10/08/2007
Human Rights Campaign Dinner Features Pelosi and Protests
The National Transgender Advocacy Coalition picketed Saturday night's Human Rights Campaign National Dinner in Washington, D.C., urging support for a trans-inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA).
House speaker Nancy Pelosi was awarded the National Equality Award (by Ambassador James Hormel, pictured) at the dinner and offered some words on LGBT rights (full text here).
She finished her speech with a statement on ENDA:
"As members and supporters of HRC, you understand that it is truly historic that the House of Representatives will soon pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. The tremendous progress we have would not have been possible without the great leadership of Chairman Barney Frank of Massachusetts. With his brilliance, his wit and legislative skill, he persevered in bringing ENDA before the Congress. America is a great and wealthy country, but we cannot afford to squander the talents of any of our citizens, nor should we. We all benefit if everyone gets a chance to work hard, and support their families. Yet today, in more than 30 states you can be fired for being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. That is wrong. Federal action is needed, and it is long overdue. I strongly believe that transgender individuals deserve the same rights and the same protections as any other Americans and will work to see that ENDA also protects their rights. In a few weeks, the House will be voting on ENDA. And those who oppose us will be lobbying on the Hill and working to defeat any version of ENDA. We cannot allow the forces of discrimination succeed. Barney Frank, Tammy Baldwin and others will do the inside maneuvering. But we cannot succeed without outside mobilization. Working together, we will mobilize, and educate. Each and every one of us must take personal responsibility for passing the strongest possible ENDA – one vote at a time. History teaches us that progress on civil rights is never easy. But justice is inevitable. It's about time. Many saw the 1957 Civil Rights Act as not having done enough, but it helped lay the groundwork for the great Civil Rights Act that followed. On the occasion of receiving the HRC Equality Award, I give you my commitment as Speaker of the House that I will fight for the most inclusive ENDA possible so that our nation's laws are in harmony with our nation's ideals. "
(image courtesy HRC - more images from the dinner here)
Previously
Barney Frank to Speak on ENDA Controversy [tr]
Posted 11:30 AM EST by Andy in Nancy Pelosi, News, Transgender, Washington DC | Permalink
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Poor Nancy that blue “Dynasty” jacket with what looks like black lipstick makes her look like a cadaver. Nancy keeps proving she’s not Speaker of the House but House wife to Steny Hoyer the king prick of high finance.
Posted by: ggreen | Oct 8, 2007 3:04:24 PM
The idea that over 300 hundred civil rights organizations would join hands in solidarity to fight the Democratic Party’s treachery against ENDA or that Pelosi, Frank and the HCR would recognized as enemies of our movement would have been unthinkable a few weeks ago.
They mistakenly thought that all of us could be fooled all of the time. The unexpected and overwhelmingly hard-edged rejection of the Democratic Party’s attempt to gut ENDA surprised many. Another shock followed as the resulting debate exposed deep divisions between activists and activists groups on the one hand and rightists, careerists and Democratic Party apologists on the other.
It’s an old story in our movement that can be traced back over fifty years ago when rightists split and then wrecked the Mattachine Society. It’s been replayed at each March on Washington, in fights against antigay ballot initiatives in California, and when the New York State ENDA was gutted to exclude transsexual people. In the New York betrayal the Democrats promised transsexuals a separate or amended bill but it’s been several years and the Democrats and their shills are still sitting on their hands.
The debate over ENDA and the Democrats attempt to gut it highlights the need to rethink our priorities to reflect this renewed radicalization. We got a double whammy when the Democrats and the Clintons supported and enacted DOMA and DADT followed by eight more years of repressive antigay legislation and hatemongering by the Republicans and Bush. For a time our movement suffered from widespread demoralization and rightward drift. The rage at the treachery of HRC, Pelosi and Frank reverses that and puts the option of militant struggle on the table again.
To give that an organizational expression we should do three things.
First, promote and support the explosive growth of GLSEN/GSA chapters and college GLBT groups. The size, weight and militancy of this new layer of activists will transfuse and transform the movement.
