Grrrrrr.
I just participated in the Human Rights Campaign's online chat entitled "The Supreme Court and You: What Does This Mean for the GLBT Community?" with their Legislative Director Christopher Labonte and their Senior Counsel Lara Schwartz.
Did they answer questions about the Supreme Court and how the nomination process works? Yes.
Did they answer questions about possible nominees to replace Justice O'Connor and potentially Justice Rehnquist? Yes.
Did they answer questions about how it impacts gay and lesbian rights? Yes.
Did they answer questions about what other mainstream progressive organisations they intend to work with to ensure a moderate nomination? Yes.
Did they answer questions about how it impacts bisexual and transgender rights? No.
Did they answer questions about working with bisexual and transgender organisations rather than just LGBT and civil rights/liberties organisations? No.
Did they answer questions about working with poly-political organisations? No.
Did they answer questions about working with The National Coalition for Sexual Freedom? No.
Did they actually say that one of the criteria they'd be looking for in a nominee was a record on gay and lesbian (not GLBT) rights? Yes.
Did they simply answer the same questions over and over? Yes.
I don't expect anything better from the HRC at this point. For an organisation supposedly existing on the basis of protecting and advancing the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered Americans they have never been capable of looking outside the duality of heterosexual / homosexual and indeed constantly ignore any commentary or criticism about that, whether minor or major. Their former director, Cheryl Jacques, publicly denounced polyamory on CNN's Crossfire not too long ago. I'm not surprised that they continue to ignore anyone and anything outside of monogamous gays and lesbians but I'm still dissappointed. Of all the points in history when they must stop running from being labeled by the neo-conservative right-wing as deviants or perverts or whatever -- where "we're just the same as you" cannot help advance any cause -- one that will impact us and future generations of Americans for decades to come... now is it.
What a bloody waste of my time.
Did they answer questions about the Supreme Court and how the nomination process works? Yes.
Did they answer questions about possible nominees to replace Justice O'Connor and potentially Justice Rehnquist? Yes.
Did they answer questions about how it impacts gay and lesbian rights? Yes.
Did they answer questions about what other mainstream progressive organisations they intend to work with to ensure a moderate nomination? Yes.
Did they answer questions about how it impacts bisexual and transgender rights? No.
Did they answer questions about working with bisexual and transgender organisations rather than just LGBT and civil rights/liberties organisations? No.
Did they answer questions about working with poly-political organisations? No.
Did they answer questions about working with The National Coalition for Sexual Freedom? No.
Did they actually say that one of the criteria they'd be looking for in a nominee was a record on gay and lesbian (not GLBT) rights? Yes.
Did they simply answer the same questions over and over? Yes.
I don't expect anything better from the HRC at this point. For an organisation supposedly existing on the basis of protecting and advancing the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered Americans they have never been capable of looking outside the duality of heterosexual / homosexual and indeed constantly ignore any commentary or criticism about that, whether minor or major. Their former director, Cheryl Jacques, publicly denounced polyamory on CNN's Crossfire not too long ago. I'm not surprised that they continue to ignore anyone and anything outside of monogamous gays and lesbians but I'm still dissappointed. Of all the points in history when they must stop running from being labeled by the neo-conservative right-wing as deviants or perverts or whatever -- where "we're just the same as you" cannot help advance any cause -- one that will impact us and future generations of Americans for decades to come... now is it.
What a bloody waste of my time.