ProudlyOut

I'm Back

Hi folks--

I'm back from vacation--read today's commentary and you'll know where I went. Sorry for the delay in getting this post and the post for 8/2 up--been busy with the day job and things were hectic right before we left.

I'm going to try to write something--even if it's something little--every day so that you'll keep coming back.

Some of the commentaries have the MP3 file attached. These start on my local NPR station, WAMC/Northeast Public Radio--so if you'd like to hear my lovely voice (I think I sound like I just stepped out of the Brooklyn Navy Yards, myself) check them out. Once I get the MP3 for today, I'll put it up as well.

I'll be on the road again 8/28-9/8. First stop, San Diego for the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association convention and then Lynn and I are driving up the coast to the Russian River/Sonoma County area with well planned stops along the way. I'll try to blog about the trip while I'm gone. I'll definitely blog about the convention.

Hope you're having a good summer.

--Libby

HRC/LOGO Presidential Debate

As I watched LGBT bloggers go nuts about the exclusion of former Alaskan Senator Mike Gravel from the HRC/LOGO Presidential Debate, I wondered when are we going to grow up.

It's not so much that folks rallied around Gravel--whose politics I really like but, let's face it, doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell of gaining much ground and getting elected. It was more about folks attacking HRC because it is big, focused on raising money, inside the beltway and considered disconnected from the grassroots of the community.

Well, HRC may well be disconnected from some of the grassroots but any relationship is a two-way street--clearly some of these folks have disconnected themselves from HRC.

Has HRC made some mistakes in the past--sure, endorsing former NY Senator Al D'Amato was one of the biggest--but the work they've done to change workplace environments for LGBT people, to advance our political agenda, to bring focus to some of our most pressing issuess can not be ignored either.

I'm an organization girl--my day job keeps me busy working with not for profits. I know first hand how easy it is to attack an organization without really appreciating the work it does. One thing pisses you off and you wipe them off the list for good.

Folks, it's time to grow up and appreciate the work we all do across the wide spectrum that is LGBT political activism. We can all agree on one thing--we want our rights. Whoever is working for them gets my vote of appreciation.

I'll be on vacation in P'town with my partner and our best friends when the debate takes place. I'm sure we'll find a way to watch it. And, I'm sure I'll blog live as much as possible.

Maybe we can all do it together--what do you say?

Still Learning this Blog Thing

Well, I'm trying but for the life of me when I cut and paste from a Word doc all the hard returns disappear--even when I go back in and replace them. Anyone have any advice? I'm still learning the ins and outs and my day job gets in the way of really figuring things out. So if anyone has a quick tutorial for me I'd appreciate it.

--Libby