Wayne Besen - Author, Activist, Columnist, Public Speaker

Wednesday, March 01, 2006

(Weekly Column)

Alan Van Capelle, executive director of The Empire State Pride Agenda, rocked the quiescent relationship between gays and the Democratic Party last week by calling Sen. Hillary Clinton "a complete disappointment." He went so far as to recommend that the gay community discontinue giving money to her campaign.

"Supporting an LGBT fundraiser for Hillary Clinton will actually hurt our community," wrote Van Capelle in a leaked memorandum to his Board of Directors. "We have become a community that throws money at politicians and we demand nothing in return."

His comments have started a healthy, if not painful, debate about the place of gay people in the Democratic Party. Van Capelle expressed a growing feeling among many Democrats that the GLBT community isn't getting a good return on its investment. These disgruntled Democrats believe that gay people raise millions of dollars for the party and provide armies of volunteers, but gain little.

Democratic leaders respond that they are going as far as they can, while remaining electable, and that the only alternative for gay people is to vote Republican.

The Democratic malcontents would counter that there is little difference between the two parties. For the most part, leading Democrats and Republicans are opposed to allowing gay people to marry. So, why not redirect our political donations to other charities or go on a great vacation? If the Democrats don't appreciate us, to hell with them - we can spend our dough in Canada, Spain or Denmark where gay people are afforded full equality.

This is an option, of course, but what happens if the Democrats say to hell with us? Without the support of Democrats in Congress, a Constitutional Amendment banning gay people from marrying would pass. So, while we have the power to "show them" they also have the power to "show us." In such a scenario of mutually assured destruction, both Democrats and gay people lose to the benefit of the Republican Party.

The reason political parties exist is to win elections and the Democrats have concluded that to neutralize backlash and achieve victory, they will support Civil Unions while opposing same-sex marriage. Pragmatists in the GLBT community say this is a wise approach that will lead to equality over time. Meanwhile, many leading gay activists believe this is selling out and an affront to our dignity - which it most certainly is. However, this may be a sacrifice worth making if it keeps Republicans out of office.

A serious question to ask is: Has the pragmatic approach worked or actually hurt gay people and the Democratic Party?

Not too long ago, Civil Unions were considered political poison, but they are now the preferred position of Democrats with presidential aspirations. A case can be made that the sooner the Democrats embrace same-sex marriage, the quicker the issue will become non-controversial and politically risky. By taking the middle of the road approach, the Democrats have prolonged the shelf life of the issue and made themselves vulnerable to attacks on gay rights.

If John Kerry had embraced allowing gay people to marry in 2004, wouldn't the issue be a bit tired and old hat by now, thus reducing its power to damage Democrats? After all, the Democrats are still getting accused of supporting same-sex marriage and anyone who cares about this issue enough to change his or her vote is probably a Republican, anyway.

Or, maybe not.

As a columnist, I usually have a ready answer for everything. However, this is a vexing issue with no clear solutions. Our community wants to push back against the Democratic Party, without tripping over the edge. But our own exaggerated fear of an imaginary backlash may sometimes keep us too timid and "in our place." If the civil rights movement taught us one thing, it is that progress is not serendipitous, but a result of constant agitation and the pushing of boundaries.

I think a temporary answer might be for disgruntled Democrats to use the primaries as a time to flex their muscles. They can give their money, time and votes only to presidential candidates who support full equal rights.

In 2004, Rev. Al Sharpton, Carol Moseley-Braun and Dennis Kucinich supported marriage, yet most gay Democrats ignored their campaigns. Perhaps, in 2008 getting behind such candidates can send a message that we are not to be neglected or taken for granted. This plan can highlight our strength while still allowing us not to commit electoral suicide by sitting out the general election.

Van Capelle's comments jumpstarted a crucial conversation among gay Democrats. We must intelligently strike a balance where we get our fair slice of the pie, without being so pie in the sky that we alienate the party and help elect Republicans.

16 Comments:

Great column. This is the reason I remain a registered Republican so that I can vote in the primaries. I wonder what would happen if more people did that.

Maybe I am naive, but I do it thinking that if the religious bigots and homophobes who typically do well in the primaries with the "party faithful" start losing to GOP candidates who support inclusion (choice, equality, fiscal responsibility, etc) we might start getting our country back.

In fact, it might actually be that gay, pro-choice, and anti-theocracy people who be better served and make much more of an inpact getting directly involved in the GOP. That's essentially what the Dixiecrats started doing with the GOP in the 1970s after they found out George Wallace and a third party couldn't win elections.

