In reality nothing in your life is compromised. You want for nothing. How do I know this? Because that’s the way you’re showing up. Diverting attention away from the real matter.

I just hope these young LGBTQs see you and your friends for what you are. I’m going to do my damdest to expose you. If you cared about their rights you’d be telling them to get out in the streets and demand them now. But you don’t care.

Because you’re a smug fat lazy white lady with no problems. That’s the truth of the matter. Meanwhile LGBT youth are getting beat up and dying everyday cause you and yours have an ax to grind with Joe Solmonese. You’re pathetic.
- Melanie Nathan
  
  December 13, 2010 at 3:29 am
  
  @ Derrick; I think what you just posted is one of the most disgusting and insulting things I have seen on this site in a long time. The only reason we let it through Derrick is to expose you as a racist with no sense of logic or real solicitude. You berate a person whom you know nothing about based on your persecution complex or whatever personality disorder you suffer from Every one of us who writes on LGR have given up much to do what we do., How do you know who is fat or think or black or white or who has had what experience in their lives. Your assumptions render everything you say nonsensical and a bunch of lies. You are one lazy if you cant do your homework before you start assuming who is who and what is what. I have no idea what Paula’s money status is but I do know that she is a single mom – a widow -of twins who holds down a day job and maintains a web site that hundreds of thousand of people read per month – she lost her wife to cancer when their babies were mere toddlers. How dare you presume wealth or level of suffering. In addition to all this Paula is a deaf woman and each and evry day presents enormous challenges the likes of which someone as arrogant as you will never know. Now lay off its enough of your bullshit.
- Bridgette P. LaVictoire
  
  December 13, 2010 at 8:36 am
  
  Derrick-
  
  We’ve been telling them to get out on the street and protest.
  
  You seem very clueless. We have called people to action. You are the one who has been apologizing for Obama since before he betrayed us. You are the one who seems to have an extreme streak of misogyny. Expose us for what? For playing with what we’ve been dealt? For calling for someone to take over the HRC who will push and who will take to the streets if things aren’t going to get better?
  
  You’ve shown yourself to be a bitter man who seems far too enamoured of Solomonese and Obama to really do the dirty work. Of course, this is not surprising since it seems like what ever men fuck up and piss all over it is us women who have to come in and fix and clean it all up.
Carla Lewis Reply

December 12, 2010 at 11:16 pm

The rest of the LGB population is just now catching up to the trans community when it comes to recognizing the empty promises and rhetoric of Joe. We’re glad you could finally join us!
Derrick Mathis Reply

December 12, 2010 at 7:24 pm

This comment chain is driving me crazy. Paula you really have to do something about this. I’m trying to respond to Mel’s last comment to me but I can’t cause I can’t find it. It came to my email inbox but when I came here to respond the last comment I see is from Faen.

This happened last night. Check with Mel about it.
Derrick Mathis Reply

December 12, 2010 at 7:08 pm

If you’re not encouraging the community to move into action it’s because you’re comfortable and don’t think movement is necessary. And that’s because you have everything you need and could possibly want.
Derrick Mathis Reply

December 12, 2010 at 6:48 pm

“Young LGBTQs of America of all ethnicities —-it’s time to take control of your own civil rights quest. Move these rich white gay male bloggers who are permanently stuck in their comfort zones with their personal agendas—push them out of the way. Shut them down. This is your time. Your future. Theirs is behind them.”

That’s not aimed at Joe Solmonese by the way. He’s not the problem.
Derrick Mathis Reply

December 12, 2010 at 6:47 pm

Yea, the gay white establishment and their ineffectiveness has got to go. I’m not talking about Solmonese, I’m talking about all the folks who co-signed for this removal. I’m tired of white middle-class circular firing squad victimhood bullshit.

This is what my Facebook profile update says:

Young LGBTQs of America of all ethnicities —-it’s time to take control of your own civil rights quest. Move these rich white gay male bloggers who are permanently stuck in their comfort zones with their personal agendas—push them out of the way. Shut them down. This is your time. Your future. Theirs is behind them.

