Subscribe to Breaking NewsWithers: Why no love for the local activist?
I don’t mean to pile on Cleve Jones, the organizer for the National Equality March, but there are times when he talks and its easy to wonder if he likes Mary Jane a bit too much. In a recent interview he says two things that are rather naive and dismissive of local organizers who are doing important grunt work.
When asked what issues the October 11 march will address, here is Mr. Jones:
“We want decisive, unequivocal action from the president, Congress and the United States Supreme Court to ensure equal protection under the law in all matters governed by civil law in all 50 states, period.”
What the devil does that mean? Repeal of DOMA and DADT? Gay marriage in all 50 states (good luck with that!). Civil rights laws for gays and lesbians? Can the man be more vague? And last time I checked the Supreme Court’s job isn’t to ensure some political outcome. Its role is only to make meaning from the laws (and if you look at the history of the Court, minus the past 50 years, its a rather conservative institution, but that is for another time).
Jones also seems to have a disdain for the daily work done by locals. You know those folk you call when the police do some shady stuff or you get beat down for having the gall to think you can walk the streets at night.
” We who are organizing the march are tired of a state-by-state, city-by-city struggle. It certainly has produced victories, but these victories are incomplete and impermanent.”
Sure, but can we get our fair due of the freedom pie by ignoring the local activists who will be on the ground when the rally stage is put away? Former 365 blogger Pauline Park wonders if all of the focus on a national movement will dry up much needed funds for organizations who are the lifeblood for the movement Jones wants.
“What the march will do is divert scarce resources from those state and local organizations doing the real work of the movement just at a moment when they most need resources because of the recession. In fact, a lot of state and local organizations already have events planned for Oct 11 — which is National Coming Out Day — and so the scheduling of this march on that day will force many of those organizations to choose between continuing to organize events in their home communities or send members to Washington.”
I know the complaints. “Why can’t gays and lesbians support something without being so critical?” “If this march is not a success our rights will be taken away.” “Every gay and lesbian needs to support this march. If not you are traitor.” “Support this march or get out of the way.” Phooey to all of that.
Movements are weak if they can’t stand up to sturdy and fair critique. Sure too many comments about Jones and the march are silly and those statements need to be taken for what they are: bitter mess by bitter people. However, freedom struggles get no where if there isn’t a hard question every now and then.
None of this means you shouldn’t go to DC this weekend, and if you read it like that get some glasses. Please. Yet ask yourself, and the folk organizing this thing, how do they plan on spreading a national movement if they don’t support the ground troops?
The march is only one aspect of this weekend. Check out their web site and look at everything else that is going on. There are many training sessions aimed at getting more folks involved at the local level.
So…the primary objective is to turn out the largest crowd possible.
Question: To what purpose? What is this expected to accomplish? Showing that we’re a force with which to be reckoned? Showing our diversity? I’m not convinced any of that is likely to produce real, permanent change on our behalf. Sounds like symbolism over substance.
“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.”
…because everyone knows that full equality on every front all at once is something very achievable (NOT!)
An unfocused, vague demand such as this will likely be met with a lot of silence and inaction, since there’s hardly agreement on what exactly would constitute “full equality”, much less how to get there.
And people think I’m impatient because I’m disheartened by the lack of action on even one major issue like ENDA, DADT or DOMA coming from a legislative and executive branch both controlled by Democrats. I can only guess what they must think of the impatience suggested by a demand for “Full Equality Now – full and equal protection under the law for LGBT people in all matters governed by civil law in all 50 states.”
Like it or not, we will only get to full equality incrementally, city by city, state by state, until such time as we’ve built enough momentum from that effort to push equality forward at a national level. We aren’t even close to being there yet, and I think it’s highly questionable whether a march on Washington is likely to play much of a role in getting us there.
Lastly, comparing this movement to the activities leading up to the the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is mostly ridiculous. While prejudice is prejudice and there are parallels to be drawn, the “devil is in the details”. Fighting the specifics of racism isn’t the same as fighting anti-gay sentiments and systems. And this isn’t the 60’s – tactics that worked then aren’t necessarily going to work now. Protests don’t have the same impact now that they had then. It’s not as if our struggle is a new one either – we’ve been at this for 40 years now – even longer if you count pre-Stonewall activism. It will probably take as long again before we get to something approaching our full equality.
The lack of respect shown to those of us who have been not only on the front line of local & state efforts, but who also participated in earlier marches, is simply astounding. Apparently our experience counts for nothing. If the younger generation coming up refuses to learn from our past triumphs and mistakes, then I expect the process will take even longer.
There are no shortcuts, and worse – this march could backfire and end up short-circuiting the efforts and progress we have made.
March all you want, declare our equality all you like. If anyone expects those things to produce some sort of magical results without being prepared to make the decades of follow-up effort at the local & state level that will be required, they’re living in a fantasy. There’s more to this than just showing up in large numbers with a vaguely stated purpose.
Why no love for the local activist? To put it simply, NO group, “community” or otherwise, is exempt from power struggles. How does anyone plan on spreading a national movement without supporting the ground troops? Great question. The simple answer is that you don’t. But there’s something about this particular “community” that only a gross minority of people seem willing to address: the ONLY thing that brings ALL GLBT people together is some element of homosexuality. That’s IT! No race, no ethnicity, no socio-economic class, no occupation, no region, no religion, no creed, no political persuasion, no skill set, or any other common denominator exists among all GLBT people. We are as diverse as non-GLBT people. Additionally, there are some major factors that the GLBT rights movement is lacking: national leadership, a cohesive and definitive message, and consistent delivery of that message. For that matter, I’m the only one I know that refers to it as a GLBT rights struggle and not just a GAY rights struggle. We as a “community” can’t even agree on what or who that “community” consists of.
