Time To Put On Our Marching Shoes
Ezekiel J. Krahlin
NATIONAL GAY AND LESBIAN TASK FORCE
OP-ED
Contact:
David Elliot, Communications Director
202-332-6483 ext. 3303
800-757-6476 pager
del...@ngltf.org
http://www.ngltf.org
1700 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC
**********************************************************************
Note to editors: The following op-ed by NGLTF Executive Director
Elizabeth Toledo, is offered for publication. For head shots, please
email del...@ngtlf.org.
TIME TO PUT ON OUR MARCHING SHOES
By Elizabeth Toledo
George W. Bush is heading to Washington, and now is the time for
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender activists -- arm in arm with
all social justice activists -- to be visible and vocal. Right now is
the moment when our movement must demand exactly what we want -- and
we must do it in a way that is powerful.
The fact of a Bush Presidency is a technical defeat. This country
understands that the combination of privilege, electoral corruption
and mismanagement, and sheer luck put George W. into the White House.
He appealed to the fear and bigotry of homophobia as a stepping stone
to power. He rejected feminism, racial justice, economic justice, and
the basic building blocks of democracy in his quest for the White
House. In past elections this platform might have launched him to
power in a decisive vote. Today, he moves into power the clear loser.
A president-elect who lost the nation's popular vote and won the
electoral college vote only by blocking the free and fair count in
Florida, Bush prepares for inauguration under a dark cloud of
electoral scandal and voter disfranchisement.
I concede that Bush will sit in the White House, but I concede no
power to his politics. The stench of this election will remain in the
voters' consciousness. At one moment in time I might have thought the
best we can muster in a Bush administration is to hold the line. I
thought we'd dig our heels in the turf and prevent our progress from
slipping a decade or so.
I don’t think that anymore.
I now believe the movement must again reaffirm the power of local
organizing, which historically has been ingrained in the mission of
the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. Let us make sure that every
person in every city of the country has an opportunity to be
politically active. Let us blanket this country with town hall
meetings, rallies, protests, pickets, and campaigns. Let us demand
that our voices as social justice activists be heard in every part of
the media -- on talk shows and call-in shows and in print.
Among the many lessons that the Florida vote miscount ought to teach
us is the power of local leadership. Who ever imagined the importance
of the election boards? Every one of us ought to think about running
for an office, being appointed to an office, or helping someone else
capture an office. The next election is 23 short months away, and I
expect to campaign for social justice every single one of those
months.
Recently, I was invited to the Vice President's residence for a
holiday party. I encountered a number of GLBT insiders there -- from
party activists to donors. We should all take a good look, it will be
some time before we're truly invited back in. And that's not
necessarily a bad thing.
First, we must not give up on the federal level. Advances are
possible, even under a Republican Administration. After all, such
breakthrough legislation as the Ryan White Care Act and the Americans
with Disabilities Act were signed into law by George W.'s father. Of
course, it is important to note that these advances only came after
national protests were organized, many by ACT-UP. Again, it is time to
take to the streets!
Second, we need to take all of the power that the movement amassed
inside the beltway and unleash it at the community level. The power of
our movement lies in activism -- organized, strategic activism in
every state.
Third, it made some sense to compromise when we had friends the White
House. Our movement made practical decisions in an effort to win
whatever gains were in our reach. But even President Clinton
acknowledges that the most famous compromise of all -- the "Don't Ask,
Don’t Tell" military policy - -- was an abject failure.
And so now, our opponents -- and sometimes, even our friends -- will
urge upon us compromise. They will urge us to accept narrow
possibilities of progress. But now is the time to be truly visionary.
If we are not going to put out an agenda that will truly challenge
homophobia, nobody else is going to do it for us.
Coalitions are forming and major protests are on the way. Thank
goodness, it will feel empowering to take off our tuxedos and put on
our marching shoes.
The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force intends to be a clearinghouse
for activism in this Bush era. Join us. Collaborate with us. Help us.
Go to www.ngltf.org and sign up to be on our activist listserv. Check
out the web site every day.
Let's link arms. It's a new day in this country, and despite his
"victory," George W. Bush doesn't automatically get to be at the helm.
______________________________________________________________________
Founded in 1973, NGLTF works to eliminate prejudice, violence and
injustice against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people at
the local, state and national level. As part of a broader social
justice movement for freedom, justice and equality, NGLTF is creating
a world that respects and celebrates the diversity of human expression
and identity where all people may fully participate in society.
