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 to be Tested More than Ever National Policy Roundtable Discusses New Political Climate How to Deal with the Bush Administration & Sexual Issues |
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Compiled By GayToday
"From any fruition of success, no matter what, shall come forth something to make a greater struggle necessary." Walt Whitman
During the two-day meeting in Washington, D.C., participants discussed recent shifts in political power for the GLBT movement at the federal level. Leaders also participated in three different briefings--one examining the new administration of George W. Bush, another assessing the chances of further progress with federal agencies and a third looking at the future of GLBT politics in the current Congress. On the second day, participants discussed the role of sex in politics for the GLBT community. "The political will of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender movement will be tested now more than ever," said Tim McFeeley, NGLTF Political Director and convener of the National Policy Roundtable. "Shifting power at the federal level demands that we build the GLBT movement's political infrastructure from the ground up to pressure and leverage legislative change at every level. This is the opportunity and the mandate for our communities in the next four years." During a briefing on the White House, Vicki Shabo of the polling firm Lake Snell Perry and Associates discussed how presidents tend to use opinion polling, the demographics of George W. Bush's base vote and which voters George W. Bush is likely to court during the next four years for his election effort. Citing polling data, Shabo pointed out that the majority of Bush's base voters support sexual orientation employment non-discrimination laws and hate crimes laws that include GLBT people. Other participants in the White House briefing included David Boaz, Executive Vice President, Cato Institute, and Rich Tafel, Executive Director, Log Cabin Republicans. Participants and panelists discussed what policy priorities might be likely to move in the Bush Administration, its relationship to GLBT political organizations, and ways for GLBT advocates to approach the Administration. During the second briefing, examining federal agencies, openly lesbian and gay appointees from the Clinton Administration discussed advances that were made in the last eight years and how to maintain them.
Congressional briefing panelists included NGLTF's McFeeley; Nancy Buermeyer, Deputy Director for Legislation, Human Rights Campaign; David Medina, Legislative Representative, AFL-CIO; and Robert Raben, former Assistant Attorney General for Legislative Affairs, U. S. Department of Justice. The Roundtable's second day focused on how sex issues often impact GLBT political efforts. A series of panels discussed the tensions many find dealing with sex and how sex issues play out in the media, strategic policy planning and in confronting political opposition. The panels were organized and funded by Judy Guerin, National Coalition for Sexual Freedom (NCSF) and Jeffrey Montgomery, National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs. Both Guerin and Montgomery are steering committee members of the roundtable. Roundtable guests and presenters for the sex and politics discussions included Mary Francis Berry, Professor of History and Law, University of Pennsylvania and Chair of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights; Eric Rofes, longtime activist and author; Robert Bray, Director, the Spin Project; Amber Hollibaugh, lesbian activist and author; Kevin Jennings, Executive Director, Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network; Craig Bowman, Executive Director, National Youth Advocacy Coalition; Rudolph Serra, attorney; and Melinda Chateauvert, Public Affairs Director, NCSF. 
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