At this point, the message of the GLBT “community” seems to be: “We want it and we want it NOW!” What is it that “we” are demanding? That’s a damn good question! Huge groups want nothing but a repeal of DOMA. Other huge groups want nothing but a repeal of DADT. Other groups want nothing but laws that deal with GLBT youth. There has *got* to be some common ground here, and that’s where we need to start. We are a GROSSLY fractured “community.” Until the infighting stops HERE, there will be no national love.
1st not many non-government companies honor Columbus Day as a day off. I don’t think that played in to the decision.
This was proposed Thursday, May 20th, 2009, by David Mixner. http://www.davidmixner.com/2009/05/march-on-washington-for-marriage-equality-2009.html
Mr. Jones replied on the 21st.
In his blog he writes:
“… 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…”
Have you checked out the website http://equalityacrossamerica.org? it contains links to many local groups that are supporting this effort. 46 of the 50 states have dots on the map. Are there no queer folk in Wyoming, North/South Dakota, or Main? As a side note the site includes directions on how to set up a local facebook page, its free no excuses.
I do not know where all Mr. Jones traveled, but he did meet with local leaders from Dallas and Ft. Worth. In his May 21st blog he mentions spending 6 months meeting with local leaders. “Over the past six months I have been contacted by many of the emerging new leaders of the grassroots movement created in the wake of Proposition 8,”
For every step we are taking forward we are getting pushed back 2. We need this ’surge’ to regain momentum.
Bob
I wish I could be in Washington this weekend, but work comittments and finances won’t allow it. That doesn’t mean I won’t be there in spirit, hoping that something comes of it. As for the timing … when is the timing ever right? Maybe we should wait for a two-day weekend, in the late Spring (nice weather), when Congress is in session and the President is in the White House. Oh, and lets plan it for 2011 – that way we will hopefully be coming out of the recession, if we aren’t out of it all ready; we can all work it into our busy schedules, and we can make sure everyone can be there and be involved. Better yet – lets have each state organization plan their own March on Washington. (Just so you know – I’m joking). There is no right or wrong time to March for our rights – it is always the right and wrong time!
As for marching for full equality – Amen! I’d rather have a National March for Full Equality than a March for marriage equality now; a march for repeal of DADT next month; and a march for employment nondiscrimination the month after.
No I’m not putting down one side or the other – I just think we as a community need to stop fighting each other and come together; both nationally and locally. There are enough people in this world who would see us back in the closet, or worse, without us fighting each other.
It seems like a good idea to get all hands on deck for the difficult job of getting our rights. That is why paying attention to locals is important, especially those who have a track record of success. Sorry you you can’t comprehend that.
James
PS: No friends in the town and do not live there.
This is the second time you’ve had a article lamenting the fact that the local gays and lesbians aren’t running the show for the Oct 11 march. What’s up with you? Do you actually live in DC or have friends there that feel shit upon?
Thank God the civil rights movement didn’t follow your thinking or else the Civil Rights Act of 1964 would never have come about. Sure they fought on the local level and in cities across America but they went to Washington DC and demanded NATIONWIDE action and brought nationwide attention to their plight.
Cleve Jones is demanding that the President and Congress do the same and stop giving lip service to the GLBT community and actually create laws for equality. His statement is extremely straight forward. Sorry you can’t comprehend it but the rest of us do!
James, I think you should have saved your “harsh criticism” for the real issues you cite at the end of your piece: bad timing, lack of resources. Competing with national coming out day sounds like a huge oversite and making it on a 3 day weekend ensures many of us already have plans (we do). Not getting grassroots support, from the organizations in all 50 states, first may be another big mistake.
But to take his quotes and blame pot, I’m just not sure where you are coming from. The supreme court does not work for a political outcome (and I don’t want one!..this is not politics it is equality) as you say but it can do what he asks….ensure equal protection under the law. Last I checked the court is the final arbiter in deciding if a law can be enforced given our constitution and how laws can be applied in specific cases. Both these roles can ensure our equal protection, ongoing attempts to politicize the court notwhistanding.
I also don’t see him at all belittling the “local activist”’s efforts as you say, he simply asserts that we need more progress and he wants to do that by putting our issues on a more national stage. He quite correctly bemoans our advances as being potentially reversed. Look at equal marriage in Mass…I’m not married in any way it truly matters: survivor benefits, probate, death tax, health insurance tax exemption for hets etc.
I sense defensiveness in your post…maybe because as you’ve stated you don’t want to go and aren’t a big supporter of the march.
That’s fine…I understand, but don’t put words in his mouth, and please don’t beliittle our movement to political outcomes.
If this were simply political we’d get a party to write a plank for us and fund them until they get it done. Our goals are rather something every American should agree with…equal protection under the law.
Just because one party uses that goal to get votes doesn’t mean we have to give into the politicization of our civil rights…we are on much higher moral ground than the dirty and low business of politics.
As a p.s. of course the court is conservative, it is by definition! I’m talking about conservative as philosophy, not a political party’s interpretation of how to usurp conservative beliefs to win votes. I think you were referring to the party affiliation of its members..something else.
A truly conservative court would agree with almost all we are asking for (example: Lawrence v. Texas). Now what we really are dealing with is a Catholic Court…a totally different animal!