[transgendernews] [Commentary] [NY, USA] My Classless HRC Act
Stephanie Stevens
My Classless HRC Act
Plus: Faulting Ferraro and Backing Obama
By ALLEN ROSKOFF
Sep. 05, 2008
>snip<
• The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) hung leaflets all over Fire Island
Pines stating: "Join HRC for Summer Cocktails in the Pines. Meet LGBT
advocates and supporters and learn more about the Human Rights
Campaign over afternoon cocktails with a spectacular view!" The event
was at the home of Chris Taylor and Anthony Cirone.
Terrance Knox, co-president of Brooklyn's Lambda Independent
Democrats, and Michael Colosi, Thomas Shevlin and I from the Jim Owles
Liberal Democratic Club decided to attend. I wondered whether it would
be a Scientology-type brainwashing event where they would trick us
into thinking that HRC actually advocates on behalf of the LGBT
community.
Without a word about what HRC stands for and no questions, the music
stopped and a man stood up to thank the hosts and announce the night
of the next HRC dinner in New York. The music was turned back on and
the event was supposed to be over.
Not so fast.
Knox took control of the situation: He turned off the music and
addressed the room. He asked why HRC has done so little for the
community and why they agreed to exclude the transgender community
from the federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) over the
objections of the movement as a whole. He was absolutely brilliant.
One of the hosts explained that HRC works in increments in getting
what it can, little by little: the "we accept crumbs" approach.
I then proceeded to inform all in attendance that the HRC dinner in
New York last year was boycotted by every elected official in New York
City and that similar boycotts were occurring around the country. I
asked why HRC agreed to pull the comprehensive bill introduced in
1974, which would have amended the 1964 Civil Rights Act to include
the words "sexual orientation" (HRC then replaced it with the much
weaker bill now known as ENDA).
The room froze. It was like in "The Producers," where the cast sang
"Springtime for Hitler," leaving the audience wide-eyed, mouths agape
and completely silent.
The host Chris Taylor, a rather smug and self-righteous fellow, told
me that my behavior was an embarrassment to myself (whatever that
means) and that it lacked class. I, for one, encourage all
inappropriate and classless behavior that will further the cause of
gay liberation and civil rights. The movement was not founded on good
manners at a Fire Island Pines hill-top pool house by "go along to get
along" types.
>snip<
Allen Roskoff is a longtime gay rights activist and co-author and
lobbyist for the nation's first gay civil rights bill. He is now
president of the citywide Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club.
(c) 2008 The New York Blade | A Window Media Publication
http://www.nyblade.com/2008/9-5/viewpoint/opinion/1236RoskoffHRCPines.cfm
------------------------------------
Copyright Statement: Material appearing in this e-mail is distributed without profit or monetary gain to those who have expressed an interest in receiving the article material for research and educational purposes. This is in accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. section 107. Please note that distribution of articles doesn't constitute endorsement of the articles' content; "opposition" articles are distributed to educate interested readership about contrary and unfavorable standpoints.Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/transgendernews/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/transgendernews/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
mailto:transgender...@yahoogroups.com
mailto:transgendernew...@yahoogroups.com
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
transgenderne...@yahoogroups.com
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/