Another gay Democratic activist slams DNC's gay exclusion

[Brian_Expat]

Keith Boykin isn't happy:

http://www.keithboykin.com/arch/001817.html

Chairman Dean's move has pissed off a lot of loyal and influential Democrats. Late last week, the Washington Blade reported that gay Democratic Party leader and fundraiser Jeff Soref of New York City had resigned from the DNC and from his position as chair of the gay caucus because of Dean’s decision to eliminate the gay outreach desk.

To be honest, I am not surprised by this latest move by the Democrats. To be perfectly blunt, I have lost nearly all faith in the Democrats. I've been a lifelong Democrat, but I think the party has been led by a bunch of spineless cowards who are too afraid to do the right thing. At some level, I really don't care what the Democratic Party does anymore because the Democratic Party doesn't represent me.

When they selected Virginia's homophobic Gov. Tim Kaine to deliver the Democratic "response" to the State of the Union, that just about said it all. When once pro-gay John Kerry endorsed the anti-gay constitutional amendment banning marriage in Massachusetts, I was very upset but I was willing to look at the big picture.

So at some level, I am not surprised by this latest decision at all. I'm not surprised that the Democrats want to keep raising money from gays but don't want to do outreach with that community. It's almost like the old pattern in which Democrats would ignore black folk until the last few weeks of a campaign when they needed us to turn out and vote.

Just a snippet of a very hard-hitting editorial.

[derby378]

1. OK, now I'm confused

Wasn't Dean the 2004 candidate most likely to endorse gay marriage, or at least civil unions?

[Brian_Expat]

2. A little time in Washington apparently makes a difference

There's what Dean says, and what he does.

I was a first-class Deaniac -- a supporter of his back in the late 1990s when he was just an obscure VT governor. I went to the first Massachusetts meetup for Dean when I lived in the USA. I am horrified to see what has happened to him and his position on this issue since assuming the chairmanship of the Democratic Party.

I thought his courage on the civil unions debate was amazing. It stood up in actions to reflect what the man was made of. Or so I thought.

Now he's saying soothing words but moving to shut gays out of the mainstream of the DNC. Again, actions speak louder than words. :(

[JackBeck]

3. I'm not happy as well

I've emailed Stonewall Democrats about this and haven't gotten a response.

Howard Dean's actions are in dark contrast to his actions as Vermont's Governor. He was the guy who was in charge of the first state in our country to pass civil unions, for f**ks sake.

We are the bastard child of the Democratic Party. I donated to the Democratic Party twice since Dean become the chair. Should I still donate? I don't know...yet.

[mitchtv]

11. Hold off, for now

when they call to beg, I intend to give the poor soul an earfull.I will donate to local individual candidates.

[MikeStl]

4. Ok this is going to put me in a pissed off mood this morning

It's news like this that makes me think that if a giant meteor hit DC and wiped it out including all its political contents we'd all be better off. I think I need more coffee.

On second thought not so good. Would mean Cheney would become supreme dictator and rule from his secret bunker in Nebraska. :o

[acmejack]

5. At what point does inclusion stop requiring outreach?

I would submit that gay rights are the first & foremost the right to a normal life, unmarked by any special distinction. Equal in every way, but not recognized or segregated in any manner. Or do I misunderstand?

Please explain to me what I am missing here. I am speaking out of ignorance not malice so please respond somewhat thoughtfully, if you can when addressing such a emotionally charged issue.

[Brian_Expat]

6. Democrats aren't interested in outreach or inclusion

If they were, Kerry wouldn't be campaigning for anti-gay amendments, Democrats wouldn't be begging gay voters to "cut us a break on this stuff," and spineless Dem politicians at a federal, state and local level wouldn't be fleeing the GOP's hate-speech with their tail between their legs.

It's becoming quite clear that the Democratic Party isn't interested in inclusion, or even common decency. It just wants our money and our votes.

[MikeStl]

7. Thats a valid point..

As a gay man I feel that is how things should be in an ideal world. I just don't think we are at that point yet, nor do I think we will be in any of our lifetimes. I can site one example. I can understand some of the arguments against hate crime laws. However, if the defense has such tools they can use like "gay panic" to defend why someone murdered a gay person, shouldn't the prosecution have the tool of hate crimes legislation to balance the playing field?

[acmejack]

8. I agree they just want the money.

I have long been of the opinion there is only one party with two wings. Nothing will change until we form a true People's party that works for what we care about, not esoteric millionaire's issues. The people don't support the Iraq war, but there we are. The people want single payer health care-not even up for debate. Our issues are not their issues.

We just pay for their toys and keep them in money. We are being played for fools and will be for as long as we allow it.

[TechBear_Seattle]

9. This is no new development, people, only the latest

I will never forget -- nor forgive -- that the "Defense" of Marriage Act was passed with a majority of Democrats in both the House and Senate, then signed by a Democrat President in the dead of night to guarantee as little public outcry as possible. That it was a Democrat who officially made gay people second class citizens under federal law.

Everything else after that was just insults on injury.

[Meldread]

13. Exactly.

It's for that very reason I will *NEVER* support another Clinton. EVER. I'd rather die than cast a vote for Hillary. She is just like her husband. I wouldn't even stop to piss on them if they were on fire.

George Bush has been anti-gay from the start. At least he was honest about it. Hell if you are going to fucking hate me, come out and say it, don't pretend to be my friend while screwing me over. I guess it's ironic that Bush has tried again and again to pass anti-gay laws on the federal level and has failed, but our "friends" the Democrats succeeded.

[donco6]

10. Kaine is homophobic??

Jeez, the guy set off my gay-o-meter in the first 10 seconds of his pathetic address.

I agree totally with the editorial. The DNC is just a "bunch of spineless cowards." Bush and co should be totally on the ropes, if not in jail, and these idiots are so incompetent at pushing the issues, I almost wonder if they aren't downright complicit.

[Meldread]

12. Keith Boykin echos what I think and feel!

Personally, right now, I want to storm the DNC with torches and pitchforks.

I bet Hackett's open support for gay marriage (and LGBT rights in general) is what lead him to being told by party leaders to get out of the race. Bastards.