posted 01/12/09 09:13 AM | updated 01/12/09 09:22 AM
Views: 479 | Comments : 2 | News, etc.

Anti-DOMA rally at SCCC

By jseattle
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Saturday morning, about 100 people gathered at Seattle Central before beginning their march down Pine to Westlake. More info on the rally here or enjoy The Stranger's even-more-cynical than usual take on the event. Can't disagree that it was likely a disappointing turnout for organizers. Goes to show just how amazing November's rally really was.

 

 

 

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March/Rally an astounding success
Actually, as one of the organizers, I can say that the event was an amazing success. We've gotten too used to thinking that politics are all about flash and glamour, but the fact is even though 10,000 people showed up to the 11/15 protest, the buzz pretty much died there. There was no call for further organizing. Everyone was sent home to talk to their moms and dads and then come to Olympia in March. What's absolutely ridiculous about this posting and the Slog's posting is both seem to make a fetish out of the size (size queens?), but ignore the content. We had a much more diverse program than the 11/15. We consciously tried to invite speakers from the stage who looked like (because they are) part of the community. We had people who are brand new to activism speak in public for the first time. We had Pride at Work talking about the importance of passing the Employee Free Choice Act. We had young queer women of color entertain with spoken word and song. We had an Icelandic singer get the crowd, young and old, moving. We had students from the UW talk about the Hate Free Daily rally, an Iraq war combat vet talk about the hypocrisy of DADT, we had a recent immigrant talk abut the importance of fighting for equality. We had Sylvia O'Stayformore! We invited the owners of the Wildrose to speak about the recent threats (they declined because they were shy about speaking in public, so we declared our support and solidarity with them from the stage -- the only lgbt group in Washington to publicly issue a statement in support and to denounce the homophobic attacks on the community's cultural institutions).

Just to remind folks... the 11/15 rally got 10,000 but it actually DID NOT repeal Prop 8. How exactly are we defining "success"? We all know queers can throw a party, but that's not the same thing as winning rights. I think if ERW was able to pull 10,000 to a protest, that's awesome. But did it tap into the energy and bring those people into the movement? Not one bit. They sent everyone home with a fundraising pitch to talk to their moms and dads and show up in Olympia four months later. Saturday's event may only have had about a 100 people, but at least half of those people signed up to get involved in organizing and coming up with more ideas for how to win equality. That's how we need to be defining success.

For too many years, queers and lefties in general have had this really pessimistic definition of success based on numbers of phone calls made or door bells rung or signatures gathered. Success in a political movement is not determined by the money you raise (No on 8 raised more money and failed) or on how many people you can get to come to your party, but on how many people you can raise to the level of self-conscious organizers.

And just to set the record straight: those thousands of people DID NOT come out on 11/15 because ERW or Kyler told them to. Thousands around the country who have never heard of ERW or Kyler came out. People came out because they were angry. We were attacked and people were pissed. A poodle could have called that demonstration and people would have showed up because that's what you do when you are outraged at an injustice.

Remember: our movement started with the Stonewall Riots, not with the Stonewall "Talk To Your Mom About Your Gayness" Day or a Stonewall "Lobbying" Day.
Comment by Lonnie
January 12, 2009
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Queer Ally Coalition
People who are interested in further discussing these issues and future organizing are welcome to come to Queer Ally Coalition meetings on Fridays at 7 pm at Cafe Vivace, 532 Broadway Ave E., email queerallycoalition@gmail.com, or join us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=44332711676.

We may be looking for a new meeting location that will fit more people after the huge response we got from the march and rally.
Comment by Lonnie
January 13, 2009
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