None of you people are young. None of you are oppressed., And all you’ve contributed to this supposed quest for civil rights is how to best sit in the middle of your fucking comfort zone, do nothing and blame everyone else under the sun while you do nothing.

I hope this call for Solmonese’s resignation is the end of all of you. One more time instead encouraging the people to fight for their rights, you come up with some useless bullshit that has nothing to do with nothing.

One more time it is you who sell the LGBT community short——this is the best you can come with MORE VICTIMIZATION IN THE FORM OF AN ASSAULT TO YOUR WHITE PRIVILEGE THINKING.

USELESS. We need our
- Melanie Nathan
  
  December 12, 2010 at 7:07 pm
  
  @Derrick you said “Yea, the gay white establishment and their ineffectiveness has got to go. I’m not talking about Solmonese, I’m talking about all the folks who co-signed for this removal. I’m tired of white middle-class circular firing squad victimhood bullshit. ” I think you are confusing this with a legitimate call for true leadership from one of the biggest orgs that has spent many many years acquiring its membership. money and status. What has stopped any other group from doing the same.
  
  I do not understand how my color as you see it gets in the way. of my own activism – as is with others. Ans do not be presumptive because there may well be people on the list who have been victimized, abused, poor, raped, molested, homeless and even of color. Ok so you need to do your homework before you come on here and sprout what to me sounds like anger and racism and obstructionism and hate – its enough now. – you have not done anything positive to further the movement with your attack. Why cant everyone be involved instead of alienated.
- Clarknt67
  
  December 13, 2010 at 8:47 am
  
  No kidding what an offensive swill. I am white so I am not oppressed? So New York lets white gays get married? The Air Force will not discharge Victor Fahrenbach because he’s white? My own assault on the subway doesn’t count as oppression because I am white? Because I’m white I’ve “done nothin?” Aside from posting hundreds of articles, calling my reps, meeting hundreds of soldiers and attending dozens of protests in the last year, including getting arrested.
  
  This GWM totally gets and supports the urgent need to diversify our leadership and voices. (Funny this issue is branching out of a call to action from a black woman, btw.) But not by the strategy of demonizing and denigrating another group.
Mike O'Brien Reply

December 12, 2010 at 4:24 pm

I read another great call for Joe Solmonese to resign on a great blog:
http://www.this-gay-life.com/2010/12/hrcs-joe-solmonese-should-resign.html

Very good letter! You should add this one to your list!
Melanie Nathan Reply

December 12, 2010 at 1:25 pm

http://americansfortruth.com/news/nelson-garcia-aka-ng-blog-boy-lover-with-criminal-child-porn-conviction-blasts-aftah.html
Melanie Nathan Reply

December 12, 2010 at 1:16 pm

Posted on December 12, 2010 at 1:15 pm (Edit)

@NELSON is this related to yiu because I have never seen your Blog before or heard of you until Now… so wanna get to know who you are http://antipedofilia.multiply.com/journal/item/82
http://antipedofilia.multiply.com/journal/item/35/35
http://twitter.com/#!/ngblog
http://www.blogger.com/profile/16596248342650129563
Melanie Nathan Reply

December 12, 2010 at 12:20 pm

OKAY instead of squabbling about who did what when I suggest we start promoting this article and getting it out there to build this momentum – For a start Anyone who has a single Friend who is a member of HRC – put this link on their FB page Post- also on HRC FB page http://lezgetreal.com/2010/12/top-lgbt-bloggers-call-for-resignation-of-joe-solmonese/
Nelson Garcia Reply

December 12, 2010 at 12:08 pm

@FAEN – Really, and how is disparaging and undermining my credibility proof that you’re all serious in wanting Solmonese to go? If you haven’t noticed, and you haven’t, I agree Joe should go to. But you and others here have overlooked that, preferring to argue with me because I want everyone to back your shit up and instead, what we have is everyone fighting with me.

Bullshit, FAEN. I got my proof today this is all just another attempt by everyone to be sniping and argumentative and splinter the community even further, this time, at the expense of Joe Solomonese.

