While applauding the House passage of a bill to hike the minimum wage, "11 LGBT organizations urged the quick passage of the accompanying bill in the Senate, and a speedy signing by President Bush," according to this report.
"It is imperative that the LGBT community concerns itself with matters like these, not just because raising the minimum wage is an issue of basic fairness, but also because we know low-wage jobs and stagnant pay are issues that so many in our community face on a daily basis," said Nancy Wohlforth, Pride At Work Co-President.
In other words, some gay people earn the minimum wage, so it's a pressing gay issue (leaving aside whether a minimum wage hike will cost some of them their jobs, and keep even more from ever getting hired). But will we ever see a gay coalition statement that reads, "The LGBT community, which is overwhelmingly made up of taxpayers, calls for a tax cut"? Or even, "The LGBT community, with a large proportion of small business owners, opposes calls for even more burdensome business regulation"? Don't hold your breath.
Meanwhile, as Log Cabin points out, Democrats in the Senate are blocking a vote on a pro-gay amendment to the minimum wage act, sponsored by GOP Senator Gordon Smith, that would ease the tax burden for domestic partner benefits. "The Domestic Partner Health Benefits Equity Act would correct an unfair provision in the tax code that blocks self-employed people from deducting their domestic partner's health insurance premium costs." You'd think that might be the immediate legislative priority for our community, wouldn't you?
Says Log Cabin head Patrick Sammon:
"Democrat leaders should allow a vote on this important amendment. LGBT Democrats gave a lot of money and support to their Party last November."
You also might be forgiven for thinking that this is an argument that a coalition of "progressive" gay groups would be making.
33 Comments for “Serving Whose Interests?”
posted by C. L. K. Aqurette on
It’s no wonder so many link gay-right issues to leftist politics. We have the same problem in Europe. Too many LGBT organizations praise the Left and condemn the Right routinely regardless of their actual politics.
posted by Thomas Horsville on
We have the same problem in Europe. Too many LGBT organizations praise the Left and condemn the Right routinely regardless of their actual politics.
The praise may not always be deserved; the condemnation always is.
posted by Craig on
Unfortunately, pluralist centre-right parties are few and far between. The illusion of a sizable conservative Christian constituency outside the United States tends to cause them to embrace their own version of identity politics, as with John Howard’s Australian "Liberals." Craig2 Wellington, New Zealand
posted by Daniel on
The problem is one of legislative process: if the House and Senate pass different bills, they have to go to conference. This would delay the final passage of the bill. Because a minimum wage hike is an immediate concern, the Democrats want to pass it with no amendments so that it ends up on Bush’s desk. Domestic partner tax benefits can be added to a tax bill. While I agree that Democrats can be imperfect in their defense of gay rights, this is not a fair example.
posted by Avee on
Daniel,Bush has said he will veto a minimum wage hike that does not include some tax breaks for small business. The Demos can either compromise and allow some tax breaks – including for domestic partners – or play politics to incite their labor base. And it looks like, again, they will choose the latter.
posted by John on
You gay conservatives remind me of a dog that licks his master’s boots the more he gets beaten. Last summer, for example, the US aligned itself with Iran, Saudi Arabia and Sudan to oppose monitoring status of an international gay rights organization at the UN.
posted by ETJB on
The Federal minimum wage is an important issue for working class Americans — irrespective of sexual orientation. Perhaps even more so for gays as a minimum wage job is less likely to be a good place to be open.
Simply calling for a tax cut or an tax increase for its own sake is silly. The Log Cabin Republicans? What have they managed to acomplish?
Says Log Cabin head Patrick Sammon:
?Democrat leaders should allow a vote on this important amendment. LGBT Democrats gave a lot of money and support to their Party last November.?
You also might be forgiven for thinking that this is an argument that a coalition of “progressive” gay groups would be making.
posted by North Dallas Thirty on
Last summer, for example, the US aligned itself with Iran, Saudi Arabia and Sudan to oppose monitoring status of an international gay rights organization at the UN.
That would be because said “gay rights” group had a bit of a problem publicly and permanently renouncing pedophilia, or bringing forth their roster of member organizations so that they could be checked for not supporting pedophilia and child sex trades.
