Cleve Jones' open letter to Nancy Pelosi

This from GetEqual website :

Dear Speaker Nancy Pelosi --

With health care legislation passing, now is the time to institute workplace protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people by passing the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. Rep. Tammy Baldwin says she believes that we have the votes to pass ENDA, and Rep. George Miller has said the bill is ready to come out of committee now that the health care bill has passed. As Speaker of the House of Representatives, we call on you to act boldly and decisively and bring ENDA to the floor for a vote now.

for more, go here

Co-Directors of the National Equality March have resigned... What happens now?

Co-Directors of the National Equality March, Kip Williams and Robin McGehee, have resigned from Equality Across America due to differences in leadership and financial security.

Cleve Jones, who also helped organized NEM said:

"We're still not sure this is a viable organization. It's still not clear to me that EAA is going to happen yet.

There needs to be a working group to take EAA forward. I'll be inviting [the March's] steering committee and executive committee members to participate."

Okay, that's not cute. The talked about how they were going to the new face of the LGBT movement and within weeks this happens.

And here's more of the "not so cute part":

Some insiders have charged that Williams and McGehee were forced out in an attempt to wrest control of the organization from the popular activists. They claim that Efinger, who also assists Jones with personal matters, is being rewarded for his close friendship with Jones.

"This position is one that is required by our fiscal sponsor, the duties of which include liaising with them on fiscal paperwork and legal matters. It is not a glorified leadership position - but as Kip was stepping out of that position it needed to be filled," Efinger clarified. "As I currently have the availability to take this on in a volunteer capacity, I agreed to the interim role."

The group still has no formal bylaws, a budget, mission statement or organizational structure. March committee members only agreed to help until the event; Jones and Efinger are currently polling them to see who wants to continue as part of a new group.

"None of this has been decided," Jones said. "The steps just haven't been taken.

This is sad to hear this because I was hoping EAA would take off. But after reading this, I'm not sure they have a shot. I fear that egos and pride will spoil our journey.

source

Joe & Cleve discussing Obama's Commitment

A day late and 5 dollars short, Cleve

This past week, Cleve send a letter to Obama about attending the National Equality March.

I applaud his efforts, but isn't too late to send invitations?

Obama has been invited to some golfing thing every president goes to. In fact, it was one of the few early events put on his calender. So in someways, this was known way ahead of time, as well as congress being OUT that weekend, but that's another issue for another time.

Plus, I think there could be some heat from comparing this March and the Civil Rights March of '63. Many folks don't take that comparison too kindly. So I wonder if that was wise to state the issue in this letter, when we have not completely hashed out the similarities and differences.

Also, the letter talks about marching for "full and equal protections for LGBT people in all matters governed by a civil law in the 50 states". Okay, spell that out.

What are these protections? Of course, the answers are simple, but when you are writing to the President, would you make sure that everything was spelled out. If I had a chance to ask the President to do something for me, I wouldn't say "give me full and complete happiness for a lifetime". No honey, I would spell that mess it out in bullet points and highlight every major word. Obama would know what I wanted in abundance.

Now, I not trying to knock this event. I do this to anything that seems "put awkwardly together". However, I hope everyone who is going to NEM, gets something out of it. I really hope this event jumpstarts something in the LGBT community.

But I wouldn't hold my breath about Obama showing up.

Cleve Jones chats with Rachel Maddow

Interesting Quote: Toni Broaddus, the Executive Director of the Equality Federation

Cleve, it is a fact that the only success our movement has had in securing equal rights for LGBT people to date is at the state level, even as most of our movement's resources have been focused on the national level. Your claim of a failed state strategy simply is not supported by reality. Without our work to achieve equality in the states, LGBT people in this country would have no rights at all.

This is Toni's open letter to Cleve Jones, who believes "the state strategy is a failed strategy" when comes to LGBT issues.

Read it here

Are some of the fallthroughs in National Equality March a sign?

Not so good news about the National Equality March.

There are some reports about things not coming together, like speakers, initiatives and talking points. Now, I just read about this issue.

It appears that a vigil for people living with HIV/AIDS will not be part of October's National March for Equality, as one of the lead organizers told the Bay Area Reporter that no agency could be found to spearhead the event.

When he first called for a march on Washington, D.C. this spring, longtime gay and AIDS activist Cleve Jones told the B.A.R. that march organizers were trying to get use of the Lincoln Memorial site for an HIV/AIDS action on Saturday, October 10, the day before the march. Jones, who is HIV-positive and founded the Names Project AIDS Memorial Quilt, has long been outspoken on HIV/AIDS issues.

But those plans have apparently fallen through.

Kip Williams, who has been helping Jones with organizing the equality march, said this week that the AIDS vigil had to be canceled.

"There were a number of organizations considering taking the lead," Williams wrote in an e-mail. "In the end, no one had the resources or capacity to step up."

Okay? That would've been nice to have, considering how HIV/AIDS programs are being cut left and right.