Second, our movements’ power or clout in the twin parties is limited by the marginalization and ineffectiveness of front groups like HRC, Stonewall and Log Cabin, who exist only to provide cover for politicians who don’t want to change our status as second class citizens. We need a political party that can provide an effective conduit for our struggle and right now the best choice is to join and build the union controlled US Labor Party. The LP has, in addition to ourselves, a natural and very large base because of the war and blows to our stand of living. After the Democrats win in 2008 and become the established party of war and reaction the playing field will open up for the USLP.
Third, as national politics heat up and our own internal debate become sharper we need to create a fighting leftwing organization to counter the wealth, privilege and treachery of the rightwing in our communities.
Posted by: Bill Perdue, RainbowRED | Oct 8, 2007 3:59:35 PM
“gut”? “rightists”? “treachery”? “militant struggle”? “rightwing”? Mr. Perdue, please discard your dogearred copy of “Armchair Hyperbole for Dummies” and go back to raising chickens.
We’d encourage you to start with the meaning of “gut/gutting” first. No one knows the number of transgenders in the US when including all types of atypical gender expression including drag queens. As far as transsexuals go, even the National Center for Transgender Equality claims no more than 2% of the US population [and as little as .25%]. What percentage of Americans would you say are gay and lesbian? If one uses the conservative 4% and the NCTF’s generous 2%, that means that twice as many gays and lesbians would be affected by ENDA than transsexuals. [While most “cross dressers” are heterosexual, few are likely to show up at work that way whereas virtually all drag queens would be covered under ENDA because of their sexual orientation.] Put simply, if there are 2 oranges, 2 apples, and 2 strawberries in the fruit salad and you take out the 2 strawberries no one could mathematically claim you have “gutted” the salad. Strawberry lovers might but that’s what got us in this insane mess to start with.
Granted, the screeching tranny wheels have gotten a lot of oil by several politically correct organizations [NCTF head Myra Kiesling is claiming over 300]. But if they disagreed with you you’d be the first to say, “Well, they only represent themselves and not the millions of gays and lesbians in the US, and they’re always exaggerating their membership roles.” Precisely. Do tell, among those 300+, how many members does the National Student Genderblind Campaign, Equality Project Investor Advocates, Queer Muslim Revolution, Transgender American Veterans Association, or the Muhlenberg College Gay Straight Alliance of Allentown, PA, have? And how honest is it not to acknowledge that many those groups shouldn’t be counted because they are represented by the national group? E.g, counting the Massachusetts Chapter of the Transgender American Veterans Association (TAVA) and TAVA as different groups when the members of the former are also a part of the latter? Kiesling should go to work for the GOP. That’s the kind of vote manipulation they revel in.
The unfortunate fact is that the majority of average LGBs are indifferent to transgender issues; many even hostile. I emphasize my general disagreement with them for other readers, not you Billy Boy, because you, like most tin pot socialists, are addicted to “group think” and “party line.” Anyone not agreeing with you totally is the enemy, guilty of "betrayal" and "treachery." Blah Blah Blah.
Random evidence contrary to the exaggeration of the importance and meaning of the mindless stampede of overlapping membership groups? While the original thread on this topic a few days ago generated several comments, look what we have today? Your latest pseudo intellectual screed and one simply dissing Nancy Pelosi’s clothes! By contrast, there are FORTY-FIVE posts so far about the nude pictures of slime ball Tom Ford in fag rag OUT. If there were even three dozen anti HRC demonstrators outside its dinner Saturday night, how many THOUSANDS were inside? My loathing of HRC is on record and being its destroyed for the wrong reason is better than being allowed to continue as the impotent and fraudulent cult it now is.
But don’t portray the ranting of a few with a real revolution. What you call “overwhelming,” a rational, HONEST person would call the tip of the ice cube.
Finally, it’s admirable of you to feel so strongly about something, Billy Boy. But talk is cheap. What are you doing other than that? Any gays who want to show REAL solidarity with the Ts must do the obvious thing and QUIT THEIR JOBS. If Ts can’t have job protections, then gays can’t have job protections. If Ts can’t have jobs then gays shouldn’t have jobs. Otherwise all your pontificating when YOU already have a job is meaningless grandstanding.
Of course, if one recognizes that transgenders have no more right to tell gays they can’t have job protections than gays have to tell them the same, then we might be able to get back to the reality of the situation and move forward one victory at a time. If not, then we expect your resignations on your bosses’ desks in one hour.