Why gay leftist organizations can’t do that, I have no idea; I guess they don’t like to reduce their options.
posted by Andy on
Despite what a few of the folks with good health and some money in the bank, a large portion of the community still work paycheck to paycheck. A minimum wage hike is a good idea, especially in the long run. I understand it may cause a few layoffs in the short term, but the market will rebound and adjust. Or is this free market we’re all so excited about really so fragile?
PS: Why is the blogroll so rightleaning? Is this like the gay Fox News where you say it’s “Forging a gay mainstream” but really it’s no place for progressives?
If it wasn’t for the progressives, gays would still be married, closet-cases and having your homosex in the park after dark. Just sayin’.
Andy
Eleventh Avenue South
posted by Alex on
A minimum wage hike is a good idea, especially in the long run. I understand it may cause a few layoffs in the short term, but the market will rebound and adjust. Or is this free market we’re all so excited about really so fragile?
We’ve heard this argument for the continued improverishment of some of our fellow Americans for a long time. Is there any data to support the claim from previous Min Wage increases?
posted by North Dallas Thirty on
Despite what a few of the folks with good health and some money in the bank, a large portion of the community still work paycheck to paycheck. A minimum wage hike is a good idea, especially in the long run. I understand it may cause a few layoffs in the short term, but the market will rebound and adjust. Or is this free market we’re all so excited about really so fragile?
No.
But there’s this amazing thing, basic to anyone who’s taken a college economics course, studied the economic history of the American Revolution, or looked at other worldwide economic control methods; the more money you pump into the system, the higher prices go. Or, put differently, prices rise to meet wages, and the net effect is to put you right back where you started.
Unless, however, the market manages things itself.
On Friday, when I stopped for my regular In-N-Out burger fix, I noticed a big sign in the window that had “$10” on it; I figured that was a special for two meals or something.
Imagine my surprise when I got closer and read, “Hiring at $10”.
A quick check of the corporate website revealed that, indeed, In-N-Out’s starting wage is $9.50/hour.
Note that this happened quite without government intervention, through the magic of something called “a tight labor market”. And that’s just for a job flipping burgers.
So if even burger-flippers can command $9.50 an hour, who ARE these glbt people who are desperately living off minimum-wage jobs — and why are they so unable to command higher wages for their work?
posted by ETJB on
“That would be because said “gay rights” group had a bit of a problem publicly and permanently renouncing pedophilia…”
Um no. If you are talking about the two major international human rights organized that focus on LGBT issues they have both formally condemend pedophilia. Many years ago, one of them lost U.N. status on this point but it can not rationally be as a problem today.
The U.S. adminnistration simply did not want to support a moderate U.N. measure that said that gay people actually have human rights.
posted by ETJB on
Ahh. The old conservative line that the poor can just go out and do something rather unpleasant — if not rather degrading — look flip bugers. It is easier for people have a nice pay check and health care — and will never have to actually flip burgers — to simply suggest that other people do it.
The starting wage has to be put into a context of (1) the cost of living in the community (and other expenses such as health care) , and (2) what the job description is.
posted by North Dallas Thirty on
Actually, ETJB, I did a goodly share of of flipping burgers in high school; I waited tables, bused banquets, washed dishes, and cleaned floors in college; and a few years ago, during the collapse of the tech bubble, I took another job waiting tables so that I could afford to work on my professional certification and thus ratchet up my career choices.
In short, I have lived without a “nice pay check” and “health care”, and I have done “unpleasant” and “degrading” jobs, even after I had my degrees — because they were necessary for me to pay my bills and achieve my goals.
So it seems that the reason we have a “large portion of the community” in such impoverishment is because gays think that such things as flipping burgers are “degrading”, or refuse to do them because they’re “unpleasant”. They like the “nice paycheck” and “health care”, but they refuse to do the work involved in getting it.
posted by ETJB on
First off all, we are not generally talking about high school employees looking for extra cash so that they can take their girl friend to lover’s lane.
Second off all, try flipping burders when you are disabled. Or the boss does not like “faggots”. It is not really that practical.
Third, lots of people are stuck in minimum wage jobs (the job you mentioned is paying above it). It is not a temporary job for them.
A large number of American — gay and straight — are stuck in low wage jobs without health care and without pratical means to get more education.
Most gay Americans have no problem with work, (even flipping burders) they just feel that they should actually be treated decently.
posted by Herb Spencer on
Good for you, ND30! You did that rarest of things of late: you “did without” until you could afford to do better. Trust me, you will find that you will do better even still!