Also, there's the tax exempt issue too. The event is being supported by a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and donations are tax-deductible, if I'm correct. But if so, the rules of the 503(c) 3 says:

a 501(c)3 organization can't attempt to "influence legislation as a substantial part of its activities ..."

Meaning, you can't push to change or repeal of any law/legislation or bill. So this means that they can't focus on the repeal of ENDA, DADT or DOMA. Their messages will have to be somewhat broad and vague.

I'm sure they will figure something out, but I wonder if this is a sign that the organizers should've waited to properly plan this. In my line of work, anytime we plan to hold a student or a professional conference, we plan at least for a year and a half in advance.

I feel if they waited until next summer, then things could've been thought through more. However, I will wait to see what happens. I want this to be a success, but I'm worried this could be a huge mess.

Do We REALLY know Anything about The National Equality March?

The National Equality March is coming soon and for some reason, I'm not feeling it. This march feels rushed and haphazardly put together.

All I know is Cleve Jones is leading it. But is there a true plan or a focus to this event? Having a yard full of gays is cute, but with no tangible agenda, it's just a yard full of gays.

So I have some questions about this march

• Who speaking at this event? Do they have a diverse mix of people speaking like: NAACP, lesbian groups, allies, NOW?
  
• What will be the message? We are all over the place when it comes to our cause and purpose. I hope they get their overall message though.
• Who's sponsoring this event? We still don't know who's all in it and who's backing this march. It just does not make sense that there's a lack of sponsorship here. Hell, there more sponsorship at the Folsom Street fair and the circuit parties.
• Who are the folks involved in the planning? Again, all I know is Cleve and his buddies. Were other groups invited to help?
  
• Where are the ads or promotion? I'm hearing about this through Queerty, and I'm shocked that Queerty is talking about it. The Million Man March was heavily promoted months before hand. Where is the news?
• They want to call for the repeal of the classics: DOMA & DADT, but how realistic is that? What will this march do to push that goal over the edge? The White House already knows how the LGBT community feels, will this march make a difference?
• Where will the money raised from this event go? The website says the money will go to scholarships for youth and low-income groups. But which ones?

Now, I'm not trying to knock it. I'm just trying to understand the purpose. I'm beginning to think this should pushed back until we get all the support needed to be successful. I'm not sure if we are on the same page and with the lack of interest from many LGBT folks and groups, this could be an omega fail.

The National Equality March is Coming

Are we ready for this?

Is a National LGBT March on the way?

I just read from several blogs about the National LGBT March. David Mixner and Cleve Jones are on board and ready to go.

From David's blog, he states:

Our freedom can't be negotiated in the political offices of the White House and in the halls of Congress. Our goal is not to make their path easier but to ensure that young LGBT citizens will not be beaten, denied the right to serve, have their love demeaned in some sort of separate but equal system or excluded from giving their gifts and talents freely to this nation. At this moment, there is very little movement on any of these issues in the White House and it appears that some even believe we should be happy with just hate crimes legislation being passed this year.

I adore President Obama but not enough to allow his team to delay my freedom for political convenience or comfort. It is unacceptable.

My plea is for our LGBT leaders to call a March on Washington for Marriage Equality this November and if they won't do it, I appeal to our young to come together and provide the leadership.

Cleve had this to say (via Towleroad):

I applaud and endorse David Mixner's call for a national march with the following four suggestions:

— Schedule the march for the weekend of October 10 - 11, 2009. This is National Coming Out Day and the 30th anniversary of the first national march. Several subsequent marches and AIDS Memorial Quilt displays have also occurred on those dates. The Columbus Day holiday provides a three-day weekend for many and the weather is generally favorable.

— Have one demand only: “Full Equality Now - full and equal protection under the law for LGBT people in all matters governed by civil law in all 50 states.” Let's stop settling for fractions of equality. Every compromise undermines our humanity. We must declare our equality.

— Organize the march from the grassroots with a decentralized internet-based campaign. Keep it simple; avoid bloated budgets and cumbersome structures. The primary objective must be to turn out the largest possible crowd. We don't need elaborate and expensive staging or fabulous dinner parties and concerts - we need a million or more people in the street demanding equality now.

— Encourage and enlist our allies in the broader progressive movement to build the march. Involve the labor movement, racial, ethnic and immigrant communities, progressive faith leaders, peace and social justice advocates and other supporters. LGBT people of all ages and races recognize the challenges facing our nation and our planet. We are eager to stand, as equals, with our fellow citizens in meeting these challenges.

We are on the verge of a new chapter in the history of our country and our movement. There is a bold new spirit and a powerful new resolve within our communities. Now is the time. We are equal.

Okay, good stuff. Now comes the questions.

Are we really ready for this? This ain't a pride event or Folsom, this our reality. People have to be ready to roll with this.

What are the plans? Yes, Cleve laid out some things... but how would we put those suggestions into action?

Will folks show up? I know they will, but will it be effective? Will we have the visibility needed to make an impact?

And is this the right time?

I'm curious to know what y'all think. A march sounds good, but I also believe we need to think things through. We should feel ready and be ready for this. If we are not solid on the reasons and purpose, this can fail.