Jan 14, 2005  |  By: JOE CREA  | COMMENTS     

Gay leaders who were not a part of a unity statement released on Thursday by major gay rights groups criticized the collaborative document, noting that marriage equality was featured last on the agenda's priority list.

One gay rights leader went further and said the statement appeared to be political cover for criticism the Human Rights Campaign received last month for what appeared to be a retreat from marriage equality and support for President Bush's efforts to privatize social security.

Joan Garry, executive director of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, dubbed the official document, "Civil Rights, Community, Movement," a "state of the union" for the gay rights movement, noting that 22 leaders from major gay rights groups worked to shape the statement.

During a conference call with reporters on Wednesday, Garry said the statement was designed to quell pessimism over what some say was a disappointing 2004 election and to show unity within the gay rights movement. The statement articulates the future goals of the signatory groups and reiterates that there will be no retreat from seeking full marriage equality.

"We felt it was very important to send a strong message of unity and shared purpose to remind the LGBT community and our straight allies that there is an orchestra of organizations working on their behalf and to motivate more people to play a role in this movement," Garry said.

Garry said of all the groups asked to sign the statement, no one refused.

Yet Rick Garcia, executive director of Equality Illinois, said his initial impression of the statement suggests national gay groups were banding together to protect HRC from suggestions last December that the group was seeking to soft-peddle the issue of marriage equality after the abrupt departure of executive director, Cheryl Jacques, a strong proponent of marriage rights.

The national gay group also came under criticism in December for suggesting it might support efforts to privatize social security, so long as gay couples were entitled to benefits.

"That's what I think it is," said Garcia, flush from success in the Illinois state legislature, which this week passed a bill banning discrimination against gays in the workplace, real estate transactions and access to financial credit and public accommodations.

"I will tell you, as someone on the statewide level of the movement, I don't care what those national leaders have to say about anything. Most of them are out of touch," he said. "We are going to continue with our hard work. Gay and lesbian Illinoisans will set the agenda. I don't care what HRC's decision is for our community."

Winnie Stachelberg, political director of the Human Rights Campaign, did not return a Blade phone call by press time.

Patrick Guerriero, executive director of the Log Cabin Republicans, said during Wednesday's phone call that release of the statement at this time "is to send a message to the gay and lesbian community, to the generous people who have donated to national and state organizations and to the broader American family, that we speak in one voice, that we share a common vision."

While all of the leaders agreed that there would be no retreat from the marriage issue, marriage equality was the last item of eight joint goals featured on the statement's priority list.

Robin Tyler, a longtime activist from California who heads DontAmend.com, a national grassroots organization focused on marriage equality, said she was greatly disturbed to learn that marriage equality is not listed higher.

"The fact that they would accept it listed being at the bottom of the page makes me wonder if this issue will now be placed for many of these organizations on the bottom of their list," Tyler said.

"Even though we know every other issue they list is important, recognizing our relationships through marriage equality is the Trojan Horse in which all of the other issues can ride. The grassroots people — who have struggled so valiantly — will not allow any back fighting by any LGBT organization or individual in commitment to this issue."

Tyler said that when she was organizing the Millennium March on Washington in 1998 and '99, she and other organizers put out a list of issues for gay activists to vote on to determine what were the top issues individuals would like to ...