Comments on: Learning from our mistakes in Maryland

By: Rick Mangus

Rick Mangus — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 02:47:20 +0000

The problem in Maryland was a bunch of spineless Democrats, plain and simple!

By: Doctor Whom

Doctor Whom — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 12:34:39 +0000

What happened in Maryland is a perfect example of the disconnect from reality that characterizes many of our activists. I’ve heard enough of them express surprise and disbelief on hearing that we might ever expect opposition from African-Americans.

I also agree that we should focus attention on the undecided. You don’t argue with true believers, except in an open forum where the undecided will hear you. True believers have already made up their minds, and no amount of logic or evidence will sway them.

I wonder, however, whether you can provide a citation for this:

Several black elected officials, as well as communities of color in general, have grown tired of the narrow agenda that has been presented to them by some LGBT organizations.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 00:49:14 +0000

It sounds like we were going to worry about the issue later at referendum time. Makes me wish that we donated more money to Equality Maryland. We needed a team focused on the legislature and a shadow team working all the while on the referendum.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 00:46:34 +0000

I absolutely agree with you. This is an extremely productive article, as opposed to the earlier article that focused on the recommitment but was really a guise for people to play out a bitter tiff between former board and current board members. Counter-productive. Equality Maryland probably did think it was in the bag (part of me understands that and thinks you cannot blame them for that; since when do sponsors change their mind at the last minute) and was probably maxed out in those weeks leading up to the non-vote. They only have so many workers and so much time but yet the expectations on them and what they are trying to accomplish are huge. But let the past be the past. You are totally correct that teaming with your organization (and others) is critical and it is too bad that more was not done in this vein before. Hindsight of course. Had we won, and we were close, Equality Maryland would have been heros that had done everything perfectly. I hope you will attempt to reach out again and that they will accept your hand. As you said, it is going to be critical. Blacks should lead the effort here. You know your community and they need to see themselves in you and that a part of their own community is asking something of them and needs something from them.