Should LGBT People Stop Giving Money to the Democratic National Committee?

by Michael Jones · 2009-11-09 10:17:00 UTC
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DemocratsAre you frustrated that ten months into the Obama administration, there's still no repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," no Employment Non-Discrimination Act, no repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act, and no sign that President Obama wants to help defeat statwide ballot measures that seek to repeal gay marriage rights? If so, then there's a new movement just for you, and it's meant to cut off the gay ATM that continually helps fund the Democratic National Committee (DNC).

Joe Sudbay and John Aravosis at AmericaBLOG are leading up the calls, saying that until President Obama owns up to his campaign rhetoric of being a "fierce advocate" for LGBT rights, gay folks should stop giving money to the DNC.

"President Obama promised to be a 'fierce advocate' for LGBT Americans.  But while making modest progress on a scant few issues, on the major campaign promises made to our community, the President and the Democratic party have failed to keep their commitments," Aravosis and Sudbay write.

They want traction from Obama on repealing the Defense of Marriage Act, ending the ban on gays in the military, and enacting a federal-level Employment Non-Discrimination Act. Maybe they should go one more step: perhaps they should say that until Obama, and especially the DNC, is willing to condemn statewide and citywide ballot measures that repeal civil rights for LGBT people, then LGBT people should take their money elsewhere.

To be clear, this is a Come to Jesus moment for the Democratic Party and LGBT rights activists. And the next decision really lies with the DNC. Will the Democratic Party become a party that fully embraces and works actively for advances in LGBT equality? Or will it remain a party that talks a good talk, but then delays and delays and delays on issues that lie at the heart of LGBT rights.

This is a game of political chicken that couldn't come at a better time. In the wake of a loss in Maine for LGBT civil rights, in the wake of Sen. Dick Durbin looking for an out on a repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," and in the wake of senior DNC officials saying that gays should shut up or risk helping Republicans, the DNC needs to be called to task. What better way to do it then by putting a cork in the cash flow that the DNC has grown accustomed to without any sort of accountability.

(Photo courtesy of www.funkdeli.com)

Michael Jones is a Change.org Editor. He has worked in the field of human rights communications for a decade, most recently for Harvard Law School.
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