Looking at the “State of Play”
This week’s Metro Weekly‘s cover story — out Thursday [and up now here!] — is a detailed look at many of the LGBT organizations that have a national scope or impact. Here’s a preview:
Within the LGBT community during the past two years, several events – from the response to Proposition 8 in California to decisions about the legislative priorities in Congress and approaches to those priorities – have led to some high-profile disagreements among LGBT organizations.
Against this backdrop, Metro Weekly spoke with the leaders of 15 LGBT political, legal and electoral organizations whose work has a national impact. These conversations, all conducted during the week of Sept. 27, show unexpected agreements and similarities between organizations with significantly different missions. More fundamentally – and despite differences of opinion and of strategy – the interviews make clear that the relationships between LGBT organizations are not easily defined in terms of a “schism” or even a divide.
But it’s true that for all the questions about the pursuit of LGBT equality, there are many voices, often leading many people in sometimes differing directions.
It could be – and has been – characterized as a mess.
Or it could be something else.
The story goes on to explore four areas of LGBT equality: “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal efforts, legal efforts, efforts on the GOP side of the aisle and efforts at HRC. The feature also takes a look at the White House and on the Hill.
I’m looking forward to hearing everyone’s thoughts — though, I imagine I’d hear them whether I wanted to or not!
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