What's a disgruntled gay Democrat to do?

[kweerwolf]

Alan Van Capelle, executive director of the Empire State Pride Agenda, rocked the quiescent relationship between gays and the Democratic Party last week by calling Sen. Hillary Clinton "a complete disappointment." He went so far as to recommend that the gay community discontinue giving money to her campaign.

"Supporting an LGBT fund-raiser for Hillary Clinton will actually hurt our community," wrote Van Capelle in a leaked memorandum to his board of directors. "We have become a community that throws money at politicians and we demand nothing in return."

His comments have started a healthy, if not painful, debate about the place of gay people in the Democratic Party. Van Capelle expressed a growing feeling among many Democrats that the LGBT community isn't getting a good return on its investment. These disgruntled Democrats believe that gay people raise millions of dollars for the party and provide armies of volunteers, but gain little.

<snip>

The Democratic malcontents would counter that there is little difference between the two parties. For the most part, leading Democrats and Republicans are opposed to allowing gay people to marry. So why not redirect our political donations to other charities or go on a great vacation? If the Democrats don't appreciate us, to hell with them -- we can spend our dough in Canada, Spain or Denmark, where gay people are afforded full equality.

http://www.gay.com/news/roundups/package.html?sernum=1324&navpath=/channels/news/opinion/

[murray hill farm]

1. Well, ya know...

he makes sense to me. Is he correct? Is there little gained? If he is correct, then it does make a lot of sense.

[TechBear_Seattle]

5. Just remember...

Who brought us Don't Ask, Don't Tell? Who signed the federal "Defense" of Marriage Act in to law?

[sui generis]

10. I remember every day

Hillary can get stuffed - I've already stated my opinion on her candidacy.

I actually like her strengths, but I wish she wasn't shutting us out. It does no good to support great social programs for married heterosexuals, raising the minimum wage for heterosexual employees who can't be fired for being straight, and bringing our soldiers home and then firing them for being gay.

Hillary hon, you need to wake up - you're missing an opportunity by shutting us out, and we're not volunteering any more.

[dsc]

2. there are huge differences between the parties on very important issues

ENDA, civil rights, civil unions, to name three.

[TechBear_Seattle]

6. On paper, yes

Democratic Party platforms do indeed make for promising reading. In legislative chambers, however, most elected Democrats have taken stands against any kind of equality for us.

And civil unions... why the (censored) should I have to sit at the back of the bus? If it is separate, it sure as hell is not equal.

[dsc]

7. That is just totally completely and utterly false

Not one single state with a majority Republican legislature passed a LGBT civil rights law. Every state which passed one either had both houses majority Democratic or one house with each party with a very narrow split. At the federal level ENDA has over 40 Democratic co sponsers in the Senate and 3, yes 3, Republican ones.

[Rowdyboy]

3. I can totally understand their reaction and disappointment, but I disagree

with their conclusion.

I knew I was a Democrat seven years before I admitted to myself I was gay. I became a Democrat because they supported labor, jobs for all Americans (Humphrey-Hawkins), medical care for the poor, civil rights, adequate education funding, and progressive taxation. None of those things stopped mattering to me when I realized I was homosexual.

While many elected Dems don't support gay issues nearly as much as I'd like, they still represent a better alternative for our greatest problems. I know many people reject the "lesser of two evils" but, as a life-long resident of Mississippi, I've had little opportunity to cast any other sort of vote. I envy those with the luxury of being in more enlightened areas.

I don't find any fault with your frustration, but I'm too old to ever quit being a Democrat or caring about the future of the party.

[Maven]

4. This is a big deal

I know Alan--until now he's had a "let's play the game" sort of attitude, at least in comparison to most of the other people at the Pride Agenda, where "HRC" is a bad word. Maybe he'll change course a bit, which is good since ESPA is one of the most innovative and effective orgs. we have on our side.

[BR_Parkway]

8. If I were member of Log Cabin, people would say "Jews for Hitler" but the

same folks have a hard time understanding that I don't want to support a Dem candidate who thinks I should remain 2nd class. At the least, I should shut up and do it for the support of the party.

We can't always claim that loyalty to party above all else and some of the other disconnects are the exclusive property of the Freepers.

[Uncle Zoloft]

9. Cash on the table

Down in South Carolina we have pulled our money off the political table - recently a gay candidate, from the last election cycle, was asked by the local Democratic leaders for his e & snail mail lists. That person told said leaders to go "f#ck themselves!" Mind you these were the same Dem leaders who refused the gay candidate any campaign money for his run for office, which he lost be a meir 3%.

If you are a politician, preacher, whatever and you support us in our state we will donate. If you are a ball-less, gut-less Dempublican you can eat dust.

We have been throwing our money into a campaign against an anti-gay marriage/civil union/common law amendment this Fall. See -----> SC Equality Coalition

[JackBeck]

11. I live in New York and have already decided

that I will not be voting for her during the Primaries.

I met Hillary when I was in college, when Bill first ran for President. A small group of us just happened to be in the right place at the right time. I was a "Republican by birth" and after I shook her hand I pledged to be a Democrat for life. Sadly, the Party that I have financially and vocally supported since then is slipping away from me. But where do I turn? I know I will support with my vote the Democrat who wins the Primaries, and we all kind of know who that will be. So my only means of dissent is to not vote for her during the Primaries.

[xchrom]

12. i appreciate democrats whoo pass same sex rights

legislation, etc -- BUT that's the right thing to do period!

they aren't giving me anything i haven't always, always deserved.

waffling on marriage or being associated with ''don't ask don't tell'' is exactly the wrong thing and should not be rewarded.