(This was written 3/13/2000.)

As an organizer for MOW'93 and a member of the Stonewall25 (1994) organizing board, I too am disgusted with how MMOW was put together. I announced that I was boycotting MMOW more than a year ago.

To quote Debrah Dixon (her full explanation is attached):

I will, however, be in D.C. that weekend. I will be at the Bi2K conference the day before the march, and I will be at the march only to coopt it for my own agenda, which is what HRC is trying to do to us. (I'll be there to promote the bi organization that I'm involved with)

Info about the weekend:
http://www.MMOW.org

Info about the Bi2K conference:
http://www.bisexualinsurgence.org/bi2k

You can read my opinions on the boycott and info about MMOW here: http://whatexit.org/tal/boycottmom

I encourage others to BE IN D.C. THAT WEEKEND and use it to promote your own organization. We can benefit from this event by using it to promote the grassroots organizations that HRC is trying to keep quiet.

--Tom Limoncelli

-----Forwarded message from "Deborah A. Dixon" -----

Message-ID: <38CC5C0C.67F9@mindspring.com>
Date: Sun, 12 Mar 2000 22:10:04 -0500
From: "Deborah A. Dixon" 
Reply-To: morigel@mindspring.com
Subject: The MMOW and G/L/B/T activism - response to query - LONG
References: <20000313020530.11308.qmail@wwcst088.netaddress.usa.net>

Dear Pego:
	I'll do the best I can to give you a recent history of National
marches, the MMOW, how any chance of a cooperative, open planning
process for the event was subverted, and why I believe that this march
serves no good political purpose.  While I support the boycott, and
posted the boycott notice because of this, please understand that this
is *my opinion*, and the issue of whether one might like to go to this
event, for whatever reason should be up to the decision of the
individual.  That having been said...

The 1993 March on Washington was an event planned by, and executed with,
the support and cooperation of many, many G/L/B/T organizations (BiNet
USA was *very* involved in the Steering Committee, and was instrumental,
after a lengthy fight, in getting bisexuals included in both the march
title and platform), and had a well defined agenda and worked out
platform, list of demands, and a list of speakers chosen from the
various organizations (Lani Ka'ahumanu was one of these :) ).  The focus
of the march was primarily political, and it attracted a *huge* crowd
(estimated 1.2 million) and was highly successful, attracting the
attention of President Clinton and providing the impetus for development
of the Employment Non-discrimination Act (ENDA, scheduled to be brought 
before Congress again this year), as well as bringing the issue of Gays
in the military to the forefront and resulting in the less-than promised
'Don't ask - Don't tell' doctrine.

Stonewall 25, held the following year, also was developed as a
grass-roots movement event, with the planning involving the cooperation
of, and including the concerns of, many groups.  It was the first time
that Transgendered individuals were included in the March title and
platform, also after a lengthy fight.  

Both of these marches were highly successful and raised G/L/B/T
consciousness and visibility, both within and without the community
(and, of course, were *great* parties).  However, such marches are very
expensive and time-consuming to produce, and while the G/L/B/T community
was winning many victories on the national front, it was losing many
important battles in the states.  Such threats as Proposition 2 in
Colorado (the bill that would have prohibited any *non* discrimination
laws against gays), punitive anti-sodomy laws in many states (such as
21.06 here in Texas), and other issues convinced leaders in the movement
that in order for G/L/B/T activism to be most effective in advancing
real objectives, actions would have to be directed primarily at *state*
legislatures.

Out of this the EBAH (Equality Begins At Home) March concept was born. 
Also a grass-roots movement, sponsored by NGLTF (the National Gay and
Lesbian Task Force) and many other organizations, this was also a
primarily political activity, directed at all 50 state capitols, and
resulting in the Marches this last spring.  Gigi was heavily involved in
the planning of last years EBAH march in Austin, sponsoring the
Candlelight Vigil to protest the murders of three transgendered
individuals in Texas in 1998-1999, and to call for Hate crimes
legislation here in Texas.

What does all of this long and possibly tedious history have to do with
the upcoming Millenium March on Washington, and why I do not recommend
that people support it?

