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Wayne Besen
PO Box 25491
Brooklyn, NY 11202
So, the Democrats in the New York State senate are thinking of backtracking on marriage. All I can say is, "go to Hell."
When they wanted our community's money and votes, they kissed our asses and made promises. It is essential that these promises are kept. It is unacceptable that they now hide behind the economy or political considerations and calculations.
It also appears that the defeat in California is giving some backbone-free politicians cold feet.
"We want to get there, but we want to get there the right way or else we risk setting ourselves back another decade," said Senator Liz Krueger, a Democrat who represents the Upper East Side. "I think the California proposition and the recognition that entities with large amounts of money who oppose same-sex marriage have decided to be large players in this have a lot of people going back to the drawing board."
Krueger wants us to wait our turn - yet, again - and we won't. How naive is she to act surprised that wealthy anti-gay churches gave money and time in California? Did she expect Focus on the Family to march in the gay pride parade if marriage were passed in the Senate? It is time she gets off her rear end and starts passionately defending GLBT people, instead of making lame excuses.
And, what is wrong with the Empire State Pride Agenda? I almost never directly criticize GLBT organizations - as I understand their challenges. But, I was shocked to read the group's quote in the New York Times, which said the organization was in a "quiet period" and would not respond to questions about the Senate dropping the ball on marriage. (Let's hope this was a Thanksgiving food coma, and not official policy)
Um, we've been in a "quiet period" in the Senate for 40 years. It is time to be vocal and shake the slumber. Does ESPA actually think that anyone would be shocked if the statewide gay group endorsed an early vote on marriage? What kind of signal are they sending to wavering politicians if even they won't advocate a timely vote? I'm sure they think they are being "strategic," but it sure seems like just plain stupid to me.
Look, if they can't get it done, others will try to fill the void. We will organize and march on Albany, if that is what it takes. We need GLBT leadership that will stand firm and stand up to wimpy politicians who have only their best interests in mind - not that of a key constituency that got them elected.
19 Comments:
Wayne, I totally agree. I've been advocating this for a long time. Its time to hold the Dems' collective feet to the fire, either deliver or suffer the consequences. For far too long, they've taken our votes for granted. They talk out of both sides of their mouths and will use any excuse to avoid doing the right thing for the sake of political expediency. No more making nice. Time for our gloves to come off and hold them accountable, including Obama. They need to know NOW....don't count on us in any election. We've waited far too long and we're not going to take it any more. Already, conservative dems are plotting to derail legislation. We need to go after all of them, aggressively and make sure that no Prop. H8 type initiative is ever an option for the haters, bigots and hypocrites in our state. They should be put on notice NOW, not later. If they dare try to do what they did in California, we should introduce a proposition to remove tax-exempt status from every business or religious cult meddling in our rights for full equality. Time to play hardball, please or offend.
posted by Anonymous, at
11/29/2008 7:31 AM
Well said! It's like one lie after another all over again.
It's time for us to get all Act-Up and in their face. We're seeing first-hand what happens when we don't fight for our rights but simply kindly go about asking for it until the time comes when others give generously to us...ergo, we'll never get it. This is one tactic of the Log Cabin Republicans and you can see how well that's worked for them.
We need to get off our collective asses and hold people accountable, we need to get angry again, and we need to stay pissed off.
For the most part, the sad fact is that the only people who are willing to go to the mat on queer issues are queers themselves. Even the so-called liberal state democrats, when you get down to it, don't even really understand gay issues. In New York, they are definitely our friends, but they're still clueless when it comes to gay activism.
Sen. Liz Kreuger's expression of surprise at the "opposition" is profoundly naive! And of course, it's another religious kook, Diaz the Pentecostal, who's essentially killed it. "The more things change, the more they remain the same."
I probably shouldn't say this, but I think I'm going to try to forget about this political battle for a little while and just enjoy my life. How often can one be defeated until one's heart dies?
posted by Chris L., at
11/29/2008 12:03 PM
I will never give up on marriage equality. I will remain angry until we get the same right as everybody else. We all should. It is imperative that we keep a very close watch on the Dems and remind them of it. No backing down, ever. Can you imagine the impact we'd have on both major parties if every gay voter started getting behind the Green Party? That would be a wake-up call for all of them. The Dems haven't quite figured out the financial boon same-sex marriage will have on states such as Massachusetts and Connecticut. Once they see hundreds of thousands of gay couples flocking to those states to get married, they'll realize that all the other states are losing out on much needed revenue. It has been estimated that in New York state alone, if marriage equality were passed, the state would stand to gain roughly $222 million or more annually. Didn't Arnie say just that about California when it was legal? He encouraged us to go there, get married and spend, spend, spend to help boost the state coffers. Economics is going to play an integral role in getting marriage equality passed in other states.
posted by Anonymous, at
11/29/2008 12:45 PM
Well all emotion aside, I just think they are plain wrong from a standpoint of political strategy. Prop 8 passed but only because of a shitload of out of state money, and ads filled with lies and scare tactics. But overall the social climate has shifted profoundly, and it's changing even more drastically and rapidly in the wake of Prop 8. Do they not see the enormous response against prop 8 in all fifty states?