Posted by: Leland Frances | Oct 8, 2007 7:36:46 PM
It is time for the Democrats to pass a bill that would allow gays to sponsor their partners for immigration purposes too! We all need Immigration Equality!
Posted by: Karen | Oct 8, 2007 8:43:40 PM
L. Frances,
We’ve come to rely on your shrieking temper tantrums to clarify our opinions. If reactionary antiquated fuddy-duddies like you are for it there’s a good chance we should be against it. You’re in a tiny minority on this question. There’s you, Frank, Pelosi, Aravosis, John Sullivan… and? That’s a testament to the growing militancy and sound judgment of our movement. We reject you and the jackass party you rode in on.
Your usual dose of shrill gibbering offered precious little in the way of facts and not a shred of scientific analysis. In fact, amidst the rug chewing rant I only found two actual ideas, both dead wrong.
First you revealed that gays, lesbians and bisexuals are a minority. Duh. And that transsexuals are a minority within a minority. Duh. Then, in your bitter backward-looking politics that somehow justifies gutting ENDA and betraying transsexuals. Why? Because your Nancy told you so? The customary spinelessness and deceit of the jackass party and its apologist shills is neither a sufficient or honest reason, it's a contemptible reason.
300 odd organizations have drawn a line in sand and told the jackass party that they’ll cross it at their jeopardy. And your comment? It’s an worthless list because there may be cross membership and one or two or the groups might have a small membership. What shabby grasping at straws. The list of groups is a who’s who of the GLBT movement and includes many heavy hitters like NLGTF.
And finally you tell your critics that they must quit their jobs or you’ll think less of them. Please compile a list of those who take your advice so we can gauge your power and authority. Get back to us Frances, whenever you’re ready.
In the meantime take your Aricept, have some relaxing tea and crumpets and then take a nice nap. You need it.
Posted by: Bill Perdue, RainbowRED | Oct 8, 2007 9:30:57 PM
I find it sad to read all the misdirected anger and hatred that has been spewed toward HRC and Barney Frank on ENDA. Groups jealous of HRC's clout, rather than recognize the importance of having a group with some influence still talking to members of Congress and actually lobbying to make ENDA trans-inclusive (rather than holding press conferences and meaningless on-line petitions), would rather take pot shots and try to make themselves look self-important and righteous.
The people running HRC are absolutely committed to transgender rights and for people to imply otherwise because HRC wasn't willing to quickly criticize all our allies in Congress is ignorant and unfair. I'm one of many HRC members who flew to DC on their own dime and spent all day lobbying Congress to pass a trans-inclusive ENDA. HRC gave me the access to actually TALK RATIONALLY about the importance of transgender rights with members of Congress. All these other groups have a lot of indignation but no access and no ability to affect any real change.
It also irritates the crap out of me to hear people talk about the innefectiveness of HRC. Do those morons understand that the Republicans have controlled all three branches of government for a long time before the 2006 election? Thanks to HRC there was no Federal Marriage Amendment and a host of other bad outcomes were averted. Through smart political strategy, HRC managed to get a hate crimes law attached to a defense appropriations bill - something that means it has a chance of avoiding a veto. Our community is so insular that it seems we often forget that there are a lot of straight people out there in the world and in Congress who are at best indifferent to our rights and often slightly or greatly against them. This is not an easy fight and the fact that it has happened in what, for civil rights, is a relatively short time frame is to the credit of HRC and groups like it.
Folks, stop bitching and start educating yourself on how things really work in Washington and become a meaningful contributor. As Amnesty International says "It's better to light a candle than curse the darkness." I'd really like to see a lot more candles lit and a lot less cursing by our community.
Posted by: John | Oct 8, 2007 9:44:24 PM
I find it sad to read all the misdirected anger and hatred that has been spewed toward HRC and Barney Frank on ENDA. Groups jealous of HRC's clout, rather than recognize the importance of having a group with some influence still talking to members of Congress and actually lobbying to make ENDA trans-inclusive (rather than holding press conferences and meaningless on-line petitions), would rather take pot shots and try to make themselves look self-important and righteous.
