Date: Mon, 6 Jul 98 10:57:55 -0400 From: Betsy Gressler Subject: Fwd: NGLTF URGES LOG CABIN TO RECONSIDER HONOREE ---------------- Begin Forwarded Message ---------------- Date: 07/02 3:18 PM Received: 07/06 10:11 AM From: SAmarquise@aol.com To: NGLTF@NGLTF.org tconaty@NGLTF.org mfjohnson@NGLTF.org smindeaux@NGLTF.org RLTAF@aol.com TO: Kerry Lobel FROM: Ted Switzer DATE: July 2, 1996 RE: Task Force Statement on Ward Connerly Dear Ms. Lobel: Thank you for the Press Release, TASK FORCE URGES LOG CABIN TO RECONSIDER CHOICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS FOE AS HONOREE. As I read the Press Release I was reminded of past Task Force positions which had little or nothing to do with Equal Rights for Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transgender people. Just as I was beginning to think that the Task Force was coming out of the dark ages of the past two executive directors, you have surprized me with this rehash of political correctness taken to the extreme that does nothing to advance our movement . You know full well that we are a diverse community. This means that we are diverse in our genetic, social, economic as well as ideological backgrounds. Unfortunately the Task Force, under your leadership, is appearantly digressing back to the days of Vaid and Paras when ideological diversity was not only not welcome but discouraged. A left wing and Socialist ideological litmus test has been used by former Task Force Executive Directors and Board members to exclude dedicated activists and allies for years. Your press release attacks the Log Cabin Republicans and Mr. Connerly based on ideological differences with respect to affirmative action. This hurts the credibilty of the Task Force with our community and undermines the credibility of our movement. Many people including many lesbians and gays and many people of color and women of color do not favor affirmative action. Your campaign against the Log Cabin Republicans and equal rights allie Ward Connerly is not even relevant to our mission of equal rights for the LGBT communty. In fact, I believe some of the rhetoric coming out of the Task Force is offensive to most of our allies. (The biggest faux pas was the Task Force' condemnation of the Gulf War and Desert Sheild -- what has that got to do with promoting equal rights ?) We consistanly tell our opponents that we are not requesting special rights -- just equal rights and equal protection under the law. To my knowlege, no local, state or national LGBT organization as ever advocated laws or regulations that would require affirmative action for LGBTs as individuals or a class. We, as a community, have never requested affirmative action for ourselves. Please stick to what you are being paid to do: promote equal rights for the LGBT community and stay out of ideological battles. Please be more pragmatic in your official capacity as a National LGBT organization. You may be absolutely right about your ideological positions on race, welfare, classism, immigration, grape boycotts, and Desert Storm, but by having such a broad agenda, you are not winning our battle . Respectfully, Ted Switzer San Antonio, Texas P.S. By the way, I'm a liberal Democrat and support affirmative action for the poor. Date: Thu, 2 Jul 1998 13:52:36 -0400 From: NGLTF To: Multiple recipients of presslist - Sent by Subject: NGLTF URGES LOG CABIN TO RECONSIDER HONOREE PRESS RELEASE NATIONAL GAY AND LESBIAN TASK FORCE http://www.ngltf.org CONTACT: Tracey Conaty tconaty@ngltf.org 202-332-6483, ext. 3303 Pager: 800-757-6476 TASK FORCE URGES LOG CABIN TO RECONSIDER CHOICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS FOE AS HONOREE Affirmative Action is an integral part of the cause for equality of people of color and women. Honoring Mr. Connerly's work divides our community by race and sexual orientation. --- Kerry Lobel, NGLTF executive director WASHINGTON, DC---July 2,1998--- The National Gay and Lesbian Task urged the Log Cabin Republicans to reconsider its decision to honor civil rights foe Ward Connerly. Log Cabin announced this week that Connerly will be presented with its Spirit of Lincoln Award for his support of same-sex domestic partnership benefits. Connerly is scheduled to receive the award at Log Cabin=B9s national convention next month. In a letter to Log Cabin executive director Rich Tafel, Task Force executive director Kerry Lobel urged Tafel to reconsider the choice of Connerly. Connerly led California=B9s Proposition 209, which was passed by voters in 1996. Prop 209 effectively dismantled all affirmative action programs in the state. Many civil rights groups charged Connerly=B9s campaign as a campaign of intentional misinformation and deception. Connerly has since spearheaded similar efforts in a number of other states. "Mr. Connerly's support of domestic partnership for same-sex couples does not mollify me. Domestic partner benefits are of little value to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) people of color who cannot get a job or admission to a university where such benefits are offered," said Lobel. "To applaud those who would grant us rights while they actively strip civil rights away from others is to buttress the divide and conquer strategy of our enemies," she added. Lobel further stated, "The gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender movement often calls on our allies to support our cause for equality. For reasons of conscience and reciprocity, we have a responsibility to honor the cause for equality of our allies. Affirmative action is an integral part of that cause for equality of people of color and women. Honoring Mr. Connerly's work divides our community by race and sexual orientation. We believe the GLBT movement has a responsibility to support equality for all people. " -30- The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force has worked to eliminate prejudice, violence and injustice against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people at the local, state and national level since its inception in 1973. As part of a broader social justice movement for freedom, justice and equality, NGLTF is creating a world that respects and celebrates the diversity of human expression and identity where all people may fully participate in society. _________________________________________ This message was issued by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Media Department. If you have any questions regarding this post, please direct= them to one of the contacts at the top of this message If you wish to UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, please send an email with "UNSUBSCRIBE PRESSLIST" in the subject and body of your email message to . ----------------- End Forwarded Message ----------------- _________________________________________________________________ Betsy Gressler, Deputy Political Director National Gay and Lesbian Task Force 202-332-6483 x3306 http://www.ngltf.org _________________________________________ This message was issued by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Media Department. If you have any questions regarding this post, please direct them to one of the contacts at the top of this message If you wish to UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, please send an email with "UNSUBSCRIBE PRESSLIST" in the subject and body of your email message to .