I posted a similar comment to the one I made here on Petrelis’ blog.

It was not approved.

So there.
- Melanie Nathan
  
  December 12, 2010 at 12:35 pm
  
  @ Nelson you contradict yourself the snipping started with your contention that this article is hypocritical, So now I am asking commentators not to engage with you bt to rather spend their time promoting the piece. Therein lies the true power of good blogging – the vitality of promotion.. its already getting a lot of attention, By the way the only undermining of your credibility has been accomplished by you. You came on site and attacked. Your attack defies logic – so its enough now… dont lay yourself open to more…
- Bridgette P. LaVictoire
  
  December 12, 2010 at 1:16 pm
  
  Nelson,
  
  I cannot speak for anyone but myself- which you seem to be trying to say that you can, please do not put words in MY mouth- I am honest and sincere about what I say when I call for Solomonese to quit and for the HRC to reform. Given that your ‘proof’ seems rather thin and biased, I’m not sure that it is worth countering.
  
  It seems that the only person here who has a problem right now is you. The rest of us are sincere in wanting Solomonese out, as far as I can tell, but since we are already on the outs with the HRC, I see no way other than to call for his head to get anywhere.
- FAEN
  
  December 15, 2010 at 3:15 pm
  
  Nelson: Youre not here for anything productive….just to stir the pot and have us all sniping at each other. I’ve said what I needed to. I think youre so full of shit it’s probably coming out of your ears. Good day.
Nelson Garcia Reply

December 12, 2010 at 10:14 am

Don’t put words into my mouth. And I don’t have to ask; I’m living proof Joe & HRC doesn’t do squat for anyone. I’m finding it demonstrably hypocritical that this is happening now within a Democratic administration.

And I would also argue that if Pam Spaulding had not blogged wanting his resignation, neither would any of you. Better yet, if I had blogged why I believe Solmonese should resign, you all probably wouldn’t have noticed or cared.

And you haven’t.

The mere fact some of you’re looking for argument rather than offering proof that this call for Solomonese resignation is a legitimate one is evidence enough this is bullshit.
- Clarknt67
  
  December 12, 2010 at 10:46 am
  
  Re: Pam going first.
  
  I have had a “Joe Must Go” post ready to go for some time. I was personally waiting on the actual resolution of the bill to press “Publish.” It was my opinion it was best to wait until this fight was over until we tacked to internal reckoning. I am not sure why Pam felt the time was right now. But I agree with her conclusion if not the timing.
- Bridgette P. LaVictoire
  
  December 12, 2010 at 10:54 am
  
  Nelson,
  
  We’ve been hinting at and dancing around calling for Solomonese to flat out quit for some time. We are not fans of the HRC, and have been vocal about it. I don’t follow Ms Spaulding’s tune. I don’t read her blog either. I find her structure to be tortuous and hard to follow. Mel called for Solomonese to quit a year ago.
  
  LGR tends to be out in front of a lot of things. We’ve been less than impressed with Obama for a lot longer than everyone. We’ve been expecting his double cross for a lot longer than others.
- FAEN
  
  December 12, 2010 at 11:57 am
  
  And I would also argue that if Pam Spaulding had not blogged wanting his resignation, neither would any of you
  
  You can argue that point all you want. The reality is, Pam and several other bloggers have been wanting Joe to get the boot for some time. Personally Nelson, this doesn’t even seem to be about Joe resigning but rather about you being pissed off that had you blogged about it no one would have taken notice. Jesus! Grow the hell up already. This isn’t high school.
- Bridgette P. LaVictoire
  
  December 12, 2010 at 12:06 pm
  
  Faen,
  
  I don’t think it matters who started it. I think that, in the end, we’ve all be vocally wanting him gone for some time, and we’re just all ratcheting it up. We’ve all be critical of the HRC for some time now.
  
