I need your opinions, folks

[Ellen]

I'm working on a project I'd like some input on. I'd love to see how you answer these questions.

In 2006, what were the top 5 challenges GLBT folks encountered?

In 2006, what were the top 5 victories GLBT folks celebrated?

Thanks for your help!

[Joe Brummer]

Our challenge remains the same, we need to address the hate speech from the propaganda machines like Americans for Truth, Exodus International and the American Family Association. These are the people who continue to feed the general voting population with lies that make them vote against us and for anti-gay laws. They misinform the public and we must inform the public that they are doing so.

Our challenge is to stop seeing our adversaries as enemies and see them as people who suffer from fear and misinformation. (we need to continue to correct the misinformation with all the available science). We need to spread the word large and far, like was done in Montgomery in 1955, not fighting back is a stronger weapon than anything they have to give us.

No more calling them bigots, call them misinformed. No more calling them homophobes, they suffer in their fear and we must see that. No more calling them names at all, it will only increase their misconceptions about us.

No more attacks of the right, we have no reason to attack them when we have the truth of science on our side, keep making the science known and how their fear has driven them to misuse it.

When we end their fear and suffering, we will end our own.

anyway...I have preached to the choir enough!

Love,
joe

[BruceChris]

I like to think of myself as a serious student of our society, but that is never to be confused with assuming that I might somehow be an organized person.:confused:

Some obvious strong points, if not victories might be these:

(1) That more and more high level defense department officials are suggesting that *don't ask don't tell* has outlived it's usefulness, is not really fair. does not contribute to military unit cohesion, and is working against us. :tup: :agree:

(2) The recent victory in Arizona over their local DOMA amendment. I'm sure that Zerbie would LOVE to talk that over with you. :sing:

(3) Polls showing that Re: the acceptance of gay people in general, and of gay marriage in particular, the numbers are moving our way. :weee: :agree:

(4) A probably little noticed comment by bishop Spong that when it comes to gay rights in general, and also gay marriage, that we have already passed an invisible tipping point. :pray:

(5) Polls showing that by the time a DOMA were to get on the ballot in Massachusetts, with a good voter turnout, we would win at the ballot box. Indeed, some suggest that we may have already passed the tipping point. :agree: :tup: :weee:

As far as 5 challenges are concerned? Here I guess that I tend to become far more general in outlook, and far less Christian in message. What I seem to see is this:

The lazyness, apathy, ignorance, fear and general state of denial of our citizenry and electorate, barely half of whom even vote, and the calculating and calculated cravenness of leaders on the far right. :headbang: :sick: :smashy: :sick:

Done honestly, love drives out fear, but done dishonestly fear all to often drives out love. :good:

I would appreciate reading a more thoughtful and formal answer to this question, and in the mean time, I should probably go back and read that part about "Judge not, lest ye be judged". :o

Perhaps what Joe is telling us is that the challenges are far less external things, and far more to be found within us.

Peace, Love, and I'm gonna hafta think about this some more, Bruce Chris :reading:

[andrewlittle]

... the Democrats won - victory.

And a bad one is

... the Democrats won.