When you are fighting against people who think of their choice as a) vote against gays or b) risk being eaten by fire for eternity, we have to get sufficiently motivated to give money and vote, we ALSO have to get directly involved and do something.
posted by Steve Talbert, at 3/01/2006 7:19 AM

A case can be made that the sooner the Democrats embrace same-sex marriage, the quicker the issue will become non-controversial and politically risky.

Won't happen as long as the establishment DINO candidates like Hillary the Hawk, Cousin Kerry and MBNA Joe, are the frontrunners of the national Democratic party.

These timid creatures want out time, money and energy but, are all too willing to kick us to the curb when the radical fundies begin screaming.

I have no more tolerance for these Vichy Dems.
posted by Christopher, at 3/01/2006 8:52 AM

Listening to NPR's TOTN yesterday, the subject was Roe v Wade with typical party reps participating. You can guess the Rep's case. Legal Scholar chimed in saying Roe won't fall, they attack it at the risk of strengthening it. The Dem position: "maybe its time to let it go ... send it back to the states". NPR has moved rightward over past years, so I don't know if they hand pick these guys, but that just creeped me.
posted by Sactopete, at 3/01/2006 9:50 AM

We need a Dr. Martin Luther King to lead the parade and a sitting President like Kennedy and a Attorney General like Kennedy to get in the Parade and walk the walk with us, ALL of us, and all our supporters, which not small. I don't want to be intimidated by hearing "what if" we leave the Demo party they could leave us. Fuck em. They need US to get into office MORE than we need their lies and more of the same treatment once they get in to protect their political carrers!

The problem is Our Community doesn't know who to come together in solidarity! All for one and one for all. Look at all the Log Cabins that won't join the rest of us and then look at all the Gays who voted Independent. We could be a force to reckon with if we for JUST once in our lives Did It Together and made that stand.

I will NO longer embrace a candidate who will not openly embrace me.

Give me an Al Gore anytime!

Dominick
posted by Dominick, at 3/01/2006 11:08 AM

I would also like to remind these Demos and Repugs running for office who want our support, they are voting for and embracing OUR Civil Rights Not a Gay or even JUST a Gay issue. They pick up their lead from the assinine Religious Right Groups!! We also have Freedom of Reigion in this country and My relgion embraces the idea of Gays getting Married as do thousands of other denominations. This shouldn't be a fight for a religious group to win over another religious group, this should be a fight of CIVIL RIGHTS Groups

These politicians have to get their heads out of their assholes, come up and smell the air, what's left of it, and defend my right to be equal whether they, religiously, believe, or NOT. We have to get back to Separation of Church and State.
posted by Dominick, at 3/01/2006 11:59 AM

Jonathan and I are Democrats at the Left Edge of the party. While I grew up as a Republican, experience quickly told me that they had no interest in social justice or economic freedom for anyone other that their own elites.

That said. I do not agree that attacking this issue is wise. We are happy to have some civil rights, and we believe that continued erosion of conservative positions on gay issues is inevitable as long as we continue to be in the open and be visible.

While fighting for gay marriage may be more "politically acceptable" to those who see politics as gay versus non-gay -- we would rather see government get out of marriage completely. Any two people should be able to form a civil union, and religious groups should decide who their particular group will marry -- which should be a religious ceremony and a religious issue.

I admit, we consider many other things as important or more important than gay rights in making our political decisions -- feeding hungry children, elder care, having a decent infrastructure, national defense -- all of these things are important, several of them (the first two certainly) more important than whether or not we get more rights (to us). No one is shooting at us, our neighbors like us, and we hold good solid jobs that are not threatened by our sexuality. We live as out gay men, and have since our teens and our friendship group is heavily mixed, with emphasis on straight and gay friends of all races who share our hobby with us.

Which brings me to the real issue in assuring gay rights. Only about half of the American gay community is, by most accounts out. I don't mean out to 4 people, I mean comfortably living their lives as gay people -- without embarrassment or shame.

If you want more rights for the community, help gay men feel like they can be open about who they are, they don't need to wear pink or a pinky ring, but they do need to stop having random sex in bathrooms because they cannot deal with the emotional impact of actually admitting they like other guys and start dealing with who they are.

If the whole gay community were visible. You'd be amazed at how much of a difference it would make. Kids should not lie awake crying and cutting themselves because of the sexual fantasies that they had during their evening erotic period. Men should not beat themselves at my age about who they want to sleep with, and hide behind fake dates, singles apartments and lonely lives so that they can, when the urge get too great, go out, have wild sex with a guy they have never saeenbefore and never will again and then start beating themselves again, and promising "deity" that they won't ever give in to such a thing in the future.

