Five Reasons Not to March on Washington DC This October

With all due respect to Cleve Jones and David Mixner, who I've known and covered for many years, I think we seriously need to question the wisdom of convening a march on Washington this October.

Yes, LGBT people are angry and disappointed that President Barack Obama hasn't lived up to his promises and our expectations -- something David knows about intimately, having been failed by his one-time friend Bill Clinton. Cleve, too, knows deeply about government scorn and neglect, having created the profound remembrance of those we lost as a result -- the AIDS Memorial Quilt.

And I understand the call for a march. I am among Obama's critics -- I am stunned that he has so flagrantly forgotten, despite being a constitutional scholar, that equality is the first core founding principle of this country, and as leaders in the civil rights movement so aptly pointed out -- "justice delayed is justice denied."

That Obama is still allowing the military to kick out qualified gays who are willing to die for this country -- at a time when we are fighting two wars and may be called on elsewhere in the world -- is the pinnacle of absurdity. Congress, too, should be ashamed for not repealing the ridiculous "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law.

All that said, here are five questions about the wisdom of holding a march this October 10-12:

1. If the point is to demand equal rights from Obama and Congress, wouldn't it be better to hold the march when they're in town and not over the Columbus Day holiday? Who's making the decision that this is what we all need to do -- without any prior discussion from the "community" that's supposed to attend?

2. Given the four month-deadline and the economic downturn - and no matter how bare-bones the production -- who's paying for the stage, the equipment, the permits, the hotel-set asides, etc -- all the vendors who will not make a contribution to the cause, will not defer payment or volunteer?

3. Given that Maine is voting to repeal their marriage equality in November -- shouldn't the LGBT nation's eyes be turned towards Maine? If they lose, we could have a domino effect in the Northeast and in California in 2010. There's also the effort to re-elect New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine -- for without him, the effort to secure marriage equality there will suffer a tremendous setback.

4. The ballot language for the 2010 initiative to repeal Prop 8 is due in September. Though outreach efforts are already underway, the filing date is a perfect time to announce a massive grassroots field and fundraising effort -- considering that California is huge (one-eighth of all US residents lives here) and there would be only 14 months from that date to change enough hearts and minds to win in November. Why take people away from the 2010 effort for a three-day feel-good trip to Washington that few can afford to make?

5. The aforementioned economic downtown is no joke. California is $24 billion in the red; on Friday, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced $2.8 billion in cuts -- with threats to shut down both the state's Healthy Family Program a health insurance program for over 900,000 children and Cal-Works, the state welfare program that gives the poor temporary financial assistance and provides the severely disabled with a caregiver. The state and local AIDS agencies are also losing considerable funding. "Government doesn't provide services to rich people," says Mike Genest, the state's finance director. So folks in California are going to be asked to help out -- as well as being asked for money for gubernatorial candidates and the ballot initiative, to name just a few. Isn't that money better spent here than on a march on Washington that may not yield any tangible results?

At least one person agrees with me. This is from Geoff Kors, executive director of Equality California:

It will take all of us being focused and doing everything we can to win marriage back in California. EQCA is focusing our resources on doing grassroots field work in California and being on the ground where the work needs to happen. That is what we need to do to win marriage back.

EQCA will also support our brothers and sisters in Maine and will encourage our volunteers to go to Maine in October to help them defeat their anti-marriage initiative in November 2009.

For people who are concerned about poverty and social and economic issues as I know David Mixner and Cleve Jones are -- it seems an odd time to re-direct resources and attention without something close to an assured outcome.

Given their considerable talent for inspiring others, I would humbly request that David and Cleve consider shifting their attention to helping LGBT people, people with HIV/AIDS and our allies (labor, teachers, nurses) at the state and local levels survive this very difficult time while also pressing hard for full equality. Linking arms to confront the problems immediately before us only strengthens our sense of community as we all become foot soldiers marching to fulfill the promises of the American Dream.

Comments

[holtbullock]

5. Yes, we are all suffering the effects of this economic downturn, and that is no joke. Anyone with knowledge of the workings of fund allocation would be aware that the easiest cutbacks are from those who are the most needy, the poor, the ill, and the true minorities who have little electoral value to politicians. Ms. Ocamb, if your concerns really are with the cuts in state health insurance, state welfare programs and AIDS agencies, why then are you not asking all Californians to forego the expense of a new Proposition 8 style ballot measure until times are better. The considerable amounts of money saved, by both parties to this debate, could then be given to those needy agencies, in a show of generosity, by fundraisers on both sides of the California marriage issue.

You close by acknowledging your support: “At least one person agrees with me… Geoff Kors, executive director of Equality California.” I am so happy that you have one supporter Ms. Ocamb, I am also happy that it is not me.