Memo to Andy: “Progressive” no longer has the same meaning its founders intended. Teddy Roosevelt, Robert LaFollette and the other Republicans who founded and led the movement back at the turn of the last century would be surprised to see what notions people ascribe to it today. So let’s call a spade a spade and stop digging into the past to unearth more hallowed names for what barely passes as classic liberalism today.
posted by North Dallas Thirty on
First off all, we are not generally talking about high school employees looking for extra cash so that they can take their girl friend to lover’s lane.
Which was why I also pointed out that I did this during college to pay for it AND even after I had my degrees to help pay for more certifications and so that I could afford to live.
In other words, stop whining about how it can’t be done, and be honest about the fact that you just don’t want to do it because it would require you to take a “degrading” or “unpleasant” job.
Second off all, try flipping burders when you are disabled.
Perhaps you’ve never heard of the Americans with Disabilities Act — which is specifically designed to deal with that problem.
Generally, the disabled have no problem at all finding jobs that can accomodate them; indeed, several companies, such as Wal-Mart, actively recruit and provide jobs for the disabled.
However, finding a job to be “degrading” and “unpleasant” has nothing to do with being disabled — just with laziness. And quite frankly, I am tired of queers hiding behind the disabled and using them for an excuse for why they, who are perfectly able-bodied, need help because they refuse to ruin their manicures.
posted by ETJB on
You are clearly out of touch with the reality of many working class and lower middle class Americans. Your best excuse is to simply accuse anyone that disagress with you as being lazy illustrates this point.
Your personal experiences do not match the personal experiences of millions of Americans — gay and straight.
I am very familiar with the ADA and what it does and does not address. But hey, your dellushions and personal insults just show how little you know about the challenges that people face on a daily basis.
However, finding a job to be “degrading” and “unpleasant” has nothing to do with being disabled — just with laziness. And quite frankly, I am tired of queers hiding behind the disabled and using them for an excuse for why they, who are perfectly able-bodied, need help because they refuse to ruin their manicures.
posted by ETJB on
“However, finding a job to be “degrading” and “unpleasant” has nothing to do with being disabled — just with laziness.”
Um no. If you are going to see the econommic challenges of working class and lower middle class people as simply a matter of being lazy, then you are truely out of touch with reality.
I do not manicures and your ridicules notion that “queers” are “hiding” behind the disabled is another sign of how out of touch with reality that you are.
posted by North Dallas Thirty on
If you are going to see the econommic challenges of working class and lower middle class people as simply a matter of being lazy, then you are truely out of touch with reality.
Ah yes — because it’s so much easier to blame someone else for your problems than to admit that you just don’t want to work or get an education.
For example, I just pointed you to a $10/hour job flipping burgers — nearly TWICE the minimum wage now and well above the wage your Democrat masters call “good” — and you whined and said you didn’t want to do that because it was “unpleasant” and “degrading”.
I offered you work at better-than-good wages, and you refused to to do it. Case closed.
posted by Jake Barnes on
Are we not working toward the same thing here? Sure, the dem’s suck because they are blocking the small biz bill, but they also kick ass for getting the minimum wage bill as far as they have! So much criticism toward the dem’s regarding taxes…but thank God someone understands that it takes money to provide the benefits this country demands. Could there be a better balance to the tax/wage structure in the US? Absolutely! But it CANNOT be addressed while rep’s refuse to acknowledge that without taxes, there is no law enforcement, there are no marriage rights, no roads to drive on, no fire fighters…Taxes are essential to the health and prosperity of our country. Acknowledge that, and we can then move forward with working toward a better balance.
posted by John on
North Dallas- Just a coincidence that the party of Falwell, Robertson, and Dobson was on the same side of an issue as Saudi Arabia and Iran. Good one.
posted by North Dallas Thirty on
If Democrats like you hate Robertson so much, for example, John, why is your national leader on the air bubbling about how much you love them?
Perhaps you missed this part, too:
He added, ?The Democratic Party platform from 2004 says that marriage is between a man and a woman. That’s what it says.