  Thank you. Sorry if I sound rather snappish right now, I am feeling right royally awful today. Honestly, I’m not sure why we’re all arguing over this at this point. We all agree that Joe has to go- so it’s time he was given the boot.
Derrick Mathis Reply

December 11, 2010 at 11:39 pm

Mel, fat old crusty comfortable gay white men do not have an inkling of an idea on how to commence the battle for rights in America. Every single idea they come up with is at best retarded.

I’m not co-signing onto anything they endorse. They know nothing about oppression, fighting or willingness. If they want Joe Solmonese fired then that’s exactly what NOT to do.

These people are the least qualified in this entire movement to suggest anything.
- Melanie Nathan
  
  December 12, 2010 at 12:20 am
  
  Derrick – Most my blogging colleagues are names and words and ideas and personalities. I don’t know who is White or who is fat or who is thin. I see the words… its enough for me. I don’t care what anyone looks like. I only care about what I read – in this context of blogging, Derrick! Firstly you are generalizing, being presumptive and contradictory – does Solmonese not fall in some respects into your characterization? Stop looking at who the messenger is and look at the message. You either agree Solmonese is doing a lousy job or you stand by and support him that is the only logic. Personal attacks on other bloggers is not really getting us any further either/ I also don’t believe that everyone has to have had the same “suffering” experience to be worthy of a job. The worthiness comes from the result not from where the person comes!!!
Clarknt67 Reply

December 11, 2010 at 10:27 pm

In my two years blogging this story, I have become convinced if Joe had put half as much effort into advocating for our community as he has making excuses for Obama, repeal would be done.

Sign me up.

Scott Wooledge, Clarknt67 @ Daily Kos.
Derrick Mathis Reply

December 11, 2010 at 9:37 pm

This is such bullshit and I can’t believe Mel that you’re participating in it. Fire Joe Solmonese for what? When did he become lead activist for LGBTs? Last I heard Solmonese was head of a lobbying organization.

Instead of expending energy yet again putting fingers at someone else why can’t the LGBT community for once own it’s own lame shit and admit the fact that the reason this movement is clunking along like it is, is because there’s no community present.

Example: This week’s actions by UK students. Yea Mel. What will it take, how much diversionary activity must be engaged in for American LGBTs to see that to make things happen they actually have to get up off of the asses.

What needs to happen for that realization to become a mass thought? Oh yea, getting Solmonese fired is gonna fix it, right? After that happens while the Red Sea will part and the next day repeal will happen as well as a press release issued from the White House regarding the limited days of DOMA.

And of course Petrolis….he’s 900 years old. He has the mindset of a gay man who thinks all this is going to be purely handled via legislation and pouting.. We all know that’s not realistic. Why endorse Mel?

This is the United States of America. When the hell are gay people going to get with that? You want it you gotta get up and fight for it. Show me where this has not been the case. The older gay white queen has reinvented what fighting for civil rights looks like.. He thinks we can authentically when a fight without getting hit.

It’s going on 3 years now of nothing. That’s Joe Solomnese’s fault? Are you kidding me?

If Joe Solomnese is the problem we’re all the problem. You’re really too intelligent to co-sign for this bullshit.
- Melanie Nathan
  
  December 11, 2010 at 9:47 pm
  
  @Derrick – I am not sure that I said anywhere in this post that I thought Solmonese resigning would be a solution to the mess we are in as a non-movement. His reign has been one of many many factors. You doubt my intelligence if you think I think that Joe ‘s resignation is the solution to equality. I do however strongly believe that people who hold themselves out to be in a leadership position have accountability to the LGBT community and movement as a whole. It si when an org claims a domain as there’s for leadership that they must show their leadership. Solmonese has failed and I am not the only one who thinks so.
  
