Here is my one little bit of advice to all my GLBT brothers and sisters who are upset with DU

[La Lioness Priyanka]

(caveat: to a degree i am too) however just keep in mind in the larger scheme of things DU is VERY Unimportant. Think of the millions and millions obama made. How many came from the DU page? Not very many. In the larger scheme of things DU matter very little.

I strongly suggest that we start focusing as a community to bring about active change. To gather our money for our causes. To support only politician who believe in full equal rights. To get our friends and our families to do the same. To do this without guilt.

We can make a difference. Du however really doesn't make a difference. All of you can make a difference to what matters to us.

After a while it seems pointless to change the minds of people who don't want their minds changed. To have them understand why something is so hurtful to us.

So in essence, lets become better activists. Lets try to think of ways to be better for our goals.

And next election, remember to donate to only those who support you fully. And do not be apologetic about it.

Goodnight kisses to all my lovelies!

[jonnyblitz]

1. !!!

:hug: :hi:

[madeline_con]

2. Deleted to avoid attack.

:hide:

[MNBrewer]

3. Miss the point much?

[jonnyblitz]

6. she was saying don't let the DU detractors get you down

go out and do something for the cause. if you aren't a detractor than you shouldn't feel dismissed. and please don't deny we have detractors here because we do. :hi:

[madeline_con]

8. Thanks.

[jonnyblitz]

11. we have plenty of straight allies and i get annoyed when people

make this a gay vs straight thing!

[davidinalameda]

4. you're on the greatest page now

K&R

[readmoreoften]

5. Kucinich gets my money next time. I'm votin' for the honest guy who can't get elected

and tries to put the Bushistas behind bars.

[flvegan]

10. He's gotten every political dime I've donated.

His stance on gay marriage was one of the top reasons why.

[readmoreoften]

13. I gave to DK and Edwards because of Edwards position on labor.

In the end, I think it's true, I think Edwards was a big ol' phony. Kucinich's distrust of him started my distrust, then the hedge fund, then the slimy affair with a cancer-battling wife. Normally I don't care about affairs. I mean, at all. But when your wife's got the cancer, that's pretty shady. Also, have the affair AFTER you get elected. (Have some political sense.)

Kucinich is about the only Democrat I care about anymore. Him and a few other congresscritts.

[flvegan]

15. Support of gay marriage/rights is a HUGE litmus test for me.

If someone doesn't support it, they get stamped "suspicious". I was always really happy and energized during the primaries when here on DU, DK seemed to walk away with the majority of the support.

[racaulk]

7. Obama is the last "I believe marriage is between a man and a woman" politician to get my money.

And the next one may not even get my vote.

Thank you for the very excellent and positive post, Priyanka.

K&R

[MNBrewer]

9. Yup, I totally agree with that

No more voting for some one who doesn't support complete, FULL equality for me.

[davidinalameda]

14. same here

[mitchtv]

22. I took the pledge

equality or be gone. I just hope I won't have to chose between Jerry Brown and Gavi Newsom ;next time

[Runcible Spoon]

16. absolutely. Obama is the last status quo candidate that gets anything from me

For a myriad of reasons, not the least of which is equal rights. Also: economic justice, public school policy, government surveillance, corporate hegemony and consolidation, the list goes on and on.

This is it Obama. Stop pandering to the Right or enjoy your one term!

[TechBear_Seattle]

21. Most definitely. If they won't support me, I won't support them. End of story

And if that means I get unceremoniously thrown out of DU, fine. I really don't care any more.

[Maven]

23. Ditto. No more votes for moral cowards

[MountainLaurel]

26. Oh yeah.

:applause:

[La Lioness Priyanka]

29. me too

[rhett o rick]

12. Lioness bless you. But.......DU is a microcosm of the Democratic Party.

It is a great place for the many, many different of us to argue and disagree and in that way we learn. But I don't think DU is the place for the activism you are seeking. I agree with your desire, but not sure DU is the vehicle.

But also I must say that I do not understand how in DU we can have people that are so outspoken that they have to apologize for their behavior. If you are having a decent discourse and you disagree you need never apologize. This sounds gibberish and I apologize.

[Rhythm]

17. Thank you Pri... K&R proudly

:hug:

[kdpeters]

18. Don't forget to change your avatar!

[tbyg52]

19. I changed mine! nt

[JackBeck]

20. For the last three days

I've had a copy of Sexual Politics, Sexual Communities by John D'Emilio sitting next to my laptop to remind me of the historical context that gave birth to LGBT activism.

It should come as no surprise that the disagreements we had over 60 years ago are similar to the ones we are faced with now. One major difference, though, has to be the tenor that those activists chose to voice their disagreements with their contemporaries.

D'Emilio's thorough and well-researched timeline should be a must-read for those that have an interest in grassroots activism.

[jonnyblitz]

25. ok I will have to read that book. thanks for mentioning it!

:hi: I have heard of it.

[JackBeck]

27. Before the interwebs I used to get a lot of reading done of the subway.

One that didn't sit right with me was A Place at the Table by Bruce Bawer.

WAAY too much blame placed on the subcultures of the gay community for the lack of acceptance from the hetero normative dominate culture.

[jonnyblitz]

28. i have that bruce bawer book, plus another right wing gay book

of essays called Beyond Queer. bleh. the 90's is when i read all the gay books and i remember seeing the one you mention all the time but i never picked it up. I have shitloads of gay books from the 90's, postmoderm queer theory, foucault, etc....

[Neshanic]

24. I willbecomea better activist AND less of a victim that gets walked on.