Support gay friendly groups of faith
Support gay teens
Support your brothers and sisters in coming to terms with and living as what they are.

The prejudice would be finally over in another 20 years if everyone would just start now with that.

Regards,

Reynolds C. Jones
Jonathan Marc Fox
posted by Anonymous, at 3/01/2006 1:13 PM

Sorry Reynolds and Johnathan BUT I don't want crumbs from my government, I pay taxes too, a LOT of taxes. Alito is in the Supreme Court for LIFE--so may be a little longer on those 20 years you estimate OR Not.

One day this country just might erupt in a Civil War like the one the Iraquis are exerienceing between their religious leaders for control of the their government.
We are NO longer a country separate from Church and State. We are a Religous Owned Country of Extremist Religious Right people, bigots and homophobes...

What a shame our elected officials didn't fight hard enough for us when they had the chance..
Please read the following article...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Alito Thank-You Letter To Religious Right Leader Is Grossly Inappropriate, Says Americans United
Wednesday, March 1, 2006
New High Court Justice Should Follow Command Of Constitution, Not Dobson, Asserts Church-State Watchdog Group

ALITO’S THANK-YOU LETTER TO RELIGIOUS RIGHT LEADER IS GROSSLY INAPPROPRIATE, SAYS AMERICANS UNITED

New High Court Justice Should Follow Command Of Constitution, Not Dobson, Asserts Church-State Watchdog Group

Supreme Court Justice Samuel A. Alito has sent a cloying thank-you note to Focus on the Family head James C. Dobson, a move Americans United for Separation of Church and State says is further evidence the new justice is firmly in the pocket of the Religious Right.

“Justice Alito should follow the commands of the Constitution, not the orders of Dobson and the Religious Right,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United. “This note strongly suggests that Alito is carrying out a right-wing agenda instead of being a justice for all.

“This is grossly inappropriate,” said Lynn. “Alito sounds like a political candidate doing a victory lap and thanking his backers rather than being a fair and independent judge.”

The Associated Press reported today Dobson received a six-paragraph personal note from Alito. In the letter, Alito thanked Dobson for backing his nomination to the Supreme Court.

Read the note, “This is just a short note to express my heartfelt thanks to you and the entire staff of Focus on the Family for your help and support during the past few challenging months. I would also greatly appreciate it if you would convey my appreciation to the good people from all parts of the country who wrote to tell me that they were praying for me and for my family during this period.”

Alito went on to write, “As long as I serve on the Supreme Court I will keep in mind the trust that has been placed in me” and expressed his desire for a personal meeting with Dobson.

Dobson and other Religious Right leaders enthusiastically backed Alito’s confirmation because they think he will restrict civil rights and civil liberties and rule against church-state separation.

Americans United is a religious liberty watchdog group based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1947, the organization educates Americans about the importance of church-state separation in safeguarding religious freedom.

Beth Corbin
National Field Director

Americans United
for Separation of Church and State

Dominick
posted by Dominick, at 3/01/2006 5:21 PM

Hillary's campaign has sent me two solicitations for funds - on both forms, I wrote that I don't give money to people who don't fully support my rights. I've made it clear to every Democrat who doesn't fully support my civil rights who asks me for money or time that the best they will get from me is a grudging vote against their Republican opponent.

I agree with Wayne - it's important to keep the worst out of office when we can (which means grudgingly voting for candidates whose support for us is less than acceptable) and also to try to send a message to those who want our support, but who don't fully support us.

What we need even more is to stop expecting our political system to be the only means through which we try to acheive civil rights. We also need to stop sitting around hoping that a Martin Luther King-figure will emerge to lead the way.

There are so many things we can do, including:
-Running for office ourselves (or encouraging people in our community to run - AND support them)
-Forming chapters of Soulforce in our communities to confront the problem at its root - religious bigotry, that is. That's what I'm in the process of doing for my community.
-Make our GLBT communities more visible and vocal in local communities all over by hosting town hall meetings, organize letter-writing campaigns to newspapers, bring in speakers to help educate our communities about issues that affect our lives....
- I would also strongly suggest giving money to organizations like the ACLU and any organizations devoted to supporting a wall of separation between church and state. Unless we start acting ourselves more, rather than relying on others, we will end up with more of the theocratic agenda in our laws.

I'd love to hear others' suggestions about actions we can take to get our country back.
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