  HRC raises it funds behind promises and assertions to our entire community – he has a duty to produce results. Have you seen him anywhere that last month on DADT leadership? Just the usual rah rah feed our coffers so DADT can pass. Come one Derrick please look at this from an wholistic pov- its not all about Joe or HRC – - however he has held the hand of Obama and allowed his position and desire for greater political recognition to get in his way of leading his very large and well funded group.
- Bridgette P. LaVictoire
  
  December 11, 2010 at 9:50 pm
  
  I’m actually finding it rather funny that when I called for Solomonese to resign, you didn’t say a peep. Solomonese and the HRC bill themselves as the biggest LGBT org out there, and yet, at this point, most of us are so tired of them being so ineffectual that it isn’t funny.
- Melanie Nathan
  
  December 11, 2010 at 10:00 pm
  
  Yes, Bridge did a great piece on calling him out.. which I did not bring up here because I did not want this to be a discussion about who should replace him. Bridge is right he is ineffectual – you cannot make promises – fund raise- and then disappear- where was the fervent advocacy.Joe show us your calendar for the week of DADT and the month before – Who did you go and see on the Hill. How many times did you call or visit Snow – ? et al…? I wrote a piece also in 209 asking for his resignation on my then site oblogdeeoblogda.
- Melanie Nathan
  
  December 11, 2010 at 10:15 pm
  
  I have added two Videos watch them Derrick
Nelson Garcia Reply

December 11, 2010 at 9:36 pm

Here’s the question I’m asking: Why didn’t anyone get mad at Solmonese when George W. Bush occupied the White House and insisted on being the fierce advocate against our equality and demand his resignation then?

Why now?

I’m not an activist; I’m just a guy with a blog. When it comes to the HRC and Joe Solmonese, I find them both utterly useless, and I challenge anyone to find someone better than me with respect to this opinion.

But this is bullshit, and I suspect Solmonese knows this too. What will happen is that he will do what everyone else does which is to play ignorant and ride this out.

And here’s a hypothetical for you: If, somehow, President Obama and or this Congress does somehow, at long last, give us all our full equality – DADT, Marriage, Adoption, funding for AIDS/HIV, ENDA, etc. – what will then happen is there will be a sudden case of short term memory loss, and all this talk about Solmonese resigning will be forgotten.

Because this is how it is with this godforksen community.

If everyone wants Solmonese to resign, then everyone needs to goddamn mean it this time.

I don’t believe anyone is.
- Bridgette P. LaVictoire
  
  December 11, 2010 at 9:48 pm
  
  I mean it. I’ve been saying that he needs to go for some time now. he is ineffectual and incapable of actually doing anything. People are fed up with the HRC cowering in the corner rather than fighting.
- Melanie Nathan
  
  December 11, 2010 at 9:52 pm
  
  @nelson -you are presenting a defeatist perspective. Asking someone to resign draws attention to the fact that he is not doing well for us – failing the community to which he holds out a position of leadership! .
  
  Are you saying that because some people never asked him to resign before means we should not ask now? By the way my Blog asked for his resignation in 209. When did you ask for it?
  
  So are you saying leave Joe alone? I mean WHAT is it you are saying
  
  Is this a place for you to be contrary because to quote you “…… I challenge anyone to find someone better than me with respect to this opinion.” How can you measure opinion ? I am sorry please come back and make more sense of what it is you are getting at.
- FAEN
  
  December 12, 2010 at 1:17 am
  
  Nelson: Even if DADT gets passed Joe needs to resign! He is ineffectual. I see the HRC as nothing more than a feel good, pat on the back, cover your ass org that does NOT speak for the vast majority of the GLBT community. Joe has his head so far up the President’s ass he gets nothing done. And the reason we pushed so much this time was simple. Under GW we KNEW that nothing was going to get done. The GOP were never going to budge. With the election of President Obama, a whopping majority in the House and 58 to 60 votes in the Senate(depending on the vote) meant that as GLBT Americans, we had an amazing opportunity to pass really effective legislation. And we had a window which was two years. They have come and gone. We have no repeal of DADT, no enactment of ENDA, no passing of the UAFA, no progress on DOMA. And I don’t know if youre in a binational relationship, but for my partner and I, the UAFA bill is life and death. Without it, we have two choices….find a third country that will take us and our dog, or we end our 10 year relationship and live on opposite sides of the world. And I DO blame Joe for a great deal of this. Robin M of GetEqual has done more for us as a community with less that Joe and the HRC has with access to the WH and 80 million dollars.
- FAEN
  