I will close with my five reasons to march in Washington, D.C. in October:
1. God does not teach us to hate,
2. God does not teach us to discriminate,
3. God does not teach us bigotry,
4. God does not limit equality,
5. God does not take away our rights… Man does! And says he does it in the name of God!

Dr. C. Holt Bullock

[holtbullock]

3. As for Maine and the possible repeal of their marriage equality act, and then New Jersey, and then, and then…. I guess you just do not understand constitutional law or the point of this march at all Ms. Ocamb. We need to bypass the years of delays by the several states and go directly to the Supreme Court, and go as often as is necessary to win our battle. Or shall we again suffer the indignities of the ERA, the Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution was first proposed in the United States Congress in December 1923? It was promoted by Alice Paul and the National Women's Party. Even now, it remains unratified 86 years later. I don’t know about you Ms. Ocamb, but I am not willing to wait another 86 years.

4. Your prejudices in favor of California are showing Ms. Ocamb… more Proposition 8 rhetoric. I say abandon the issue of marriage equality in the states completely! Until the federal government recognizes marriage equality, we will all still have “less” than our heterosexual counterparts. Marriage equality should extend to all matters of taxation, inheritance, medical and funeral decisions, and immigration and naturalization. None of these can be conferred by the states (even if all 50 vote to redefine marriage) these can only be conferred by our federal government.

[holtbullock]

To address Ms. Ocamb’s questions:

1. It would not be better to wait, we need to do this as soon as possible. Don’t you realize that the media in this country is responsible for public and therefore executive, legislative, and possibly even judicial opinion. When our elected officials see the masses of supporters descend upon Washington on every television station, hear about us on every radio station, and read about us in every newspaper, it will not matter if it is Columbus Day, Independence Day, or Christmas Day, they will have no choice but to hear our united voice. For “equal rights” we need only reach an audience of nine men and women, the Supreme Court.

If we wait for all factions of the “community” to weigh in, the march will never happen.

2. The four month-deadline and economic downturn affects our foes as much as ourselves, and may actually be in our favor. Many of those who oppose us will be fresh from family holidays, and summertime commitments, which could significantly reduce their resolve to counter-demonstrate. Hotels and flights will be cheaper for us at that time. And, as for who will pay for the set-up… well, we can all be assured it will not be you, not the naysayer’s. It will fall to us, the faithful, those who never say give up, the doers, the community members who want the next generation to have a more “equal” life than we have had to endure.

[holtbullock]

Apparently Ms. Ocamb does not understand our President or the call for the march.

The fact that she is “stunned” by Obama’s hasty retreat from the support he promised, before we helped to elect him, shows she has little understanding of the way politics works in this country. How long will we have to wait until we have another President with the balls to do for "Don't ask, Don't tell" what Harry S. Truman did for African-Americans in the military in 1948. An executive order is all that is necessary, not an act of Congress!

What is it that you seek Ms. Ocamb, marriage, or equality?! Your arguments all seem to be directed at justifying the right to marry; perhaps you should read the purpose of this march and stick to that topic. This march is for full equality for LGBT community members in ALL aspects of their lives. How dare you reduce this effort for equal rights recognition as “a three-day feel-good trip to Washington that few can afford to make” when, in reality, this is a trip that all members of our community can ill afford not to make. We “owe” this fight to future generations of American women and men.

[LAMike4]

Might be that with theTed Olson & David Boies Federal
Suit Announced last week, a national march on Washington couldn't hurt.
U.S. Supremes might remember something national, something focused, and something recent
like a huge march. I know I'd go.
If we lose a U.S. Supreme Court ruling, everything will be set back. I think there is enough anger in the country to make such a march large and important. I think it's the right time, too.
And I'm just sick and tired of Obama's silence and celebration of his glam marriage as if he has what we are foolish to want, as if he is "normal" and we are not. He needs a swift kick in the pants and he won't pay attention to local fights, as he clearly did not in California last week when he visited after the Prop. 8 ruling and made jokes rather than offering even a word of solidarity. And his Gay Pride Month "proclamation" was a joke. He just reprinted his campaign lies ...uh ...promises.

[BornGay]

Psssh. Like Congress would have come out to see us anyways. Trust me, they'll have full reports on their desk when they return.

Robin Tyler's ego is getting in the way, and Geoff Kors should step down from Equality California. EQCA is completely neutered while he is still at the helm. There will be no recovery from the Prop 8 debacle.

I'm going to Washington D.C. in October. The time is NOW! Who's with me?

[traceminerals]

I am...and it will not detour me from anything.

[Reddaddy012]

I feel differently. Marches inspire people to get more active in thier communtiis and to network with others accross this nation. Many peole who do attend live in states with no gay rights. So in tiun the feel more impowered.