Bi mtg w/Matt Foreman, NGLTF Exec Director
Message: 2
From: “Lani Ka’ahumanu”
To:
Date: Wed, 30 Jun 2004 09:26:21 -0700
Subject: [babn-chat] Bi mtg w/Matt Foreman, NGLTF Exec Director
FYI…
Report on June 22, 2004 Washington DC Meeting
Matt Foreman, NGLTF Executive Director and
Loraine Hutchins and Matthew Le Grant
Our basic goal: Bi visibility and education
Immediate Objectives
1. Represent bisexuals in same-sex couples as part of the marriage
equality issue — Matt F. had previously been furnished with five
examples of same sex couples with bi people in them, and also noted
Robyn Ochs’ story being covered on the cover of the 5.17.04 Washington
Post, the first day of the Massachusetts marriage action. Matt F. also
reported that the “bi angle” hook was pitched to a couple of newspapers,
but they were not interested. Loraine noted that she had heard that
morning that the Federal Marriage amendment (FMA) was being scheduled
for a Congressional vote in the third week in July, but it was agreed
that this development did not change the desire to push for the bi angle
on the story on way or the other. The story needs a better hook for
NGLTF to pitch it. Someone who’s media-savvy needs to work directly with
the NGLTF media person and work with them till they do it. Loraine
stated she will provide Matt F. with some media contacts that may be
more interested in following up. Matt F. will follow up with a goal date
of 7-01-04 for completion.
2. Complete corrections to Census document (started almost two yrs ago
due to their errors) and re-post on NGLTF website - We will snail mail a
mark-up w/all suggested changes, hard copy document to Matt F. directly
and he agrees to finish it. It was agreed that this project could be
almost complete if we do this last step.
An earlier version is on their website now and will need to be swapped
out with the one there, and they should note it on the homepage of their
site (which is undergoing major overhaul anyway, see below).
3. Complete the Bi Policy Paper — Matt L. and Loraine will arrange a
conference call THE LAST WEEK IN JULY with Matt F. As a preliminary
first step, in mid-July, Matt L. and Loraine will set up a planning
discussion between Matt F. and several other key bi about how to finish
this project. He also agreed to pay for someone to be editor for this
and said it was coming out of his general budget, not the Institute’s.
The planning discussion call above is to reach agreement on exactly
these scaling down particulars and then the larger conference call for
the last week in July between NGLTF Policy Institute staff and the four
bi activists will firm up all of this with substantive discussion and
decisions. NOTE: People interested in this should contact Matt L. or
Loraine!
4. Have NGLTF presence at the August 2004 Bi Conference in Minneapolis
Matt L. and Loraine suggested that Matt F. or representative attend, or
that NGLTF sponsor a table there. Matt F. said he would be interested
in attending, schedule permitting. Loraine/Matt L will get back to Matt
F. with the dates and details. NOTE: Subsequent info 6.23.04, from Lou
Hoffman, a bicon organizer. She says that local NGLTF board member Beth
Zemsky is already actively involved in supporting the bicon, unbeknownst
the Matt F. Conference info has been furnished to Matt F. and a request
that NGLTF get a table will be made as well.
Some Longer Range Objectives
1. Hire a Bi issues staff person at NGLTF — Matt F. reported that
NGLTF no longer has topic specific staff, except he acknowledged that
the trans-issues staff person is still a holdover at present. Staff are
now being assigned multiple issues and generally are not being
specialized into one area or orientation category. Matt F. said that
there may be openings for a political director and assistant media
director at NGLTF’s headquarters office this fall, and he suggests
alerting potentially qualified bi activists.
2. Develop a Bi Donor Base — Matt F. will ensure that NGLTF’s
membership survey, identifying bi members, is snail mailed to Loraine or
Matt L. There was a longer discussion about what we meant by this
objective and how it involved tapping closeted, married bis, other kinds
of bis with resources, etc.
3. Support the Bi Resource Center — NGLTF cannot make a large
donation at this time, but Matt F. stated that NGLTF is willing to
donate $500. We suggested NGLTF do something to demonstrate support and
that BRC was the national group we felt would use it best at this time
and this was his response.
4. Improve Bisexual Community references and Links on the NGLTF website
Matt F. reported that there already plans to remake its website this
July. Matt L. will send Matt F. his already prepared critique with
suggestions on links to key bisexual orgs. NOTE: This has already been
done.
Other Things
o NGLTF’s Current Primary Goal Support grassroots political groups.
o NGLTF Board Matt F. urged us to tell people in the bi community that
the NGLTF board is seeking board members. Applicants must be able to
commit to bringing a minimum $10,000 in resources to NGLTF. Applicants
are especially sought from Houston, Chicago, and Miami areas.
We didn’t re-iterate that we’d prefer they never or rarely use the term
“gay marriage” as it is incorrect, and filter to see if they can change
all subsequent “gay marriage” language in materials they produce to
“same-sex marriage” and “equal marriage” instead. There are many
bisexuals in same-sex marriages and calling all same-sex marriages “gay”
marriages is inaccurate. Others can bring this up with Matt Foreman and
Rea Carey and their board members and the rest of their staff as we
interact with them in our local, regional and national organizing over
the next few months at conferences, during coalition efforts, etc.
Undoubtedly they could use some more staff trainings on bi issues. We
didn’t bring that up either but it’s worth asking again at some point.