Unlike all of these previous events that I have mentioned, the MMOW did
not come out of any pressing political need, and did not come put out of
any mutual decision by the various national and local groups that a
March was needed or desired.  It was entirely conceived, concocted, and
marketed by a handful of individuals with the wealthy lobbying group HRC
(Human Rights Campaign) and the MCC (Metropolitan Community Church). 
The HRC is not particularly Bi or Trans friendly, has not been Bi or
Trans inclusive except when under heavy pressure, and in general tries
to put forth a homogenized, 'we're just like you' face on the movement. 
The biggest problems with the March though, are:

1) That it lacks any coherent political focus or platform, and has no
defined objective;

2) That the Board and Planning Committee for the MMOW were *closed* and
did not invite, or even accept, grass-roots participation in the
planning and platform process, and all major decisions regarding the
March were made 'behind closed doors'.  This was *despite* initial
support for the March by most of the G/L/B/T organizations, and numerous
calls for an open process; 

3) That the scheduled events are largely marketing-driven, and the March
is much more of a party and celebrity/media event rather than any sort
of serious political action;

4) That the March planning and support *within* its own Board and
Steering Committee has been rocked with scandal, and most of its
original members have resigned; at less than two months to the March,
the organizers themselves are extremely disorganized, and some events
themselves are in jeopardy;

5) That the excessive image-consciousness of the planners, and their
desire to present the movement as homogeneous and non-threatening, has
marginalized and negated many segments of the community, and does not
actually represent the concerns of many G/L/B/T people.  In short, it
'sells us out'.  Most of the major G/L/B/T organizations are *not*
supporting this March, and some are planning protests or other
counter-demonstrations and actions in DC during this time.    

I apologize for this being so long, but I hope this explains the
concerns of myself and many others with respect to the upcoming MMOW.  I
would also like to say that I initially *supported* the idea of the
MMOW, as I was briefly involved with the Steering Committee for the 1993
March on Washington, went to the March, and found it an exhilirating,
(as well as occasionally frustrating) experience.  However, with
everything that has happened with respect for the planning and execution
of this March, from the exclusion of community groups from the process
to the marginalization and negation of actual political concerns and
parts of our community, to the marketing-driven approach, I find that I
cannot support the MMOW nor do I recommend that others do so.

I can send you links which describe in great (some would say nauseating)
detail the history of the MMOW planning process, if you are interested. 
Believe me, I *do* share your concerns regarding 'infighting' among
G/L/B/T organizations and the need to present a 'unified front' when
fighting for our rights.  In the case of the MMOW, however, the price is
simply too high; this 'march' neither is about fighting for our rights
*or* the concerns of the community.  If people want to go, however, to
hang out with lots of other gay-friendly people, watch a concert, and
buy a coffee mug or T-shirt, then I would say go, and enjoy!  Just don't
be suckered into believing that what you are attending is an actual
political event, standing for anything, or speaking for the G/L/B/T
community as a whole.

Okay, I think I'm done now :).  I apologize for the length of this post,
would like again to state that this is my *opinion* (although all of the
specific claims are supported with facts), and also apologize for
inadvertently offending anyone. 

Yours in Pride,
Deborah A. Dixon

Pego Rice wrote:
> 
> From: pego rice 
> 
> Hi Deborah
> 
> I would like to say that that was a great speech, However I have to admit
> that I AM underinformed about the issues and politics going on behind the
> MMOW. I am afraid that I did not gain any insight into why I should avoid it
> from this rhetoric. To me some group somewhere else has coughed up this idea,
> using their own sources for money (I certainly haven't given any) their own
> time, effort and inspiration and it has only been up to me to show up and be
> counted because for goodness sake if anyone (even someone who does very little
> I care about) ever held something like this and no one showed up that would
> give the strait white corrupt politico/religious power elite the impression
> that they can walk all over us without a fight, let us be killed or
> court-martialed without a fight, heck without even an argument.  So I lack the
> information that would let me know why this boycott is not just so much more
> pointless infighting such as has crippled our struggle for years.
> 
> Here it is Deborah, I welcome and invite you to let me know why this does not
> serve to only hurt our movement through a needless power conflict. You have
> more info than I do so it should be fairly easy.
> 
> Yours in inquiry, Pego


-----End of forwarded message-----