Petrelis Files

Dallas Principles Leader in SF for Gala;
No Grassroots Forum Planned

A key architect of the Dallas Principles, an effort to motivate and engage a large cross-section of the LGBT community, Lane Hudson, who once worked for HRC and lives in Washington, is coming to San Francisco this weekend. He's in town for a gala fundraiser for the National Center for Lesbian Rights.

Here's Hudson's response to my post yesterday about David Mixner's concern that AIDS was omitted from the Dallas Principles:

I just wanted to make sure you saw our Goal #7, as it was written with HIV/AIDS, Trans health care, hospital visitation, medical decisions, child health care, etc. in mind. It was meant as a holistic approach, as was the overall document. If you notice, it doesn't mention any specific legislative initiatives, as they all should fall under the overall goals.

7.HEALTH CARE. Every person should have access to affordable, high quality, and culturally competent health care without discrimination.

I'll be in San Francisco on Saturday night for the NCLR Dinner. If you would like to join me at the Bolthouse Farms table, I'd love to have you. We would have time to talk about The Dallas Principles in more detail. Let me know.

I thanked him for the invitation, but explained that I would not be able to accept his offer. I asked Hudson if he would be holding a public forum, maybe at the local gay community center, while he was here. His reply:

Unfortunately not, Michael. I arrive just before the dinner and leave early the next morning. If you find you are able to make it to the dinner, don't hesitate to let me know.

There's a pattern here for Hudson. As with the meeting in Dallas, he parachutes in, doesn't hold any open meetings, strategizes and networks at an event that is either closed-door or costs a pretty penny to attend, then jets out.

I naively thought Hudson, and the two SF reps who were at the Dallas meeting two weeks ago, might put on a town hall this weekend, especially right after the CA Supreme Court upheld Prop 8, and so many in the local grassroots trenches are fired up.

Why not talk with the A-gays at the gala _and_ also discuss the goals of the principles with regular gays who can't afford to attend the swanky dinner?

Now seems like an excellent time for the Dallas Principles' organizers to tap into the anger and commitment of Bay Area gays, through public engagement and forums, but it's not about to happen.

Regarding the NCLR gala dinner this weekend, here's part of their pitch for it:

If there was ever a time when we all needed a party, it’s now. We’ve been through a lot this year and for the past 32 years and we need to come together.

How about partying _and_ organizing through public forums that bring us together at this crucial time, and don't cost a couple of hundred bucks?

Speaking of NCLR's dinner, which is at the St. Francis Hotel, it's not the only costly event they're hosting this Saturday night. There's also their party at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. While they're promoting public transportation between the functions, the group has also lined up an official limo service for it all:

Virgin Limousines is NCLR's transportation partner to and from the Anniversary Celebration from anywhere in the Bay Area. Book your limo online or call 800.421.LIMO (800.421.5466) and mention “NCLR” to get 10% off.

If there's a grassroots element to either the Dallas Principles' leaders organizing, or the NCLR shindigs this weekend, I've missed it.