From a Board Member of Join the Impact MA
In a condescending put-down of the National Equality March, Toni Broaddus gives the national community some very bad advice. http://www.washblade.com/2009/… Broaddus urges the grassroots LGBT folks who were energized by passage of Proposition 8 to ditch plans for the October march on DC and converge on Maine instead to fight repeal of same-sex marriage. This is a false dichotomy: it is possible to support equality in Maine while joining the national LGBT community in the first coming-together in Washington of the 21st century. Moreover, any ventures into the Maine political environment must respect the wisdom and autonomy of the folks Down East.
Given the haste to bury plans for the March on Washington, Broaddus neglects to recommend that would-be equality activists coordinate with the pro-equality campaign in Maine to offer support on the terms that would be most effective. No attention is given to what Mainers consider the best approach to bolstering equality in the Pine Tree State. The No on 1 campaign is not trying to divert the thousands of people who would otherwise march on Washington to descend on Maine en masse instead.
Many Downeasters are wary of outsiders, and unlikely to embrace people like Maggie Gallagher and Tony Perkins seeking to import their culture wars. Indeed, messages supporting marriage equality have stressed the importance of Mainers having their own debate on the issue without being overrun by outsiders. Support for marriage equality must be indigenous and have “Made in Maine” authenticity.
If you can assist in Maine, find out what Equality Maine needs you to do: http://67.199.35.190/index.cfm . Downeasters are best equipped to persuade their fellows about marriage equality, and best know how out-of-staters can help.
In Washington, where activists from everywhere are welcome and encouraged to come Oct. 10-11, we can explore ways to support marriage equality without a sudden invasion of Maine by out-of-staters not in coordination with the No on 1 campaign. And we can bring greater cohesion to the grassroots emergence which followed in the wake of Proposition 8, but has since transcended its origins.
