EQCA's endorsement process needs review
As Equality California gets closer to pull-the-plug time, it's becoming more clear why the organization is on life support. EQCA's automatic, reviewless endorsement of Betsy Butler in the brand new West Hollywood-to-Malibu state Assembly District is one such example.
Butler moved into the district and is running against Torie Osborn. Back in the 1970s, with me and other San Franciscans at her side, Osborn declared herself an out, loud, and proud dyke, and has worked for us ever since. She headed the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center.
EQCA issued its auto endorsement because Butler is an Assembly member (in another district) who had voted along EQCA's recommendations.
This policy made it impossible for Osborn, a pioneer in LGBT rights, to even present herself for possible EQCA endorsement.
EQCA didn't stand up for same-sex relationships during the Proposition 8 debacle and isn't standing up for one of our own now. Perhaps the plug will just fall out on its own.
Jok Church
San Francisco
Not bitter, but disillusioned
Now that the election is over, I can speak out publicly about dirty politics in our community. I was one of two openly gay candidates running for sheriff and decided to drop out as a result of back-door dealings on behalf of our entrusted gay leadership.
First, Bevan Dufty �" on Gay Pride Day �" chose to endorse a straight opponent. He told me that my campaign was not "serious" because I did not have enough money in the bank, and that I did not have enough experience �" when I was a deputy sheriff for almost 10 years and a community leader. Dufty told me that the gay deputies had urged him to support my opponent, not naming a single name. I had gathered almost enough signatures-in-lieu to waive the $5,000 filing fee.
I tried to secure endorsements, as well as debated at public forums in which my platform for sheriff was the main core issue at every debate and was gaining momentum for my campaign. During all of this I was being backstabbed by the Dufty camp to support my opponent to aid in Dufty's quest for mayor.
At the same time I actively was fundraising for the Jane Warner Plaque, organizing fundraisers and securing our goal to get the plaque made. Dufty dropped the ball on this, and I agreed to get this project done, out of respect for Jane.
Subsequently, Scott Wiener decided to endorse another straight opponent for sheriff because of back-door politics. His involvement with ex-District Attorney Kamala Harris and City Attorney Dennis Herrera (Wiener's old boss) influenced his decision to endorse.
Subsequently, I dropped out of the race due to the lack of support from our community. I ran a no-nonsense campaign with a great platform which would have saved taxpayers over $100 million a year. No other candidate proposed any cost savings ideas.
Well, neither Dufty nor Wiener's candidate for sheriff won. Dufty lost his bid for mayor, spending nearly $300 of our money per vote. Herrera lost. Most importantly, our community lost two openly gay candidates for sheriff because of shady back-door politics.
Our community leadership needs to remember where they came from, not their potential political futures. We need to support our candidates �" and be unified in order to gain more politically. If a leader or community organization does not support a gay/lesbian candidate running for office they have the option not to endorse, rather than divide our community and waste our time and money. These leaders and organizations need to act honorably to hopefully support our candidates and interests.
I learned a lot from this experience and how nasty politics can be. I waited until after the election to open up a dialogue in order to hopefully change the way our community elects our leaders and decides public policy.
Am I bitter about all of this? No.
Am I disillusioned with the political process? Yes.
We can learn from our mistakes in order to move forward, not backwards.
Jon Gray
San Francisco