Democrats need to start paying attention to the growing anger in the gay community. That anger is focused at the Democratic party, and it's growing. I have no idea if gays would ever sit out an election, but I guarantee that they'd pull their money and make every effort to successfully dominate the news cycle so the story, from now until the election, was gay gay gay 24 hours a day, and not whatever issue Democrats want to focus on in order to win the next election. The Dems in the administration, the DNC, DSCC, and the DCCC need to take note now. Because we have a serious problem brewing with a key constituency, and very few people in Washington are paying any attention.
Here's a recent open letter from my friend Robin Tyler, who cofounded StopDrLaura.com with me, and who is a longtime gay rights advocate.
After 35 years, and 4 Marches later, this time, it needs to be to organize a sit in at the National Mall, and a sit-out of the mid-term elections in 2010, or 2012. Whether we March or not, lets start organizing today, in every congressional district to get our community and allies to sign a pledge, that if the Democrats won't support us and extend all rights, we won't support them. If that is considered 'dreaming' then let the Democrats dream about the day when our community finally divorced the Democratic party. Torie Osborn did say that their March would not be an 'angry' March. A March without anger? Excuse me? We have never been angry enough! If we do not hold any cards, why are we playing at their table? When you keep on getting screwed without your consent, it is called rape. It's time to fight back on every front. I know that many of us who have marched on Washington and thought the Marches accomplished nothing, do not want a March. But it did mobilize us, and energize youth. And I think, after what has happened on the State level all over the country, and the fact that youth has taken to the streets, those who have not experienced a national March want to. We cannot be just a virtual movement or Internet activists. So yes, I would support a March on Washington, if the National Grassroots community wanted one.
But not only do these marches take time to organize, and energy, and money, but for most people, it takes time to save up the money just to go to a March.... And of course, the excuse that I heard from one young person that a March is a really 'hot' idea now, but may not be in a year and a half, or three years. This is not a gay cruise. The radical right says they are in a Holy War with us. We don't do events because they are 'hot' at the time. We are a civil rights movement, and must start acting like one. I know that no civil rights movement has ever lost. Never. So, it is not a matter of if we will win, but when. However, we are going to have to fight like hell for it. The Democrats are not going to give us anything, unless we start playing hardball. Power is never given, it has to be taken. 2009 is not an election year, so I am sure the Democratic party and those who blindly follow them, would love it if we marched then, especially in one that is not angry. Then why don't we just call it 'a stroll through Washington.'
Robin Tyler, a Democrat who has supported Democrats in every election--until now.
