Our city’s main gay paper, The Dallas Voice, sponsored the monthly Freedom of Speech night with host, 1360 AM Rational Radio personality, Jack E. Jett. This particular debate was about the tactics used to press for LGBT equality between local activists involved with groups like Stonewall Democrats and Fairness Fort Worth compared to the local direct-action collective, Queer LiberAction.
Since the election and inauguration of President Barack Obama, various American communities have been anxiously working towards marriage equality for gays and lesbians and the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”. With the passage of California’s Proposition 8, which by popular vote, made gay marriages illegal just six months after the California Supreme Court decision legalized gay matrimony, many individuals in the gay community were disillusioned and angry with mainstream gay organizations like Stonewall Democrats and planned a variety of rallies and protests in order to keep local, regional, and national attention on these issues.
Queer LiberAction has staged various demonstrations in Dallas and Ft. Worth to bring a call to action, but not without controversy from others in the D/FW gay community. During a recent city hall meeting in Ft. Worth, Queer LiberAction founder was ejected, along with 5 others, after demanding that the Rainbow Lounge investigation be moved further up the agenda. Several Dallas and Ft. Worth residents, who gave their unfiltered opinion on a recent Dallas Voice article written by Stonewall Democrats’ vice-president Jay Narey, felt their QL’s demonstrations inside and outside the Ft. Worth City Council meeting were an embarrassment to the community.
At the meeting, Mike Lo Vuolo and Jay Narey, both affiliated with the Stonewall Democrats, declined to represent the organization directly in this debate capacity--a position which both Wilkinson and QL board adviser, Rick Vanderslice cited as evidence of the stifling bureaucracy and ineffectiveness found in such organizations. Mr. Narey mentioned that the Ft. Worth City Council meeting was simple "grandstanding" on the part of Blake Wilkinson to grab the attention of the media. Mr. Wilksinson did somewhat concede to this point as an attempt to, as his words, "use the media to bring attention to the cause". During the two-hour debate, there were several concerns voiced from the moderators and the audience, but little promise of future partnership was achieved between the two groups. Mr. Vanderslice stated several times that "if individuals find our tactics embarrassing or unsettling, that is their problem".
One attendant, Daniel Cates, said as an open statement to both groups, "Tonight is evidence of why it’s taken us forty years to make more gains towards equality." The applause he received because of his statement could speak to the disillusionment many Dallas gay individuals find toward local activism in general. However, it's important to remember that just as religion has the possibility of many paths to God, so our quest for LGBT equality calls for everyone to find their passion and work to move the needle upward. Now we just have to spend more time defining that buzzword, equality.
Comments
To hell with the Stonewall Democrats and other cowards. They demonstrated they are not honest and principled leaders if they are willing to wait when lgbt folks are physically attacked by law enforcement. The Stonewall Rebellion was not only a demonstration against police brutality but also a rejection of the CONSERVATIVE politics of the existing organizations of the time. The Stonewall Democrats carry on that cowardly tradition of appealing to bigots for our freedom. Real LGBT activists around the country stand in solidarity with Queer LiberAction. After all, the rest of the country would not know about the attacks on the Rainbow without their loud, visible, and vocal protests. If you don't like the tactics the more principled members of our community use, END HOMOPHOBIA.
The Stonewall Democrats should remove the Stonewall from their name. How dare they try and dictate how other groups structure their organization.
LGBT Equality: Do We Need A New Plan?
Wed. Oct. 7th @ 7 PM Melrose Hotel Oak Lawn, Dallas TX
LGBT Equality: Do We Need A New Plan? Wed. Oct. 7th @ 7 PM Melrose Hotel Oak Lawn, Dallas TX
I am writing this Post because of some recent exchanges on LGBT Blogs. The question was asked “does any LGBTQ Group have a ‘plan’ for our full Equality? It seemed the consensus was a reluctant “no.” This is a problem.
I would like to invite DFW area activists and advocates and anybody else to a Meeting this Wednesday, October 7th, from 7-9 pm at Melrose (Warwick) Hotel in Oak Lawn. The purpose of the meeting is too explore ideas for full equality for the LGBT Community. This will be a “conversation for possibility.”
I believe there are some very passionate, creative and crafty individuals within our Community that are willing to help create a solution. Maybe they just need an invitation or challenge. We need to come together and all work towards the same goal: full equality, nothing less
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