If the Democrats don't get behind the wave of change, they're going to be the ones left in the past.
But whatever. Fuck 'em. It's up to us and it always was, so what they say is irrelevant. If enough people protest and write to them, they'll do whatever their constituents say anyway.
posted by Ryan Grant Long, at
11/29/2008 1:24 PM
Of course I will NEVER give up on equality. It will be a cold day in hell before the likes of Ruben Diaz rule the day! However, I think we all must be sure to develop a private space within ourselves that has already arrived to that place...it may not match the reality of the day...but victory can and in fact must exist within, too. Admittedly, sometimes I allow these temporary set-backs to affect my happiness; I must say, I deeply believe that I understand what MLK meant when he said, "Keep your eyes on the prize."
posted by Chris L., at
11/29/2008 2:40 PM
Even if the Dems don't deliver, our political and financial power will get us our rights. Its the only language they understand. They screw with us, we'll screw them back, with impunity. They want our votes in the future? Let them earn it. So far, they haven't. They can either put up or shut up and we'll take our money and political power elsewhere. They need to be told NOW! No more waiting or appeasement, those days are long gone after prop. H8.
posted by Anonymous, at
11/29/2008 4:21 PM
Unapologetic homophobes like Ruben Diaz are much fewer in number than they were even 5 years ago. Those types are making their final last stand, but I think even they know, deep down, that the best they can do is delay the inevitable. Maybe that's why some in the gay community may currently seem to lack the hyper, anger-driven, arm-twisting stance that usually accompanies these issues; which have only a tiny window of opportunity. Times have changed, and it is now their side which sees the chance to preserve inequality slipping away, their window of opportunity growing more minuscule by the moment.
posted by Chris L., at
11/30/2008 9:36 AM
Wayne protested in the foothills of North Carolina! I think he can handle the crazies in Albany.
posted by Chris L., at
12/01/2008 11:40 AM
Huh? What does one's residence have to do with marching for civil rights? Most of the whites who marched in the south in the 60s weren't from those states. And safe and coddled are not adjectives that I would use to describe Manhattan. BTW, I think Wayne used to live in Brooklyn. Close enough.
posted by Anonymous, at
12/01/2008 2:31 PM
I wouldn't consider Manhattan to be safe and coddling, either. And I really think Wayne is well able to deal marching against whomever he has to to speak out for our rights.
What is YOUR problem, Joey? Doesn't sound like you're all that interested in LGBT civil rights. If I wanted a right-wing "take" gays and gay rights, I would ask a Log Cabiner.
posted by Merlyn, at
12/01/2008 2:58 PM
Yeah, all those Mormom f*cks who helped pass Prop. H8 didn't live in California, the home of the amendment... they were from Utah! Indeed, it would have been nice if they had "minded their own bee's wax."
Joey777, what is your story? I have a feeling you work for "the other side." "Joey" is a good name if you want to infiltrate a gay blog, but "7" is "God's number" and I bet that's why you say "777."
You're either a fundamentalist in disguise or a big gambler... which is it? Please advise.
posted by Chris L., at
12/01/2008 3:11 PM
Joey777 has been banned but like the HIV virus he keeps morphing and coming back.
posted by Priya Lynn, at
12/01/2008 6:41 PM
Thanks for letting me know about that horses ass. I have deleted his ignorant comment.
posted by Wayne Besen, at
12/01/2008 7:22 PM
Wayne, thank you for doing that. I suspect Joey will be back under another guise.
I think we should all plan on a one-million man march on Albany sooner, rather than later. We need to keep the post prop. H8 momentum going and put all the religious cults and their haters on notice that we'll be going after them, big time.
posted by Anonymous, at
12/02/2008 8:27 AM
Maybe Joey777 was: "AJ/Theo/Freddie/Anonymous"!
The funny thing is, why would he have to hide his name unless he's ashamed of his views? Maybe he is a MOLE! They are trying to phoney us up on this blog!!!!!
posted by Chris L., at
12/02/2008 10:29 AM
Chris, if you recall, Theo called me a conspiracy paranoid, but you could be right. I suspect many are "ex-gays" or Log Cabiners. There are many in the republican gay camp who don't want marriage equality and are probably among those who voted for Prop. H8.
posted by Anonymous, at
12/02/2008 1:08 PM