  December 12, 2010 at 1:18 am
  
  And yeah…I fucking mean it!
- Melanie Nathan
  
  December 12, 2010 at 1:15 pm
  
  @NELSON is this related to yiu because I have never seen your Blog before or heard of you until Now… so wanna get to know who you are http://antipedofilia.multiply.com/journal/item/82
  http://antipedofilia.multiply.com/journal/item/35/35
  http://twitter.com/#!/ngblog
  http://www.blogger.com/profile/16596248342650129563
FAEN Reply

December 12, 2010 at 11:59 am

Paula: To me anyway, it doesn’t matter if Pam beat LGR or the other way around. What matters to me is Joe’s resignation and all of us moving together in unity towards our common goal….EQUALITY.
Melanie Nathan Reply

December 12, 2010 at 12:16 pm

Nelson clearly jumped at the opportunity to express old and tired frustration and resentment that he clearly has harbored for some time. Now I have no idea who he is, but my instinct is telling me and its backed up by his wording “no one knows better than me” that he was not included in Trelis’ list of “top LGBT Bloggers” ALso I dont get the non-logic that because we he asserts that no one called for Joe to resign way back, that we should not be doing it now – that its hypocritical – no wonder he is not on the list of top LGBT bloggers because it defies all logic. To add insult to injury he has not done his homework – here Nelson check this out – oh and the link is also in this posting
http://oblogdeeoblogda.wordpress.com/2009/10/13/lgbt-community-resign-joe-you-have-betrayed-us/
Melanie Nathan Reply

December 12, 2010 at 3:39 pm

Melanie Nathan
Posted on December 12, 2010 at 1:15 pm (Edit)

@NELSON is this related to yiu because I have never seen your Blog before or heard of you until Now… so wanna get to know who you are http://antipedofilia.multiply.com/journal/item/82
http://antipedofilia.multiply.com/journal/item/35/35
http://twitter.com/#!/ngblog
http://www.blogger.com/profile/16596248342650129563
dont waste more time on him…. he is discredited in the above links
Derrick Mathis Reply

December 12, 2010 at 7:18 pm

And Paula I know you’re not a fat old crusty rich white man. But you’re helping to perpetuate this idea that Joe Solmonese is the problem. That’s fat old crusty white man thinking.

Instead, try something truly revolutionary. Challenge the LGBT community of America to get up and stand up NOW—-you know, like those UK college students.

But see that’s crusty rich gay white male thinking for you: That would mean you and your friends would no longer control the conversation. You don’t care about LGBT civil rights. You care about making sure your voice is at the forefront of this ridiculous mess you call a civil rights movement.

That’s the whole LGBT blogger credo.

Because if you really cared fucking with Solmonese would be the last thing on your mind. That would be a pointless distraction. Hungry people, people who are being held down and feeling it, have no time for such diversions.

But you do. You do because you’re white middle class and very very comfortable. You don’t want for a thing. You have the luxury in the middle of a so called civil rights movement to focus on somebody that, no matter who sits in his chair, will not advance this cause any further than it’s being advanced right now.

You’re not fooling anyone. Seeking Solmonese’s resignation won’t change a damn thing. And it won’t because this community hasn’t changed a damn thing.
Melanie Nathan Reply

December 12, 2010 at 7:29 pm

@Derrick. Okay now I am seeing plain stupidity -and you have been given plenty of opportunity to redeem yourself. 1. You need to take back your “victim” accusation and apologize to those who have indeed suffered ………. 2. you say asking for Joe to resign is pointless???? Siince when do you think a mass of people ever did anything without real leadership; Solmonese is in charge of the biggest LGBT Lobby in DC- hence he is in a leadership position and he has failed. SO he must resign ,

Asking for Joe to resign does not get in the way of other activists doing there thing. You know you come on here and you attack You have made no point except to sound like you think Joe is doing a great job.

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