Can we boycott "Hate States" that pass anti-gay laws?

[IndianaGreen]

The rightwing is hard at work at the state level trying to pass legislation and constitutional amendments that, short of requiring the wearing of a pink triangle or pink Star of David, turns gays and lesbians into the Jews of the 21st century. The sad truth is that appeals to reason and fairness fall on deaf ears when it comes to gay rights. Far too many Americans think that their religious faith sanctions and encourages mistreatment of gays. One religious leader went as far as calling gays a "great evil."

Organizing GLBTs is like herding cats. Except for strong communities in a handful of states, many GLBT communities are too wrapped up into their own internal problems to become radicalized. In some cases, GLBTs behave like those abused spouses that think that they somehow deserve the abuse.

The strongest weapon GLBTs have is to get other progressives to join them in a national boycott of states that amend their constitutions making them second class citizens. For states like Indiana, that means getting organizations to go elsewhere for their conventions and boycotting Hoosier products.

The biggest obstacle GLBTs will find is that homophobia is not restricted to the GOP, but it thrives among people that see themselves as liberals. Comments like "this is not the right time" or "wait a few years" were also heard in the Black community in the early 1960s from people afraid that the push to integration was too fast, too soon, and could lead to negative repercussions. They were wrong then, as those who advocate a cautious approach are wrong today.

Passive acceptance of BOHICA (Bent Over Here It Comes Again) will get us nowhere!

Being gay is NOT a sin!

Here is an article about what happened in one state:

Colorado, in 1992, passed a referendum rescinding all local gay-rights and protective ordinances and prevented further such civil-rights legislation at the local level. It was immediately dubbed the "Hate State" and became the target of numerous, costly boycotts from tourism to economic development. Ultimately, the referendum was overturned in the courts, but only after Colorado suffered untold millions of dollars in losses.

http://www.easternprogress.com/news/2004/10/28/Perspective/GayMarriage.Amendment.Could.Effect.States.Economic.Development-783712.shtml

[theHandpuppet]

1. One reason to consider a serious boycott --

Gay folks planning vacations in gay-hating states need to consider what their rights may or not be in case a family emergency arises. Say you take a trip to Virginia, for instance, one of the most virulently gay-hating states around, and you or your partner becomes ill/has an accident and needs to go to the hospital. Will you be allowed to make vital decisions for your loved one, or even be at their bedside? Remember, in Virginia you have NO legal rights as the partner of your loved one.

I do believe that gay folks must use the power of their pocketbooks if things are to change. A boycott of gay-hating states should be seriously undertaken by gay and gay-friendly folks. That would incliude writing to the tourist boards of these states, telling them precisely WHY you and your family will not be vacationing in their state this year.

Boycotts can and DO work, especially in states where tourism is big business -- such as the Virginia "is for lovers" Commonwealth. Interestingly enough, some of the most popular tourist sites in that state (such as Virginia Beach) are among the most Bush-loving areas you could imagine.

[BrainRants]

2. Too narrow, we're already boycotting RED states in my family...

which, coincidentally happen to be gay unfriendly in the first place.

[BiggJawn]

3. So how many Gay folk come to Indiana Beach, anyway?

Just can't see this having much effect on Indiana. Maybe if a CART or NASCAR driver comes out...

[theHandpuppet]

7. You do have a point -- LOL!

What does one boycott from say, a place like Mississippi or Indiana? they aren't exactly meccas for tourists, cultural events or the like. They're just the kind of states you drive through -- quickly -- on your way to someplace else.

[IndianaGreen]

10. I wouldn't call Indiana Beach a beach

more like a mud hole.

Why do I even stay in Indiana? It lacks all the things I love: ocean, mountains, forests, or even a decent desert.

[BiggJawn]

11. I wonder that too....

With the exception of DU, I can't often find someone intelligent to talk to. No big water, no mountains, and "Gor-May" cuisine is travelling to Indy to get a Double Thick-Burger at Hardees....

Been in this area almost 7 years, and I've NEVER been to Indiana Beach.

[IndianaGreen]

12. I went to Lake Shafer once

They do have sand that feels that it came from a cement factory.

For non-Hoosiers, Indiana Beach is a resort area in Lake Shafer near Monticello. It is surrounded by corn fields!

However, if you travel all the way North, we have the beautiful Lake Michigan!

