Leveraging Stonewall Anniversary for LGBT Outreach

categories: Defense of Marriage Act, Gay Marriage, LGBT and the Media, LGBT History, LGBT Rights and Politics, LGBT Rights and the Military, Marriage Equality, Obama Administration and Gay Rights, State LGBT News

Published June 23, 2009 @ 09:28AM PT

Stonewall Inn Riots

The Stonewall Riots mark their 40th anniversary this week, and a number of organizations are using the week to commemorate both the history of the LGBT rights movement, as well as push forward an agenda that continues the fight for equal rights. SAGE (Services and Advocacy for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Elders) is hosting an event this week to commemorate the founding of the Gay Liberation Front (which laid its foundation in the immediate aftermath of the Stonewall Riots). And the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) has put together a "Stonewall Toolkit" to help reporters and bloggers cover the historic week.

The reason? Well, as GLAAD acknowledges, the Stonewall anniversary is an opportunity to couch history with present-day struggles for equality.

With the 40th anniversary of Stonewall occurring this month, GLAAD is encouraging media professionals to use this important milestone as an opportunity to look at the progress made by the LGBT community and its allies over the last 40 years, as well as to examine recent progress and setbacks on LGBT-related policy issues at the federal, state and local level. GLAAD also encourages journalists to frame their coverage of 2009 Pride events, many of which will occur in June, in the context of these past 40 years of cultural, legal, political and community progress.

Even the White House is getting in on the act, with the announcement today that on Monday, June 29 (one day after the 40th anniversary), a special event will be held at the White House for LGBT folks, with an address by President Obama. The NY Times is noting that the gathering at the White House is intended as a celebration and commemoration of Stonewall, but also an opportunity for Obama to address the growing tensions that have popped up between his administration and LGBT voters, over certain issues like the Defense of Marriage Act, delays in overturning "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," and lack of any substantive statements from the Obama administration on the issue of marriage equality (despite four states legalizing same-sex marriage this year alone).

One other thought in terms of leveraging the Stonewall Anniversary; how karmaliciious would it be if during the week of Stonewall's 40th anniversary, the New York State Senate voted to enact marriage equality in the Empire State. It could happen, with Governor David Paterson calling for a special session this week where it's expected marriage equality will be debated.

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Comments (8)

From my understanding this "outreach" has been scheduled for a while now.

In other news Queerty is reporting that HRC Losing Cash Donors Because of Don't Ask Don't Tell Strategy Apparently the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) was actively campaigning against the Military Readiness Enhancement Act of 2009 (MREA) which would repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don't Pursue (I added the Don't Pursue part because most people don't reaslize that it exists.)

So, not only do with have an UNfierce advocate in the Whitehouse, a Spineless Democratic Congress, but OUR own "real" legislative advocates are working against us.

Posted by Dave Hershey on 06/23/2009 @ 12:00PM PT
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WTF How can HRC have been doing this? They will never get a dime more from me. This is one of the worst betrayals I have ever seen.

Posted by Gary Allmon on 06/23/2009 @ 02:51PM PT
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You got me on that one Gary. All I can say is that HRC won't be getting any money out of our household.

Posted by Dave Hershey on 06/23/2009 @ 08:31PM PT
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Michael,

Something I was just thinking about, guess what else is supposed to take place on Monday June 29th. The DoJ is supposed to file its brief defending the Gill DOMA suit. THAT will be the point as to whether or not the LGBT community goes batshit over this administration. I think this will be the true test as to whether or not the administration is speaking out both sides of mouth, or this case speaking out of both ends (its mouth and its ass.)

Posted by Dave Hershey on 06/23/2009 @ 12:28PM PT
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Anyone else thinking the timing of the White House celebration of 40 years Stonewall is cynical political calculation to divert attention away from what, if Robert Gibbs' recent comments are to believed, will be yet another hostile DOJ briefing? Wouldn't put it beyond the "fierce advocate" and his bully Rahm Emmanuel.

Posted by Tim Kopp on 06/23/2009 @ 12:48PM PT
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It's good that there will be many organizations which will celebrate the Stonewall Riots. In addition, it's also good that David Paterson is going to form a special session to enact the necessary LGBT right of same-sex marriage in New York. It's also good that President Obama will hold an event at the White House for the LGBT community in order to make sure there's still cohesion among LGBT right supporters, such as a Straight Ally supporter as myself, and President Obama.

Posted by Edwin Bonilla on 06/23/2009 @ 01:18PM PT
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Okay, perhaps someone can help me out here. I'm really quite disturbed about something. Representative Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) has introduced another piece of legislation that would benefit just the LGBT community. Why does this disturb me? pIt is universal healthcare for just LGBT Americans. Wouldn't this be covered if we got universal healthcare for ALL Americans? If we can't get universal healthcare for all Americans, what makes her think that she would even come close to getting it just for LGBT folks?

To me, this is the "special treatment" charge that many religious heterosexual homophobes keep attempting to level on us. I honestly think this is a VERY bad piece of legislation. Perhaps someone can help me out on this.

Posted by Dave Hershey on 06/23/2009 @ 08:30PM PT
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"Even the White House is getting in on the act, with the announcement today that on Monday, June 29 (one day after the 40th anniversary), a special event will be held at the White House for LGBT folks, with an address by President Obama.

....and on the West Coast, in San Francisco...there will be a dinner wherein Lt. Daniel Choi (Westpoint, fired under DADT) will endorse Anthony Woods (Also Westpoint, Also fired under DADT) for the House seat Ellen Tauscher is vacating for the Nuclear Arms Job. (Now she also has abandoned her Bill to Repeal DADT...but that couldn't have been on Obama's mind could it?)

So a 'fitting' Stonewall Anniversary?!?

Also, Lt. Choi will be in the SF Pride Parade June 28 with a contingent of other victims of DADT, and their friends and supporters. I believe it is the first time the military have marched.

Posted by Lee Dorsey on 06/24/2009 @ 09:14PM PT
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Author

Michael is the Communications Director for the Human Rights Program at Harvard Law School, and previously was Communications Director for Pax Christi USA, a progressive Catholic human rights organization.