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The effects of this past weekend's Leadership Summit in San Bernardino, CA is still being felt and processed far and wide, with intense debate about its outcome and with different groups moving ahead with their various strategic plans.My post on the summit, "CA Marriage Equality Leadership Summit an Utter Failure - Shame On All of Us", has drawn numerous reactions and has been referred to in many different opinions. I have been told by many that I hit the nail on the head, others have said I want it all to be kum by ya and that I'm too "Pollyanna," and still more have criticized me, saying that for someone who is trying to unite the community, my piece only added division.
I must disagree. I call it tough love. Sometimes, in order to unite, we have to take a good, long, hard look at ourselves. To call the summit anything other than a failure to me is not constructive because it undermines the seriousness of our divisions. (See the results of the Get Engaged Tour. Its bottom line result: there is no consensus.)
In my piece, I called for our community to put aside our differences, to unite by allowing ourselves to heal from the damage of Prop 8, to trust each other, and most importantly, trust our leadership again. That "it's not about 2010 or 2012 anymore. It's about us uniting. Only then, can we win."
I haven't stated on this blog whether or not I support 2010 or 2012. In my summit piece, I did state that at one time I was personally for 2010, but that after the summit, I just don't see how that's possible with us, as a whole, not united. Does that mean I won't support it? No. But those in favor of 2010 first have to prove that they can unite us, and by doing so, show true leadership.
Here's my official stance: I will support either date, or a later date, because now, it doesn't matter to me when. (And yes, I want to marry my partner. It's devastating not to be able to NOW.) What matters to me most is that we have a united front working together to WIN. And I will work tirelessly on seeing to it that we do unite. (I may have to show tough love at times again!)
People have asked numerous times, "Can you put a price on your rights?" If that price is the unity of our community, then that price is too high. For who are we if we don't have each other?
I've already seen, as the result of the summit and its failure, people already making efforts to work with those they disagree with, because they realize keeping us united is more of a priority than stubbornly sticking to what they believe is to be the one and only path.
I'll quote Karen Ocamb from her piece on the summit:
It seems to me that the first step to winning back marriage equality is finding a mediator who can help this community find common ground and learn to keep our eye on the prize so we can move forward together. There are now so many LGBT folk who want to be leaders - let this be their first real test of leadership: find a way to bring us together.I repeat, it's not about 2010 or 2012 anymore. It's about us uniting. Only then, can we win.
Below are links to other posts and articles on the Leadership Summit. If you have one and want it to be added, please email me with a link at info@unitethefight.org.
Karen Ocamb's posts:
What Really Happened at the Repeal Prop 8 Leadership Summit
Repeal Prop 8 Leadership Summit: The Expert Point of View
The Unnoticed Power Player at the Repeal Prop 8 Leadership Summit
Dawn Cobalt: A Great Opportunity
The Advocate: 2010? 2012? The Fight in California Continues
Gay Fresno: Strategy & Self-Preservation
The New Civil Rights Movement (Jane Wishon): Recipe for Disaster?
OC Weekly: Anti-Prop 8/Pro-Gay Marriage Summit Deemed "a Disaster"
David Mixner: Oh California!
Queerty: Are There Any California Activists Who Know How to Play Well With Others?
The Gawker: California Activists Not Going to Bother Overturning Prop 8 Next Year
Sara Beth Brooks and Chelsea Salem: The Elephant in the Room
Edge: 2010 Prop 8 Repeal Effort Up in the Air
Bay Area Reporter: Gays squabble over Prop 8 repeal debate
Beyond Chron: Repealing Prop 8: Should We Do it in 2010 – or 2012?
Jeff Cilione: 2010 and the Irrelevancy of EQCA
Thanks for this.
ReplyDeleteI know at queertoday we are working on a statement that praises the energy and enthusiasm around this issue AND emphasizes the needs of our community, especially during these budget cuts. For us to only focus on marriage would be a shame, we need to build our queer infrastructure to provide the kind of support to each other we need. As AIDS funding, housing funding, queer youth programs are being cut we have got to broaden our scope and be united.
Yep...United we will stand but divided...We will sure as hell fall.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaO6zvdjzdo
ReplyDeleteWE HEAR YOU PHILIP. LOUD AND CLEAR. THANK YOU FOR BEING THE VOICE OF REASON. THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT IS GOING OUT TO THE ENTIRE LGBT COMMUNITY:
ReplyDeleteAn Invitation to the LGBT Community in California
On Sunday, August 9 at 10:00 a.m., a diverse array of groups and individuals from around the state will be gathering at the historic Jewel’s Catch One in South Los Angeles to plan for the ballot initiative campaign to repeal Prop 8. We hope that you will join us. RSVP Today: Http://tr.im/080909
While it’s no secret that not everyone agrees on when to proceed with a ballot initiative, everyone does agree that the work must be happening now. That work is to change hearts and minds and it must be done whether we are in a campaign for 2010 or later. Since we all share the goal of complete equality for LGBT people, there is much we can do together.
At the meeting we will be doing in-depth planning for all aspects of what needs to occur between now and qualifying a ballot measure. Everyone dedicated to working for marriage equality is invited, particularly those who have expressed reservations about a 2010 campaign. These concerns are legitimate and important, and any planning for a future campaign must take them into account to ensure our chances of winning.
We recognize that the last few months have at times been divisive and painful. We hope that meetings like this will begin to unite us. The purpose of this meeting is not to discuss when this issue should return to the ballot or change anyone's view about that question. Rather, we invite everyone to join in the planning for what needs to be done and learn how each of us can best contribute. The decision on when to make that contribution is yours.
It’s time to work together. Juntos podemos. Together we can.
Summit Participants include:
ALLORNOTATALL
COURAGE CAMPAIGN
EQUALITY ARMY
EQUALITY NETWORK
ERASE THE H8
GAYS UNITED NETWORK
INTERNATIONAL SOCIALIST ORGANIZATION
LOVE = LOVE
LOVE HONOR CHERISH
MARRIAGE EQUALITY USA
MEET IN THE MIDDLE FOR EQUALITY
ONE STRUGGLE, ONE FIGHT
OUTRIGHT LIBERTARIANS
RESTORE EQUALITY NOW WEST ADAMS/L.A. SOUTH (RENWL)
SAN DIEGO ALLIANCE FOR MARRIAGE EQUALITY (SAME)
SOMOS FAMILIA
STONEWALL DEMOCRATIC CLUB
STONEWALL YOUNG DEMOCRATS
STRAIGHT ALLY WOMEN 4 EQUALITY (AWE)
STOP8.ORG
TEAM COURAGE ORANGE COUNTY
TRUTHANDHOPE.ORG
VIETNAMESE FOR MARRIAGE EQUALITY
WHITE KNOT FOR EQUALITY
YES! ON EQUALITY
Special thanks to Jewel’s Catch One for making their space available. The venue opened its doors in 1972 as the nation’s first black gay and lesbian disco. Since that time the historic nightspot has evolved into a vibrant hub for community-based LGBT social and political groups in South Los Angeles. It is located at 4067 W. Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90019. To RSVP go to: Http://tr.im/080909