BRIDGES BURNING, GAY GROUPS STRUGGLE TO COPE WITH GOP DOMINANCE: From the Washington Blade

Concern and frustration spilled out into the open this week over how the Human Rights Campaign will navigate the post-election of a capital city now even more tightly within the grasp of conservatives.

A member of the HRC's Federal Club of key donors raised concerns at a Tuesday night meeting with HRC staff about the group's laserlike focus on marriage equality and hinted that without a new strategy for working with the GOP-dominated government, new leadership might be needed at the country’s largest gay lobbying group.

Randy Foster, 39, said he became concerned about the direction gay groups were taking this year after talking with a congressman during a flight from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., three days after the election.

The lawmaker, whom Foster declined to identify, said that marriage had become such a priority for gay leaders he wondered how effective gay lobbyists would be during the next four years. ...

Some have criticized gay groups for pushing the marriage issue during an election year. But Jacques dismissed concerns about the timing of the gay marriage issue, adding that the "Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court handed us marriage equality." ...

Others, including gay Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), have criticized HRC and other gay groups for embracing the actions of San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, who began issuing marriage licenses to gay couples in February.

Jacques defended the group's support of Newsom, adding that the San Francisco mayor did not ignite the outcry from social conservatives to push ahead with the 11 state amendments. Jacques said, "that fire was already lit."

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posted by Eve at 9:42 PM VOTE

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