[BiggJawn]

23. I love me some Lake Michigan...

Spend a week on the west coast of the Amway State every summer...they have 1,000-foot ships up there...

I think L. Shafer was built as a flood control lake. It feeds L. Freeman, which is held back by Oakdale Dam, which is were my dancing electrons come from...Also a nice bike ride from here.

And there are a LOT of Gay folks around here. Not sure how much activism there is though, I think most are into Livin', Laughin' and Lovin'...You know, that "Gay Lifestyle"... ;-)

[ultraist]

14. NC has mountains and beaches

Move here, we need more Blue voters! The cost of living is great compared to many Northern states and the weather is fucking fabulous.

[dsc]

16. I wouldn't go that far on weather

I don't find 100 degree, 90% humidity days fabulous. The winter weather is fabulous.

[ultraist]

24. We rarely have 100 degree weather here!

Only during a rare heat wave do we have that type of heat. We rarely have 90% humidity. We have four full seasons.

You are thinking of FL, which is subtropical and tropical.

[dsc]

25. Nice try

I live in Eastern Carolina and it was hot as hell this summer and everyone told me it was milder than usual. Assuming that was true it has to get up to those kinds of temps. Summer is miserable here.

[ultraist]

27. I lived in FL and the summers here in NC are NICE compared to FL

I doubt we had many 100 degree days last summer. But it is hotter where you are than here in Raleigh.

What are you doing in Eastern NC? It's kinda scary in parts of E. NC. :scared: It's sooooo RED.

[dsc]

35. I teach there

I moved down in July for the job. I admit that it is pretty scary here but fortunately I am on the edge of the eastern part (about an hour from Raleigh.

[BOSSHOG]

4. Don't bring your Money to Mississippi

I live here and "hate" is the right word to describe what motivates the bush base in this state. If you plan on going to Louisiana, spend all your money in New Orleans. I think the boycott idea is a good one and the dollars do add up.

[Chipper Chat]

5. Unfortunately the bash-gay movement has picked up steam in Indiana

thanks to increasing Republican control of government. Passage of a new "save marriage" amendment is inevitable. Actually, Indiana has a sizeable gay population including many many closet cases. They have clout especially in college towns like Bloomington, Lafayette, and even a red city like Fort Wayne. Boycotts would have an effect.

[Greybnk48]

6. We're boycoting all red states

I'll dearly miss S. Dakota--the Badlands and the Black Hills--we used to drive there every two to three years and spend a week and lots of cash. But we have committed to blue state only vacations.

[theHandpuppet]

8. Have you written to the state's tourist board?

It's always more effective to write them and tell them why you've stopped vacationing in their state.

[Greybnk48]

20. Nope--great idea

I will do exactly that. Thank you!

[ultraist]

26. It's not all Red states, many Red states have Dem Govs and Dem controlled

State Legislatures. And many Blue states have Repuke Govs, like CA, and Repuke controlled State Legislatures.

My point is, using just the Red State model which represents only the Bush vote majority, is oversimplistic.

I'd say narrow to those states who have actually passed hate laws against Gays like Va. I do agree with some of the points in the first post about safety and rights issues being important to consider.

I wouldn't go so far though as launch a campaign to alienate all Red states, we need to swing some of those Red states in order to win elections.

[kbm8170]

9. I've already canceled one credit card

because the bank is headquartered in Richmond, Va. . .canceled an annual visit to New Orleans after they passed their constitutional amendment which was immediately followed by another legal challenge to a simple New Orleans domestic partnership benefits registry. . .and canceled my annual attendance at a conference in Arkansas because of the state's hyper embracing of a "christian" identity and the governor's public relations campaign for "covenant" marriages. . .which do nothing but promote contractual "out" agreements as spouses take vows "for a lifetime" based on biblical text. Unlike traditional marriages, where people don't go to the altar even THINKING about breaking their vows or conditions for divorce, "christians" contract their own standards at the time of marriage for ending the same.

[ultraist]

13. Do we want to alienate all Red States or try to win over voters?

I'm not suggesting you spend your money in red states, but making a list of red states and demonizing the entire state will cause us to lose again.

We need to WIN OVER some Red States, like my state of NC. We are not all Rednecks in Red states.

Just like not all voters in CA are BLUE. There are millions of Bush voters in CA, a hell of a lot more Rednecks in CA than in my state.

Should I boycott Blue states that have more Red voters than my state?

