(Cross posted from the other blog…)
So as a socially conscious individual I have signed a few online petitions in my time. Thus I have ended up on more than a few e-mail mailing lists. A couple of e-mails I’ve received today have highlighted for me why I am wary of some of our larger GLBT Rights organizations…
One of the e-mails was from the Democratic Party, or some ally or instrument of the Obama administration. It was asking me to take the time to call my representatives in the U.S. Senate and House and tell them of my support for the current budget before Congress.
The other e-mail was from a major GLBT rights organization, cautioning me that Congress would soon be taking a break from its duties and while at home many Senators would be under pressure from anti-GLBT groups to not pass the Mathew Shephard Act ( See also here, and here)
Was the major GLBT rights organization trying to help me connect with my representatives in the U.S. House of Representatives or in the Congress?
No, they wanted me to give them money… without one mention to the idea that you as a person might have some way of speaking up for yourself, no give us money and you don’t have to worry your little head about this…
Now I don’t doubt that this organization does good work and does indeed work on behalf of GLBT peoples… but why not add some direct action information with the appeal for more money? Isn’t it at least as important that GLBT and Allied peoples find our voices and reach out to our leaders on an individual basis as it is for us to support organizations working on our behalf?
Perhaps someone should write some of these larger organizations a memo?
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PS I found Contacting the Congress, with a few moments search. It is a privately created and maintained resource page…
Chrysalis 