The people running HRC are absolutely committed to transgender rights and for people to imply otherwise because HRC wasn't willing to quickly criticize all our allies in Congress is ignorant and unfair. I'm one of many HRC members who flew to DC on their own dime and spent all day lobbying Congress to pass a trans-inclusive ENDA. HRC gave me the access to actually TALK RATIONALLY about the importance of transgender rights with members of Congress. All these other groups have a lot of indignation but no access and no ability to affect any real change.
It also irritates the crap out of me to hear people talk about the innefectiveness of HRC. Do those morons understand that the Republicans have controlled all three branches of government for a long time before the 2006 election? Thanks to HRC there was no Federal Marriage Amendment and a host of other bad outcomes were averted. Through smart political strategy, HRC managed to get a hate crimes law attached to a defense appropriations bill - something that means it has a chance of avoiding a veto. Our community is so insular that it seems we often forget that there are a lot of straight people out there in the world and in Congress who are at best indifferent to our rights and often slightly or greatly against them. This is not an easy fight and the fact that it has happened in what, for civil rights, is a relatively short time frame is to the credit of HRC and groups like it.
Folks, stop bitching and start educating yourself on how things really work in Washington and become a meaningful contributor. As Amnesty International says "It's better to light a candle than curse the darkness." I'd really like to see a lot more candles lit and a lot less cursing by our community.
Posted by: John | Oct 8, 2007 9:46:32 PM
Of everything said in this comments string, the saddest by far has got to be that there are fewer than 10 comments on the hugely important issue of whether and how the "mainstream" LGB groups, and its premier political advocacy organization, HRC, is going to promote transgender rights while Tom Ford in the shower--which, let's face it, is a trifling frivolity--gets more than four dozen.
That said, I could not agree more with John. HRC is fighting the good fight in a way that is unprecedentedly effective for gay civil rights organizations. That it plays the "inside Washington" game so well is both to be celebrated and recognized as the sign of the maturation of our civil rights movement that it is. It's common fare, happened to NCAAP and other groups like it: once we get a place at the table we start bickering amongst ourselves over how close to the head it should be and who should get to come to the cocktail party.
The good news is this, I for one don't doubt the commitment of our members, our repreentative organizations and their leaders to seeing this whole thing through. If we can't get trans-inclusive ENDA now--which we should, but if we can't--then the fight will begin the next day to amend it to include transgendered persons. But if we can't get it now, we should not throw everything else out with it. Nor should we undermine our moement from within through unproductive attacks and bitter recriminations. Look at your rhetoric BillPerdue (or yours in re HRC Leland Frances); if you really believe that stuff, then you're seei a whole different HRC and related events than I am.
Posted by: HermesDC | Oct 8, 2007 10:52:12 PM
"I find it sad to read all the misdirected anger and hatred that has been spewed toward HRC and Barney Frank on ENDA."
HRC has been a problem in my opinion long before this issue.
After the 1994 Republican takeover of Congress, they contributed to the Republican Congressional Campaign Committee (not individual, pro-gay Republicans, but the entire Republican Congressional Committee that was leading the Republican Revolution at that time). They then went on to support Alfonse D'Amato for Senate instead of Charles Schumer - look at what a difference we have with Schumer leading the Democrats to the 2006 victory. HRC has made some lousy political choices and proven very weak at accomplishing much of anything. It's not enough to just have an organization that will talk to congressional leaders - we need leadership that's effective and doesn't throw power so easily to our enemies.
Barney Frank also has an awful history as a community leader. After being outed (rather than coming out like a real leader), he then went on to pave the way for our current "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. What a TERRIBLE political decision that was. That policy won Bill Clinton no friends, got us NO progress (in fact, some have said the policy has led to more people being kicked out of the service for being gay than the original policy), and it was Barney Frank who suggested the idea and gave Clinton cover for the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy.
HRC and Barney Frank represent leadership from another era that has really failed us in the past. It's kind of like the Democratic Leadership Council which was important at one time, but is totally out of step with modern politics. After the 2006 election, and with the current climate of the 2008 election, and with newfound power of organizations like Move On.org and the netroots that can finally challenge conservative talk radio as an organizing tool, we should be pushing for full equality on these issues now and not approach politics like we are lucky to have a place at the table.
Posted by: SFNathan | Oct 10, 2007 3:09:26 AM