Subject: Fwd: NGLTF URGES LOG CABIN TO RECONSIDER HONOREE
From: Betsy Gressler <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 6 Jul 98 10:57:55 -0400

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Date:        07/02  3:18 PM
Received:    07/06  10:11 AM
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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 <[email-masked]>
To: Multiple recipients of presslist - Sent by <[email-masked]>
Subject:  NGLTF URGES LOG CABIN TO RECONSIDER HONOREE

PRESS RELEASE
NATIONAL GAY AND LESBIAN TASK FORCE
http://www.ngltf.org

CONTACT:
Tracey Conaty
[email-masked]
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
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----------------- 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
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