Subject: PRESS RELEASE-Activists Call for an Open Process re: Millenium Rally
From: [email-masked]
Date: Tue, 2 Jun 1998 02:00:09 EDT

PRESS RELEASE: AD HOC COMMITTEE FOR AN OPEN PROCESS

	Special note to reporters: An invitation-only, closed meeting is scheduled
 for June 9th in DC between rally organizers and a select group of executive
 directors to discuss the Millennium rally. Members of the Ad Hoc Committee
 plan on attending with or without invitations. For information on location
 contact: Steve Ault at 718.399.7964 (phone and fax), or Ad Hoc committee for
 an Open Process (e-mail) [email-masked]

Activists Call for an Open Process Regarding Decision-Making on National
 Events
HRC and UFMCC's Exclusionary Organizing Tactics are Condemned by past March
 Organizers, other National Activists

	Activists from across the country have issued a call for an "inclusive and
 open process" for deciding whether a national gay rally in D.C. should be held
 in the year 2000.
	The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan
 Ministries (UFMCC)" the lead organizers for the proposed Millennium gathering
 " have been sharply criticized for using heavy-handed and exclusionary tactics
 to try and gather support for an event many consider a poorly-timed,
 strategically-flawed diversion of resources. 
	The newly formed Ad Hoc committee for an Open Process has issued a one-page
 proposal demanding that rally organizers use inclusive, democratic decision-
 making and organizing processes for deciding whether or not a national rally
 should be held.
	The Ad Hoc committee's  proposal explains why democratic and inclusive
 processes are unique organizing tools that helped build a larger, stronger and
 more unified movement.
	In contrast to the way the past three marches were organized, the Millennium
 rally organizers have, behind closed doors, hurried every major decision
 regarding the proposed event, including the very crucial decision of whether
 or not to hold a national event in Washington, D.C. in 2000.
	Despite admitting that their process is flawed, they still have refused to
 hold even one public meeting; no inclusive Millennium rally organizing
 structure exists; and a 14-page Millennium rally organizing proposal drafted
 in February remains secret. 
	Without any public input, the organizers have also decided a theme - `Faith
 and Family; a date - April 30, 2000; a title - `Millennium March for
 Equality'; logistics - (a rally, no march); a platform - (no demands); a
 merchandising plan - T-Shirts, etc.; an official travel agency; and 10,000
 rooms booked in Washington. 
	The controversy over the Millennium rally embodies two very different
 political visions. One which is corporate, and exclusionary and one which is
 grassroots-based and inclusive. Many have also criticized Millennium rally
 organizers for ignoring the concerns of the majority of the community who do
 not possess racial, class or gender privilege. 
	Opening up the decision making process around the question of a national
 march in 2000 is only one step in building a movement that is committed to
 achieving freedom and justice for all.
		The Ad Hoc committee for an Open Process, a cross section of activists who
 have been most vocal in demanding a democratic and inclusive process for
 deciding whether to hold a national event is issuing the following statement
 to demand that organizers of the proposed event open the process.

Proposal to the June Meeting from the Ad Hoc Committee for an Open Process

	The Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender people of the USA have organized three
 national marches on Washington, in 1979, 1987 and in 1993. These marches
 raised the visibility and advanced the issues of our communities. But the real
 importance and success of these mobilizations can be measured by the effect
 they had on our own communities. Grassroots organizing raised issues locally,
 spawned lasting coalitions and turned many of us into activists. On state and
 regional levels, new links were forged. Nationally, constituency organizing
 resulted in the emergence of national organizations and networks. The marches
 on Washington have been unique organizing tools that helped build a larger,
 stronger and more unified movement.
	Each march was very different as were the times during which they were
 organized. However, each one was run democratically with mass, grassroots
 involvement, and each followed a similar organizing scenario. A committee
 (which dissolved after its work was done) organized a national meeting to
 which representatives of all lesbian and gay (and later expanded to include
 bisexual and transgendered) organizations--local, state and regional as well
 as national--were welcomed. Organizational representatives voted, but
 otherwise, all in attendance were invited to participate in these open
 meetings. Here, the primary decision whether to have the event was made first,
 followed by deliberations on the name of the event, the politics, structure,
 leadership, and the organizing strategy. Then, throughout the country, open,
 democratically run meetings selected delegates, with mandates to include women
 and people of color, to a national steering committee, the highest decision-
 making body. Constituencies were also represented in the national steering
 committee and every national organization in our community was invited to
 join.
	Many of these meetings were at times contentious and chaotic. But in the end
 the decisions were accepted because the process was fair and inclusive. People
 from all over the country were motivated to commit their time, energy, and
 resources to build the marches because they realized that they were both heard
 and represented. And finally, when the big day arrived, we reveled in and were
 empowered by our accomplishment. The marches on Washington strengthened our
 movement largely because they were democratically run grassroots efforts on a
 massive scale. They have become an essential part of our proud history and a
 model to other movements for social change.
	Now, as a fourth march on Washington is being proposed, we must summon the
 legacy of the previous three--for the process by which this discussion
 proceeds will define not only the nature of any event that may follow, but
 more importantly, that of the lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgendered movement
 itself.

Therefore, we, the Ad Hoc Committee for an Open Process, propose: 

1. that the June Meeting issue a call for an organizing and strategy
 conference to include discussion and a decision on the proposed march on
 Washington and other proposals brought forth, with nothing about the proposed
 march on Washington presented as a fait accompli;
2. that all lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgendered organizations be invited to
 send two voting representatives to the meeting;
3. that attendance and participation (except for voting) be open to all.

We are calling for an open process to engage our movement in a serious,
 national discussion on whether or not we want to go to Washington--what's the
 purpose, when do we want to go, what would we be calling for, and how do we
 insure the maximum, most diverse participation in any planning process?

Signed (as of 6/1/98):

Steve Ault

Tommi Avicolli Mecca
Columnist - S.F. Frontline

Leslie Cagan-coordinator, New York City, 1987 March on Washington

Mandy Carter
Field Program Consultant National Black Lesbian & Gay Leadership Forum; 1987
 March on Washington - State Coordinator, North Carolina; 1993 March on
 Washington - National Steering Committee; Coordinator, People of Color Lobby
 Days

Melanie Clemans
Long Island's Campus Leadership Network (CLN) (network of L.I. glbt campus
 groups based in LI, NY); OUT IN LI (a 20-something plus social and issues
 group)

Marla Erlien
Bromfield St. Educational Foundation; Gay Community News; Boston Organizer,
 1987 March on Washington

Jaime Grant
Washington, D.C.

Eileen Hansen

Billy Hileman
Co-Chair, 1993 MOW

Sue Hyde
Cambridge, MA

John O'Brien
Stonewall Veteran

Diana Onley-Campbell
Washington, D.C.

Alana Samuels 
OUT IN LI (a 20-something plus social and issues group based in LI, NY); Long
 Island's Campus Leadership Network (CLN) (network of L.I. glbt campus groups)

Barbara Smith
Black feminist writer and activist, member of the Feminist Action Network of
 Albany, New York. One of the eight major speakers at the 1987 March on
 Washington

Nadine Smith
Co-Chair, 1993 MOW, Executive Director of Human Rights Task Force

Howard Wallace
National Steering Committee, Pride at Work

Christine Williams
National Queer Student Coalition
UNC-Chapel Hill

Paul Harris
Playwright and syndicated columnist

David Hencke 
Ohio -AIDS/HIV law activist

Robin White
Independent Public Radio Producer
San Francisco