The difference is that the Dems have no issue with the little pedophilia problem that gay leftists seem so reluctant to kick. People like Dobson, who speak out strongly against child pornography, child exploitation, and sexual abuse of children, have a real issue with that.
posted by John on
Dallas thirty – Your charge that liberals have some problem opposing the sexual exploitation of children couldn’t be more absurd, particularly in light of the cover-ups on the part of the Catholic Church and Republicans in the House. Do some Democrats flirt with the Christofascisti? You bet. But, given the fact we really have only two choices, they’re better than the party in bed with them.
posted by North Dallas Thirty on
Dallas thirty – Your charge that liberals have some problem opposing the sexual exploitation of children couldn’t be more absurd, particularly in light of the cover-ups on the part of the Catholic Church and Republicans in the House.
Pardon me, but what “cover-up” in the House — especially since the Democrats were fully aware of it a year before anything happened about it?
Do some Democrats flirt with the Christofascisti? You bet. But, given the fact we really have only two choices, they’re better than the party in bed with them.
And that, dear children, is why gays are perpetually doomed to political irrelevancy; in short, Dems can do no wrong to gays, and Republicans can do no right.
posted by ETJB on
“Ah yes — because it’s so much easier to blame someone else for your problems than to admit that you just don’t want to work or get an education.”
Just as it seems to be easy for you to simply assert that poverty and economic issues are simply the fault of the individual. That the poor and the disabled and the unemployed must be too stupid and lazy. Nice try, but it just does not wash.
I have no masters, except perhaps God, and I certainly do not consider a political party to be my master.
“I offered you work at better-than-good wages, and you refused to to do it.”
No, not really no. (1) Unless you happen to own the company, you were not making an offer for work to me. (2) I dont live in state where the wage is being offered. (3) I am not currently looking for a job because I work part time and go to college full time.
I have worked in m.w. jobs. I have known lots of people who are trying to get by on m.w. jobs. Some like you have talked about and some far worse. Unlike you I am not out of touch with reality or quick to blame everyting on the individual or the system.
posted by Novaseeker on
“Perhaps you missed this part, too:
He added, ?The Democratic Party platform from 2004 says that marriage is between a man and a woman. That’s what it says.”
It’s true enough that neither of the two political parties supports gay issues at the moment. That’s why it’s troubling to see so much blanket support for them among gay people. But the Republicans are even worse than the Democrats are on these issues, if that’s possible. That doesn’t mean that the Democrats should be supported, but to suggest that both parties are equally hostile to gay issues is extremely misleading at best.
posted by North Dallas Thirty on
Just as it seems to be easy for you to simply assert that poverty and economic issues are simply the fault of the individual. That the poor and the disabled and the unemployed must be too stupid and lazy. Nice try, but it just does not wash.
ETJB, you yourself outlined why people are poor; it’s because they consider work to be “degrading” and “unpleasant”, even when it’s paid at nearly double minimum wage.
Furthermore, if you want real proof of something, look at the average wages and unemployment rates of high school dropouts versus high school graduates versus college graduates. The way to not be poor in our society is to get an education.
posted by Herb Spencer on
Alright, enough already with the minimum wage! Now that it’s cleared the Senate, can we get back to fixing the Alternative Minimum TAX?
posted by dalea on
Why is anyone even entering into a ‘converstation’ with NDXXX aka fecal matter? This is a troll extrodinaire. Ignore hime and everything he says.
posted by ETJB on
I dont believe that poverty can be explained simply as a personal or system problem.
Simply blaming everything on the individual or the system is to replace politics with reason. People are poor for various personal and systematic reasons that must be addressed.
I feel that such work is degrading NOT because it involves work or hard work. Nor I am suggesting that such work might be necessary for people as a temporary measure.
Yes, education is an important factor in fighting poverty. However, as some one who has been working on higher education issues in Minnesota I can say that access to higher education is becoming harder and harder to obtain.
I would also say that many schools do not do a good job in preparing young people for college.
posted by North Dallas Thirty on
I would also say that many schools do not do a good job in preparing young people for college.
And there we agree.
I don’t believe that poverty can be explained simply as a personal or system problem.
Technically, yes. Practically, much more of it is personal than it is systemic.
posted by ETJB on
“Practically, much more of it is personal than it is systemic.”
No, not really no. Their are important things that an individaul can do to reduce his likelyhood of being poor or to get out of poverty but their are also equally important systems that need to be addressed.