Memo to HRC, Tammy and Barney

Comments

1. the troll on Dec 31, 2008 10:43:20 AM:

   I think it is bit of an overstatement to say we are not interested in employment discrimination. Marriage and prop 8 are front and center right now, so everyone is "brushed up" on the issue. When you ask a question about ENDA, in a country where half the people can't find the USA on a globe, few would even know what ENDA stands for or the history of it. If plainly asked, "Should the government be allowed to fire people for being gay", this would rank #1 in importance.

1. Kris on Dec 31, 2008 10:55:48 AM:

   Why does Obama consider LGBT Americans as second class citizens by denying them their right to marry?

   I'm over all this crap about Prop 8. I don't recall people in San Francisco and LA running into the streets and protesting when marriage amendments were passed in state houses located in Montgomery, Atlanta, Nashville, Jackson, and Austin. Screw them and they can shove Obama where the sun don't shine.

1. Andoni on Dec 31, 2008 11:07:01 AM:

   To "the troll" -- duly noted and corrected to reflect a less absolute comparison.

   To Kris -- all or nothing stands usually result in nothing....or waiting until after you're dead to relish the "all."

   Call me stupid or a sellout, but I would rather gain a "practical" victory in my lifetime, than not live long enough to witness the "ideal" victory.

1. Michael Schmidt on Jan 1, 2009 1:41:51 AM:

   ENDA and Hate Crimes are important, but at this point with individual state ballots passing various forms of acts that prohibit our relationships from any recognition, A National Civil Union /Domestic Partnership Act is what I see as the priority. It really angers me to the boiling point to think at 43, working since I was 16, that should I be killed or die of some illness, that my partner would not be eligible for my Social Security benefits.

   Secondly the country as a whole needs to be educated on these 1100 rights we in relationships are denied. Imigration being among them. Instead of the excuses and plays on words, its time to change a concept.. any union performed outside of a church should be just that a civil act proclaiming a bonding of two people. If they want a religous ceremony, then have a church fucntion. I never worry about a church being willing, my uncle is a Nazarene minister, the current rate he charges is $250 per wedding.

   What I think gang is its time for us to stop being so nice, let us all remember that the gay rights movement started in a little bar called Stone Wall. Its time for us to March on Washington and DEMAND our rights. If we have to march on churches, state houses, courthouses, city halls or just bring back the ACT up concept by sitting in. Then thats what we have to do. Being nice has gotten us about nothing in my view point.

   The movement to get Dr Laura off the air proved, they may not really want us homosexuals, but they sure as hell want our money. So lets stop fighting with each other and fight this civil government that unfairly taxes us at illigitimate rates and denies us our fair statute. Its also time to get religion out of the government and back in the church. So I say whens the March!

1. Chuck on Jan 1, 2009 3:03:49 AM:

   Michael, at the suggestion of Chris on another thread, I sent a letter off to Join the Impact over two weeks ago, suggesting a 40th Anniversary of Stonewall March on Washington which I posted for all to see on Citizen Crain.

   I have yet to get a response to them, which, is the same experience I had with HRC during the entire several years of my membership with them and the reason why I did not renew my membership this year.

   I am getting the sinking feeling that no one is listening, including those on our side who are supposed to be representing us. All we ever hear from these people is constant pleas to send yet more money.

   If something doesn't give soon, I have the feeling we are going to be seeing more NYC Stonewalls and SF White Night Riots across America very soon.

   Most gay people in American are getting fed-up with talk, talk, talk...and no say nothing!

   
   

1. EffieS on Jan 2, 2009 9:24:13 AM:

   Andoni, Andoni, how naive you are. These leaders don't care what we want. The only thing that matters is what they want, what will help keep them in power for a long time. And HRC has at least 20 years left on the mortgage of the big building in DC. If they passed that 1100+ federal benefits, we would be more than half way home. They stay in power and control longer if we pass these things one at a time, instead of 1100 all at once. Understand?

1. InExile on Jan 2, 2009 5:04:15 PM:

   Chris,99
   I think your letter to HRC,Tammy, and Barney is right on! I understand why ENDA, Hate crimes is important because it establishes LGBT people as a protected minority which paves the way to other passing other important rights. But I also read another article yesterday where Barney Frank is saying we should not do demonstrations, we should be like the NRA and just lobby. WRONG!!!! Did black people "lobby" for equality? NO! They took to the streets to fight for their rights. If we are demonstrating in the street for our rights, we are on the radar screen (in the news) and the public is being educated. Otherwise we are swept under the carpet and forgotten just like the politicians like, until the next election rolls around.

   I am living in another country (France) because I cannot sponsor my foreign born partner of 14 years for a green card (who lived in the US on a work visa for 15 years). I am 46 years old and not getting any younger and I am tired of waiting for equal rights! I am from California and Prop 8 was a stake through my heart! These politicians don't care that their inaction has real life consequences for many of us. I finally got my French green card after 2 1/2 years and it cost me plenty of $$$$ all to live in a place I (we) do not want to be! I am a US citizen and deserve the same rights as everyone (straight) and I am mad as hell!

   So thank you for all you do Cris bringing these critical issues to light.

