Petrelis Files

(Italian gay poet, filmmaker, scholar, journalist and novelist Pier Paolo Pasolini, 1922 - 1975.)

GLAAD, NGLTF, Equality Forum on Gay History Month (HRC Silent)

My posting last week on this subject generated a couple of replies from leaders of national gay groups, which I'm sharing with you to show that a healthy discussion is taking place about Gay History Month.

I believe GLAAD and Equality Forum fully understand the need to have such a month and to actively work at honoring gay history, as something both separate and still linked to daily gay advocacy work.

But the defensive and snooty tone from NGLTF, stating that their recent, and very commendable, nationwide work on a tranny-inclusive ENDA betrays a sense that they just don't understand the need respect Gay History Month on a par with how NGLTF observes Women's History Month, which warranted a news release and fact-sheet from the group back in March.

No matter how much NGLTF huffs and puffs about their current activities, it doesn't make up for their lack of promotion of and organizing for our designated history month.

Nice of all these folks to weigh in on this, which is a lot more than the continuing silence and inaction from the Human Rights Campaign over Gay History Month.

In a message dated 10/8/2007 8:12:36 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, giuliano@glaad.org writes:

Dear Michael,

Thanks for sharing your posting---to clarify your post, GLAAD has never been the primary sponsor of the existing Gay History Month, which is spearheaded by the Equality Forum.

GLAAD has been actively supporting their efforts since they started this up a couple years ago. I don’t consider Equality Forum a local group, in fact they do more International outreach than nearly all other LGBT organizations I can think of—the content of their program reflects such-- and Gay History Month is very much their concept and program.

I would encourage you to contact Malcolm Lazin for further discussion about their program, they are doing a really great job with it.

I am told that GLAAD’s activities in 1997 came as a result of GLAAD transitioning into a national organization with one Executive Director instead of the previous chapter-based structure.
Shortly thereafter the board of directors provided our clarity in mission as an organization with a specific focus on media advocacy, and we have not been involved with any Gay History Month efforts—from the best I can tell, no one was until Equality Forum started working on the concept a couple years ago and brought it to its present form. And thanks to Malcolm and his team for doing so.

We do, every day, help members of the community share their stories. Through these efforts we seek to change the hearts and minds of those who would otherwise not hear our message of full LGBT equality.
In honor of National Coming Out Day on Thursday, we are releasing our newest PSA featuring T.R. Knight. We believe this PSA campaign will advance the efforts of media advocacy, fighting defamation and changing hearts and minds to create a more open and fair-minded world in which to live openly and achieve full equality.

Thanks Michael---

Neil

In a message dated 10/8/2007 8:40:53 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, mlazin@equalityforum.com writes:

Michael –

Equality Forum undertook responsibility for GLBT History Month in 2006. You can find the 2006 Icons on the home page at www.glbtHistoryMonth.com as well as information about the project.

We appreciate the assistance of GLAAD. When Equality Forum decided to undertake the project, we outreached to GLAAD for their advice and assistance in helping guide the promotional launch of the project.

As Neil stated, Equality Forum is a national and international GLBT civil rights organization with an educational focus. Likewise, GLBT History Month is a national and international project. Today’s Icon is Klaus Wowereit, Lord Mayor of Berlin. Lord Mayor Wowereit led the German delegation at Equality Forum 2003, when Germany was the Featured Nation.

We commend GLAAD for being our community’s effective voice in reacting to media homophobia. Since Neil’s stewardship, GLAAD has impressively undertaken a proactive role with and using media.

Malcolm Lazin
Executive Director
Equality Forum

In a message dated 10/5/2007 3:02:53 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, rsklar@thetaskforce.org writes:

Hey Michael:

Looks like you haven’t noted the historic work of our community this week. Over 150 LGBT advocacy organizations have come together as a huge community to fight to keep a Trans inclusive ENDA alive. Activists across the country are working round the clock to press for an ENDA that leaves no part of our community behind. The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force have been actively and deeply involved in this historic undertaking.

I hope that those who celebrate Gay History month will join those making history and be apart of this effort. You for more information you can go to the task force website or www.thetaskforce.org, or to one of the over 150 organizations listed as signators as last weeks letter to congress.

If that is not enough for making history-- watch for a major announcement from California next week where the Task Force is working side by side with Equality California on a ground breaking historic campaign that will definitely go down in Gay History.

Celebrating Gay history comes in many ways. This year the Task Force celebrates by joining together with hundreds and hundreds of activists to make history through their political action. For those who haven’t join the action but would like to know more visit the Task Force ENDA Action Center at www.thetaskforce.org or one of the many lgbt organizations who have signed on to UnitedENDA,

Best,

Roberta Sklar