Petrelis Files

Solmonese/HRC Can't Find An Openly
Lesbian Married Couple

If memory serves, about 18,000 gay and lesbian couples took public vows of marriage over the summer, many of them lesbians. And I know of few of them, as do lots of Californians.

But Joe "So-So" Solmonese apparently doesn't know any such out lesbian married couples. This holiday message from the president of gay Americans on the Human Rights Campaign site makes me gag.

The couple Joe cites to make a case asking all of us to speak out now, weeks after the Prop 8 initiative lost because we weren't encouraged by the likes of HRC and Mr. So-So, have no last names.

Talk about reinforcing the internalized homophobic messages of the No on 8 campaign, which couldn't bring itself to admit the race was about gays or show gays in the TV ads, we now have the president of the largest club for Democratic Party hacks who happen to be homosexual putting lesbians who won't/can't use their last names, on a freaking pedestal. From HRC's site:

You might want to talk about the person you love. Or about why it's so important for straight allies to support marriage equality. If you need more inspiration, I have a story for you.

Jan and DeAnn, who were married in California this August, had spent 8 years living next to Jon and Brenda. They chatted about lawn care, skiing, and home repair, and DeAnn even taught their four children in spelling games and rounds of Old Maid once a week – but knowing the anti-gay stance of their neighbors' religion, Jan and DeAnn had decided never to discuss their personal life.

Brenda was in her yard when the limousine pulled up on Jan and DeAnn's wedding day. When she asked what the occasion was, they decided to tell Brenda they were getting married. They were shocked when Brenda immediately hugged them, burst into tears, and sobbed, "Why didn't you tell me?"

Jan replied, "You never know if you're going to get a hug or a brick through your window." DeAnn said, "I was afraid of losing your children."

Then, Jan says, "We all cried, gave one last hug, and entered the limo with soaring spirits."

These are the stories we have to tell. This is the case we have to make: real people, real consequences.

How about making your case with real gay people with real last names, Joe?

And what's up the long-useless-except-when-the-press-needs-an-official-gay-quote group known as the National Gay and Lesbian Task Farce?

Like every other inept professional Gay Inc group without a clue and without real people behind the executives who claim large memberships, the Task Farce particpated in the November 15 national demostrations. And reports were posted from the staffers and board members were posted on the group's blog. Good enough.

Except no last names for any of the staffers were provided. Just the first initial of their family name. I can't believe as 2008 draws to a close, that there is any excuse for this bozo organization to not fully name the people who wrote the blog reports. Check this out, the list of contributors to the Task Farce blog report on November 18:

— Amanda D., Director of Institutional Giving, the Task Force
— Pedro Julio S., Communications Coordinator, the Task Force
— Cynde H., Assistant Director of Major Gifts, the Task Force
— Lee R., Board Member, the Task Force
—Sue H., Director of Creating Change, the Task Force
— Somjen F., Senior Policy Analyst, the Task Force
— Amanda H., Clinton Fellow, the Task Force
— Rebecca V., IWR and Faith Work Director, the Task Force
—Jody L., Board Member, the Task Force
— Nicole M., Board Member, the Task Force
—Dave C., Development Associate, the Task Force

If we don't figure out how to replace the incompetents folks running OUR community organizations, and soon, we may see some of our advances slip away or erode.