Declaring Independence from the Democrats (& Republicans)

For three decades, national gay rights groups have acted as little better than wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Democratic Party, and have gotten precious little in return.

In fact, Bill Clinton ran ads on Christian right radio stations bragging about signing the infamous Defense of Marriage Act, and “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” introduced by gay former Rep. Barney Frank, was the product of Clinton and Democratic majorities in both houses of Congress.

Gay Liberation Network’s Bob Schwartz and Andy Thayer discuss how the most sweeping civil rights gains were products of when our movements withheld their support from “mainstream” candidates and built their independence from both major parties.

Originally broadcast August 27, 2010