gay rights groups must be consolidated to survive recession

[Christian30]

I'm very curious as to what others think of this idea that gay groups should merge.

The urge to merge
National gay rights groups must be consolidated to survive recession, achieve long-delayed progress

By KEVIN NAFF
Feb. 27, 2009
AS THE GLOBAL financial crisis continues to unfold, many of us are taking stock of personal spending priorities. Companies are slashing payroll and other costs. And the government appears poised to nationalize everything from banking and financial services to automobile manufacturing.
There was even talk of government money going to bail out troubled newspapers in Pennsylvania.

Just as the nation continues a dialogue about what’s worth saving (maybe letting a car company or two go under would inspire survivors to better compete with foreign manufacturers), the gay rights movement should use this moment as an opportunity to regroup, reorganize and, yes, consolidate.

Bottom line: There are too many groups doing too many similar things. That point was underscored last month at HRC’s Out for Equality ball, when Joe Solmonese introduced leaders of the gay rights movement. One by one, the activists filed out, filling the ample stage in the Mayflower Hotel and prompting some attendees to wonder aloud, “Do we really need all these different organizations?”

It’s a valid question in economic boom times, but a much more pressing one now that donations to non-profits and to supportive political candidates are slowing. As we’ve been reporting for several months, gay advocacy groups are cutting staff and other costs to cope. Lambda Legal eliminated 10 positions in November; GLAAD cut several staff members that same month; the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association has reduced its national staff from seven to two. The Log Cabin Republicans ended 2008 at least $100,000 in debt and the group now seems in disarray with no one named to replace departed former President Patrick Sammon.

AT HRC, A source with knowledge of cost-cutting measures there who spoke to the Blade on condition of anonymity last week said some staff would see their salaries reduced by 2 percent and that there would be no cost of living increase for employees this year. Those sound like minor adjustments, considering the recession’s impact elsewhere.

[katanalori]

1. Interesting

The Log Cabin Republicans ended 2008 at least $100,000 in debt and the group now seems in disarray with no one named to replace departed former President Patrick Sammon.

[bluedawg12]

3. The LCR, they sound like the--The Repug Party, in disarray and lost.

[Chipper Chat]

2. Log Cabin Republicans should consolidate? With who?

Jews For Jesus maybe.
Or "Coloreds For the KKK."

[Stevenmarc]

4. hopefully, Exodus International

[davidinalameda]

5. how about just trashing them all

and starting a group that actually does something other than fundraise

[mitchtv]

6. David has it right, but what we really need is

a charismatic national leader, and a national movement

[TriMera]

7. Seems to me...

It might help the fight. The local focus works, but look how long it has taken us to get this far.

[canis_lupus]

8. It's all about the turf

I can't imagine our national LGBT groups consolidating because they have spent so much time carving out their particular pieces of turf. To suddenly link arms with others groups they have invested so much time trying to draw contrasts with would be almost unthinkable.

I've seen the scenario play out locally when a local LGBT Democratic club split over an endorsement for a single candidate. Then, a couple of years later, there were efforts to unite the two groups. In the end, those efforts failed and the only appreciable difference between the two groups is and remains whether endorsements are made by a board of directors or by the membership at large.

LGBT groups tend to put a lot of identity into their respective groups. I don't see them willingly giving those identities up.