Wondering if you’re part of GayINC? Some recent comments by GayInc bloggers have asked/mocked/been incensed by people asking that question:
Most entertaining PHB rumor out there: that we are all tools of Gay Inc. We’re still waiting for our raises from $0 to $0…plus generous D&G gift cards….” – Pam Spaulding
“If you only knew how laughable it is to call me “Gay Inc.” – Jeremy Hooper
GayINC stands for Gay incorporated. “Gay rights” organizations like the Human Rights Campaign, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, GLAAD, Lambda Legal, Stonewall Democrats, LCR, GLSEN, PFLAG, GetEQUAL, NYAC, GMHC, NCLR, NCTE, SLDN, SU, Freedom to Marry, Victory Fund and Equality Federation are all non-profit CORPORATION$. The IRS defines a non-profit is defined as:
“…an organization must be organized and operated exclusively for exempt purposes set forth in section 501(c)(3), and none of its earnings may inure to any private shareholder or individual.”
But that doesn’t mean these GAYInc organizations work for free. Their Executive Directors are paid very well.
But payment doesn’t have to be money. Lack of D&G doesn’t make you any less of a mouthpiece for GayInc. If you worry that you may be a mouthpiece for GayInc, ask yourself the following questions:
- Do I belong to a “country club” group that includes GayInc members?
- Have I ever not blogged a story because a GayInc group might get upset?
- Do I promote marriage equality while barely covering employment non-discrimination?
If so, you might be a mouthpiece for GayInc.
Although I would answer NO to all of the three questions at the end, I am DEFINITELY part of GAYInc. I am an Executive Director for a statewide non-profit corporation and am well paid for my labors. I’ve worked for at least one of the orgs cited above (SLDN) and have supported others (notably NGLTF, GLSEN, GLAAD, etc.), most recently by attending Creating Change.
I’m sure it’s just coincidence that today news broke of a major scandal involve Regent Media and all those people who laugh at the notion Gay, Inc. exists are silent.
That sound you hear is everything but Chris Crain.
You consider Victory Fund part of Gay Inc?
Not sure how you came up with that one.
I would only put one, and one group only under the banner of “Gay, Inc.’: The Human Rights Campaign!
HRC ignores the plight of those who doesn’t make above a high five-figure salary, yet pleads us on the bottom for donations.
Every other group you’ve maligned does about 100 times more activism on about a 100th of the budget HRC has!
They all sit at the same table. Google National Policy Roundtable and you’ll see what I’m talking about. Not ONE of the groups I’ve mentioned have come out saying that the marriage fight is premature. Pointing out the truth isn’t maligning, last I checked.
Do I say I’m an ally but the only thing I comment on is how trans people should accept less civil rights than I would?
An ally listens to what a community wants and supports them – they don’t direct them. Case in point – in the 2004 Dem Convention Platform Committee Discussions – trans people were pushing for inclusive enda to be part of the Platform. There were a great many issues attendant to this regarding how the vote count looked, how it might effect the election & future relations.
We had no one on the committee – but – Scott Safier a gay ally was. Scott didin’t tell us how or what to push for – he asked what we wanted and represented that to the Platform Committee.
That’s an ally. Someone who’s contributions consist of pushing for less for us and trying to stifle our voices speaking for ourselves – is working towards their own ends and wants to vaguely appear one for political purposes.
A better question to ask:
■ Do I promote marriage equality while openly rationalizing that it will somehow help trans people more than protection from employment discrimination? And then do I start bullying people who have the temerity to prove that marriage equality does nothing for trans people (or gay people for that matter) as individuals?