This makes no sense whatsoever.

[theHandpuppet]

19. Makes sense to me!

I'd rather show folks in supportive states that tolerance IS GOOD FOR BUSINESS. That's the bottom line -- and the only one some of these state legislatures (the ones passing hateful laws) seem to understand. So consider it not so much robbing gay-hating states of tourist dollars, as rewarding those who support us.

[ultraist]

29. You do have a good point. Tourist money is state level monies

Visiting certain counties still feeds the state till (sales taxes primarily), so I see your point now.

[dsc]

15. I am certainly game

when I drive home I don't by gas in Virginia (depsite being in it for several hours) but I don't think this will work nearly as well as it did in Colorado. It is much easier to boycot one state than several.

[mitchtv]

17. these people are serious..Virginiaisforhaters.org

Who would go there anyway?
http://www.virginiaisforhaters.org/

[DearAbby]

18. there are alot of blue leaning people in red states that would be serious

ly harmed by boycotts. Remember most states are purple. not all red not all blue.

[kbm8170]

21. Virginia is not one of them.

[mitchtv]

37. old, old argument on Boycotts

it was used to try and stop the boycott on S Africa, which worked well.

[Technowitch]

22. Already am.

We do our best not to support any business with this kind of legislation. And some states, like VA, we simply dare not travel in anymore.

[ultraist]

28. Gay Friendly vs. Anti Gay Rights State rankings

This is somewhat outdated, I didn't see a current ranking but much of this has not changed in the last few years.

http://www.hawaiiscene.com/odyssey/news_briefs/nb_01dec.htm
Methodology
Each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia were ranked on a system that assigned points for gay-friendly and anti-gay laws in each. Points for each state ranged from -1 to 100. Positive points were awarded to states with pro-gay laws, including statewide laws prohibiting discrimination in employment and other arenas, laws recognizing same-sex relationships or enabling gay couples to share domestic partnership benefits, hate crime laws, and laws and court rulings recognizing parental rights and other family concerns. Negative points (-) were assigned to states with anti-gay laws in force,

How they ranked: Below are the rankings of each state and the District of Columbia according to laws in each jurisdiction that are either friendly to gays or restrict the rights of gays. Following the state’s ranking and name is its score (see “Methodology” sidebar, below).

The national average was (-12.9)

Top best ten:
1. Vermont (+97)
2. Washington D.C. (+92)
3. Connecticut (+81)
4. New Jersey (+70)
5. Rhode Island (+68)
6. New Hampshire (+66)
7. Massachusetts (+64)
8. Wisconsin (+60)
9. California (+54)
10. Hawaii (+42)

Worst Five:
47. Kansas (-82)
48. Alabama (-82)
49. Virginia (-87)
50. Mississippi (-90)
51. Oklahoma (-92)
complete list here: http://www.hawaiiscene.com/odyssey/news_briefs/nb_01dec.htm

[IndianaGreen]

30. Thanks for the links, ultraist

Nice work.

[ultraist]

31. Thanks for the OP!

It was helpful for me to read the posts here.

My state, NC is in the bottom ten...not surprised though. Thankfully, I live in a Blue pocket though.

[mermaid]

33. This Is WAY OUT OF DATE!!!

comes from 2001!!!

Pennsylvania has since passed, at least on several municipal levels, protections for GLBT...including my former (and possibly future) home of Allentown, PA.

[Juan Martinez]

32. I agree...

That wouldn't be a bad idea at all. Gay rights are civil rights, period, and civil unions are not enough and never will be, period.

[independentchristian]

34. From where? Canada?

There is no state in this country that if it had an "anti-gay marriage" amendment up for vote, it would fail to pass. Not one. Which states are you going to boycott? Every one one of them?

Whenever a state puts it on the ballot, it's going to pass everytime.

[mitchtv]

39. beats the alternative

taking it and doing nothing.

[Clark2008]

36. Considering how many states voted, overwhelmingly, to ban gay

marriage, I think if we tried to ban going to or buying anything from those states, we would either be sitting at home (most likely in our own state that didn't support gay marriage) all summer or not buying much of anything American.
I understand your point and I understand your outrage, but I just don't see how it's logistically possible given the fact that most states' citizens have voted against this.

[Name removed]

38. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Jacobin]

40. Boycott the Southern Decadence Festival in New Orleans?

Why?