   Sincerely,
   InExile
   Saint Martin, France

1. Chuck on Jan 2, 2009 9:04:49 PM:

   I'm 72, InExile, and I am getting younger by the day. It's called second childhood! lol

   Seriously, however, I know exactly how you feel. Waiting, waiting, while the clock of life ticks away. Like you, I am in part-time exile in the Philipines with my Filipino partner. We just celebrated our sixth anniversary on New Year's Eve.

   It's a lot easier to be an expat in the Philippines than it apparently is in France. The downside, however, is that there are no decent work opportunities due to the fact that it is a Third World country. Cheap to live in however, if you have American Ducats. I would move there there full time, were it not for the fact that I own and operate a business here in States that must be kept running and property that must be maintained, so I am forced to divide my time between both countries. Caught between a rock and a hard place, as the old expression goes. And at my age, one does not mindlessly toss security out the window so easily. Our life in the Philippines is dependent on the money I earn here.

   And like you, I too am mad as hell. And even more maddening, is the fact that my friends and acquaintances just don't seem to care about the pain that folks like you, Chris, Andoni and I suffer every day of our lives. I get comments like, "Why did you have go and pick on a foreigner? Why couldn't you have found someone in this country?" or, "I don't care about gay marriage. I am not interested in getting married and I am getting sick and tired of hearing about it."

   It's moments like that, when it is awful hard for me to restrain the desire to smack some uncaring, bitchy queen like that right in the fucking chops.

   We should be doing our Howard Beale number in the street every night until we get our rights. Somehow, I just don't see that happening, however.

   It's not a easy row, that we've chosen to hoe, my friend. All I can say is hang in there. Our day has to come soon, hopefully. The Universe cannot make us wrong.

   joie de vivre

1. InExile on Jan 3, 2009 7:52:27 AM:

   Hey Chuck,
   Great to hear someone else sharing in my misery "misery loves company', no seriously I feel deeply for you more than you can imagine and I feel deeply for everyone else in this situation. I know what you mean about other people not "getting it", it's like it is somehow our fault we fell in love with someone from another country. People think I am so lucky to be living on a Caribbean Island and maybe I am but it was not my choice and that is the difference. I look out at the blue , blue water as I type this from my place on the beach.

   When I met my partner at gay pride in West Hollywood 14 years ago the last thing I ever thought of was one day his job would end, ending his work visa which happened almost three years ago. We loved our house in Los Angeles and our friends and I had a job I enjoyed.

   So three years ago, we chose Saint Martin since it is closer to the US than living in mainland France. We knew I would have to fly back to the US every three months $$$ until I received my right to stay so being closer to the US was more cost effective. I just got my "carte de sejour" last month which is renewable yearly. The locals here had never I guess had a same sex couple (Paxed - French civil union) ask for right to stay so they tried to make it more difficult than immigration in mainland France would have, the lawyer helped them change their tune$$$.

   We created our own work here by buying/selling/renovating vacation condos with an Interior Design company we set up. It worked until the real estate bubble burst, yes the problem is global. With all the vacation resorts here I should easily be able to get a job (25 years of Hotel Management) but I do not speak French.

   I was very encouraged when everyone was protesting in the streets for equal rights but it seems like that has fizzled out. ""If we are not in the news cycle, we do not exist"". I have lots of time as you can see by my writing on and on so I write our Senators, Congressman,Obama transition team, send post cards showing an Air France plane landing over the beach here and so on. I posted 3 questions all about equal immigration on Obama's change web site and one about fair taxation. My friend and his partner in Los Angeles were getting a jump on their taxes and they are legally married in California. When he checked the box "married" Turbo Tax said he would get $8,000 dollars back, when he checked the box "same sex married" it recalculated and said he would get $70 dollars back. They were shocked and so am I. The lack of Federal Rights is the difference in the refund amount. He is not sure which box he will check yet. So many issues to fight for but is our community up to the challenge? We will see. If our community continues to be passive, nothing will happen. The only good I saw about the Rick Warren thing is it brought our issues to the news cycle and as I have said before if our issues are on the radar screen (news cycle) they are being talked about and the public is being educated. I have faith that Barak Obama will do the right thing, his views regarding our issues LGBT are still on his website and he deserves a chance to make them happen.
   Good luck to you Rich, I hope you keep getting younger and I hope this year you and your partner will be permanently united and have the equal rights all people deserve.

   InExile
   St. Martin, France

1. Chuck on Jan 3, 2009 8:40:20 PM:

   Hi inExile,

   Good to hear back from you. Your opening paragraph brought to mind the following bon mot.

   "Until You Walk a Mile in Another Man's Moccasins You Can't Imagine the pain."

   If nothing else, the sharing of pain brings with it, an increased sense of awareness, understanding and compassion for those who are going through the same setbacks.

   There are so many thoughts running through my mind and things I would like to say as well as ask you without compromising either your privacy or mine. Providing that you would be interested in doing so, would it be possible for us to establish contact with each other outside of this site and what would be the best way to do so?

1. InExile on Jan 4, 2009 7:59:10 AM:

   Chuck,
   You can email me at:

   exiled4love@yahoo.com

   
   InExile