This message was issued by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
Communications Department. If you have a question regarding this
post, please direct it to the contact at the top of this message.
To reach the NGLTF Communications Department at NGLTF, please call
David Elliot, Communications Director, at 202-332-6483 x3303 or pager
800-757-6476 or email del...@ngltf.org.
If you wish to UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, please send an email
message with your request to lis...@ngltf.org.
---end of article
---
Pennsylvania Dutch Gay Jesus Says:
"Throw the hetero over the fence some hay!"
---
Lavender Velvet Revolution:
http://surf.to/gaybible
Earl
Krahlin) wrote:
>---begin article:
>
>NATIONAL GAY AND LESBIAN TASK FORCE
>OP-ED
More homo promo coming.
************
>
>Note to editors: The following op-ed by NGLTF Executive Director
>Elizabeth Toledo, is offered for publication. For head shots, please
>email del...@ngtlf.org.
>
>TIME TO PUT ON OUR MARCHING SHOES
>
>By Elizabeth Toledo
>
>George W. Bush is heading to Washington, and now is the time for
>lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender activists -- arm in arm with
>all social justice activists -- to be visible and vocal. Right now is
>the moment when our movement must demand exactly what we want -- and
>we must do it in a way that is powerful.
As Rush Limbaugh puts it. Liberals get acting very funny when they are
out of power.
>
>The fact of a Bush Presidency is a technical defeat. This country
>understands that the combination of privilege, electoral corruption
>and mismanagement, and sheer luck put George W. into the White House.
He won the election fair and square according to the rules on Nov 7,
2000.
>
>He appealed to the fear and bigotry of homophobia as a stepping stone
>to power.
Name one case of this. In fact, his running mate has a very open
lesbian for a daughter.
>He rejected feminism, racial justice, economic justice, and
>the basic building blocks of democracy in his quest for the White
>House.
Total bullshit. In fact, Bush's cabinet is more deversified then Bill
Clinton's. And what in the hell do you mean by economic justice? (a
keyword for socialism and communism by the way)
> In past elections this platform might have launched him to
>power in a decisive vote. Today, he moves into power the clear loser.
>A president-elect who lost the nation's popular vote and won the
>electoral college vote only by blocking the free and fair count in
>Florida, Bush prepares for inauguration under a dark cloud of
>electoral scandal and voter disfranchisement.
More homo promo distortions.
>
>I concede that Bush will sit in the White House, but I concede no
>power to his politics. The stench of this election will remain in the
>voters' consciousness. At one moment in time I might have thought the
>best we can muster in a Bush administration is to hold the line. I
>thought we'd dig our heels in the turf and prevent our progress from
>slipping a decade or so.
Al Gore lost. Get over it.
>
>I don’t think that anymore.
>
>I now believe the movement must again reaffirm the power of local
>organizing, which historically has been ingrained in the mission of
>the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. Let us make sure that every
>person in every city of the country has an opportunity to be
>politically active. Let us blanket this country with town hall
>meetings, rallies, protests, pickets, and campaigns. Let us demand
>that our voices as social justice activists be heard in every part of
>the media -- on talk shows and call-in shows and in print.
Like I said. Homosexuals and liberals start acting very funny when
they are out of power.
>
>Among the many lessons that the Florida vote miscount ought to teach
>us is the power of local leadership. Who ever imagined the importance
>of the election boards? Every one of us ought to think about running
>for an office, being appointed to an office, or helping someone else
>capture an office. The next election is 23 short months away, and I
>expect to campaign for social justice every single one of those
>months.
>
>Recently, I was invited to the Vice President's residence for a
>holiday party. I encountered a number of GLBT insiders there -- from
>party activists to donors. We should all take a good look, it will be
>some time before we're truly invited back in. And that's not
>necessarily a bad thing.
I wonder if Fred Phelps was invited considering Al Gore was a huge
supporter of Fred Phelps and vice versa in 1988.
>
>First, we must not give up on the federal level. Advances are
>possible, even under a Republican Administration.
What advances would that be?
>After all, such
>breakthrough legislation as the Ryan White Care Act and the Americans
>with Disabilities Act were signed into law by George W.'s father. Of
>course, it is important to note that these advances only came after
>national protests were organized, many by ACT-UP. Again, it is time to
>take to the streets!
Time to hire some street cleaners.
Earl