tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18860233.post4570012092825105669..comments2024-01-28T23:40:29.891-05:00Comments on Steve Charing OUTspoken: Where's the Passion?Steve Charinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10671770309656409487noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18860233.post-62223663019663149782009-02-12T20:43:00.000-05:002009-02-12T20:43:00.000-05:00Steve -This is a VERY important piece. You've sai...Steve -<BR/><BR/>This is a VERY important piece. You've said what many of us have been thinking. Now I'll vent!<BR/><BR/>The first two Lobby Days were stimulating, exciting and energizing. The 2005 Jazz Brunch was electrifying. But after that, everything was boring. Equality Maryland lost their steam, dropped the ball, misplaced their focus, whatever. In fact, I skipped Lobby Day 2007 because I had become so disillusioned because EqMD had become all gimme and no give.<BR/><BR/>This year I attended Lobby Day and I thought the crowd was paltry and the logistics pathetic compared to those halycon first years. <BR/><BR/>Oh wow! For all the money EqMD begs, we get Dunkin Donuts coffee cartons and donut holes? The weather wasn't as wonderful as many make out - it was DAMN cold and windy during the rally. So there we were, freezing and unable to see the speakers. A platform would have worked wonders. So would lights as it got later. I bet I would have been a lot warmer if I could have actually SEEN Bishop Robinson speak.<BR/><BR/>Where is all the money donated to EqMD going? What's it being used for? I've heard rumors that a seat on the EqMD board might go for around $60K. Huh???? I didn't ask if that was one time or annually. I don't even want to know.<BR/><BR/>My advice to EqMD is to take the donated money and start using it to (1) organize lobbying efforts in districts respresented by those legislators who are against us and/or who refuse to meet with us due to their inbred homophobia (2) energize all those who are silent, most notably in Baltimore City and (3) make Lobby Day effective and special again. <BR/><BR/>EqMD needs to do what it's supposed to do: LOBBY. I think Del. Don Dwyer of district 31 is a lost cause, but perhaps Sen. Janet Greenip of district 33 would be a good target. Three women and one young gay man met with her. She overpowered them and told them that she's opposing us because she wants to lower the divorce rate in MD. Where is EqMD???? Go work on Greenip!<BR/><BR/>In Howard County there are Del. Gail Bates of district 9A and her lap dog Del. Warren Bates who won't even meet with their constituents during Lobby Day. <BR/>Why isn't EqMD working on them? They should at the very least be shamed into meeting with their constituents.<BR/><BR/>With all this money and money grubbing on the part of EqMD I would expect to see more results. <BR/><BR/>Case in point: today I received an email from Executive Director Kate Runyon who was "outraged" by revelation that the Maryland State Police had been spying on EqMD as a potential terrorist organization. The email had two "take action" links in it. But when you clicked on them, you were taken to the EqMD donation page. Not a word about the issue at hand. <BR/><BR/>Other advocacy sites will at least have a form letter pre-addressed for you to respond. Not EqMD!! Just the usual begging for $$$. <BR/><BR/>That looked bad, smelled bad and just adds to the feeling (at least with me) that EqMD is nothing more than a money collecting organization that is solely concerned with keeping itself staffed and in the news. I want to see more bang for the buck. Not my buck, because I stopped contributing to them long ago, but bucks they have. If I'm convinced, I'll start donating again.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for writing this, Steve. I think EqMD is potentially a great org. It just needs to refocus.<BR/><BR/>RobAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18860233.post-82343682507142656582009-02-11T10:37:00.000-05:002009-02-11T10:37:00.000-05:00I could not agree with you more, Dana, on everythi...I could not agree with you more, Dana, on everything you said, especially the marketing of Equality Maryland events. <BR/><BR/>"Lobby Day" is a term used by a vast number of groups who do just that: select a day during the General Assembly session to lobby their respective legislators on causes near and dear. The term is universal.<BR/><BR/>BUT, EQMD needs to make it more attractive in some way. We know the Baltimore LGBT community is party (with a small p)-oriented. Think Pride. Think how that event draws thousands to mainly party. If that's the mindset, and it has existed for many years, EQMD should think creatively in attracting more pople to their events using that template.Steve Charinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10671770309656409487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18860233.post-74240064876849068982009-02-11T10:02:00.000-05:002009-02-11T10:02:00.000-05:00I think the relative success of Join the Impact ca...I think the relative success of Join the Impact can be attributed largely to the still fuming anger over Proposition 8. Also it was a grassroots effort with an element of spontaneity.<BR/><BR/>It sure wasn't slick public relations! Their website was amateurish, big time. That said, there is a certain exuberance that kind of "let's roll" activism engenders that old fashioned politicking lacks.<BR/><BR/>There may be, as you say, a lost cause mindset. I can only speak for myself though.<BR/><BR/>After Proposition 8 I have started to question the efficacy of our leadership in general. Maybe I'm going through a mid-life crisis of sorts. The activism of the Woodstock era has a greater appeal that trying to talk sense into politicians.<BR/><BR/>When Barney Frank threw the transgendered under the bus regarding ENDA I lost my faith in our leadership, frankly. I prefer to spend my political capital a little more in their face, so to speak.<BR/><BR/>I think the road to getting the passion back starts with getting our unity back. As a transgendered I feel like the pirate on the ship who was taking a leak when the booty was divided. I fought the good fight in heels for crying out loud! I earned my share.<BR/><BR/>Beyond that I think we need to make political activism fun and exiting. We can start by making an event seem like an EVENT. Just the name; "Lobby Day," screams BORING. It doesn't even suggest what the event is all about. Give it a name and market that name. Turn it into a narrative that the whole world understands.<BR/><BR/>A good marketing strategy should be at the top of our list.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com