In an interview with Edge Boston longtime gay activist Cleve Jones, a close friend of Harvey Milk, claimed that he fears the LGBT movement may be losing its way and that corporate money has too strong an influence.
The HRC, GLAAD, and the National Lesbian and Gay Task Force is “either remarkably tone deaf, and incredibly cynical or it was maybe bought and paid for.” Jones said as pointed to the brouhaha over the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation’s initial endorsement of AT&T’s decision to merge with cell phone service provider T-Mobile and HRC’s appointment of Goldman Sachs (the corporation which started the current economic countdown) CEO Lloyd Blankfeild as a spokesperson for its national marriage equality campaign. Jones fears that corporations that pour large amounts of money into the Human Rights Campaign, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and other national LGBT organizations have turned the groups into nothing more than “corporations”
Asked if he though President Barack Obama will endorse marriage equality before the November election, Jones said “I kind of doubt it. But I will vote from him, I will campaign for him. With all of his problems, he is infinitely better than what the other party has to offer.”
I respect Cleve but he’s way off on this point. Without Corporate funding many of our c3’s in the LGBT community would shut down or would be crucially cut.
Cleve just no longer understands how much money these things take nor can he provide a way to make up those crucial gaps.
I understand. But personally I do wish that there was a bit more integrity when it comes to decisions. I personally think Blankenfield/Goldman after all that they did is the wrong face for Equality.
It also depends on how much of that money is no strings attached. If a corporation gives money anomalously, then they are not doing it for an agenda, (maybe a tax break).
But what bothers me are these companies that get into trouble with the LGBT community by doing something offensive, then throw a bunch of money at GLAAD or something to settle the debt.
When you accept that money, you have lost your way a little.
Badge Society LGBT Forum