You are hysterical. I am cracking up picturing you parading around in a wet tee shirt shredding flyers and calling Doug Shields on your cell phone. I love that you give 'em hell on both sides, girl. Why someone doesn't snap you up to write a column is beyond me. I think we should give you one of those gay people of the year awards at the Lambda Ball just for being willing to take on the bar owners and the goody-two-shoe activists. And the feminists. And the white men. And the politicians. My boss is wondering why I'm laughing so hard so I better stop now.

I think I still believe in the old way...Criticize in PRIVATE...praise in PUBLIC.

It's seems to get things done quicker. You don't have to deal with everyone's defense mechanisms.

Well, to be fair, I think I've done a lot of public praising of the local advocacy groups. In fact, I'm the only blogger, gay or otherwise, that consistently promotes and covers their events as well as continuously encouraging people to get involved.

The truth is, $0.02, is that I have had many, many conversations in private. I've had discussions over coffee, on the telephone, via email, in person, etc. I even stepped up to help organize the Big Queer Rally and have been very discrete about the behind the scenes goings on with that little event, but rest assured I learned that my place is best kept to the blogosphere.

I challenge you to point to one thing that has been accomplished more quickly via the current "secret society" mentality of the advocacy community. Statewide, we have no hate crimes law, we have no anti-discrimination law and we can't quite stop the Marriage Amendments from popping up. Locally, we haven't made an inch of legislative or policy progress since the City HRC was established. The County is not ready to pass a similar lawn and the Chief Executive is not going to provide domestic partner benefits anytime soon. We have elected a Mayor that is opposed to civil unions and keeps his gay, male business owners confidantes firmly lodged between him and contact with the rest of the gay community. The big success is a domestic partner registry that has six registered couples and provides not a single new benefit for anyone.

THe same three or four people do all the work. People aren't stepping up, but people aren't in the loop to step up because they get information days after the fact because the same three or four people do all of the work and don't have time to send out timely email messages or press releases.

At some point, someone has to break this cycle. It is not being disloyal to point out that the Emperor is wearing no clothes, especially when you have brought some material, thread and a sewing machine along with you.

Please note that my frustration lies with the systems and the processes, not the individual persons who inherited these tools from previous generations. Folks are trying and do make genuine good faith efforts, but there is just a fundamental problem when resources are so stretched that it takes days and days to get information disseminated to the general public.

Frankly, I'm tired of being excorciated for speaking some of this truth out loud. There's a whole lot of dirty laundry that I keep private because I recognize a difference between constructive dialogue and catty bitching.

So, how do you break the cycle? Whose responsibility is it?

Sue Kerr. Don't. Stop. Telling. The. Truth.

Fuck those that think you should be a cheerleader for their agendas. You are right on the money about the political agenda.

Is it just me or does anyone else see the hypocrisy of progressive organizations and their supporters trying to GAG a member of the media?

How is that any different than the bar owner and bathhouse advertisers exerting editorial control over OUT in Pittsburgh? I mean don't we all "privately" bitch and moan about the excessive sex and party focus of that newspaper and wish they had more news and lesbian stuff and actual content? Doesn't everyone "publicly" say what a great guy Tony is and how nice his family is (both of which are true)? So which is it people? Why would such a nice family man produce a bar rag unless he needs to please his advertisers and review porn to feed his family?

So which is it people? More versions of OUT or independent media? Pick your poison.

Have you been living in a cave?

Tell us did Kathi Boyle and Bruce Kraus PRIVATELY have some chats with Steven Hereforth and Peter Karlovich about the pornography, Rent Boys, poppers and glory holes? No, they took the money and turned a blind eye. Now two men are dead. Good job keeping things private.
.

Yes, you should get the award if the Delta Foindation got it.

Lambda gave the Gay of the Year Award to the DELTA FOUNDATION? That's fucking hilarious. It would be awesome if they followed that up by giving it to this blog. I would so buy a ticket to hear what she had to say.

What I don't get is why you aren't handling PR for these events? You are good at it so why don't they get YOU the information hot off the presses and let you pass it along? Wouldn't that be the simplest solution?

Now that is a VERY GOOD idea!!!

Anne Bowman
Executive Director
Lambda Foundation

The award... I meant. Thought it would post right below
(New at this, sorry)
Anne Bowman

Now that is a VERY GOOD idea!!!

Anne Bowman
Executive Director
Lambda Foundation

One more comment on something that needs to be clarified. In previous posts it has been mentioned that the Lambda Community Service Award was given to the Delta Foundation. That is not a true statement. It was actually awarded to the "event" Pride in the Street.
At the time, July 2007, The Delta Foundation had not been "revamped". That being said, the "event" was very well attended and everyone I spoke to had a great time. That is why I personally voted for the award.
Anne

Potato, potato.