From my good friend ScooterJ and orginally posted here
With just about everyone confessing that the No on 8 campaign was poorly run– and just about every gay organization having a hand in it in some way or another, we've seen in the past few months, angry gays and lesbians calling for new leadership– and some grassroots-based activists ready and willing to step up to the plate.
The situation's only aggravated by the release of Milk, which showed us what a charismatic, persuasive and unrelenting LGBT rights leader looks like. In the battle for the soul of the LGBT rights movement, who's in charge? Is it the Human Rights Campaign's Joe Solomonese? What about the Courage Campaign's Rick Jacobs or Amy Balliett of Join the Impact? Or, is it, like Rush, someone from the media? Is Michelangelo Signorile the voice of gay America? Certainly gay rights are won by no single person, but when we talk about "our gay leaders" who do we mean?
So...who's in charge of the gay rights movement?
I would like to be in charge of the gay rights movement. What are my qualifications, you ask? Let me explain my qualifications by telling you what I am not and what I will not do:
- I am not a leader who espouses fashion shows over political action. And although fashion shows can be good sources of contributions, these contributions should not be used to fund more fashion shows.
- I am not a media whore who surrounds myself with the "pretty" people to push my organization's brand, (notice I did not say "agenda") forward.
- I am not someone who in the thick of the battle decides that my personal time and relaxation is more important than the day-to-day management of the cause. Granted I do have a Blackberry, but I won't run the organization by proxy from some exotic foreign beach location.
- I will not "spin" the realities of our current situation, especially to expoit the fundraising efforts of my organization. When my attorneys present unprepared, weak and disjointed arguments, I will not publicaly praise them, I will remove them from the organization as any reputable law firm would.
- My organization will never send out a last minute plea for contributions just for the sake of keeping the administration operating without already having cut the budget to the bone, including my own salary.
- My organization will operate under the rule of complete and total transparency. We will never meet in secret, we will never bar the media from participating and even though we may be showing our cards to our opponents, we will try and make every single person fell like they are a part of the movement.
- I am not and over-exagerator, I am a realist and understand that our cause will move forward with small steps rather than unrealistic giant, unattainable leaps. I also understand we will have setbacks and disappointments, but rather than playing the blame game, we will rally the generals and learn from our mistakes.
In short, I am an American gay man or woman who passionately wants to push for a better life for my brothers and sisters across this wonderful country. I am one of the millions of extremely talented, charismatic, smart and saavy men and women in this country who can contribute more than just money, if I could only break through the ridiculous fraternities and sorotities that have been created for this cause.
Where do I sign up?