Adam, I know that your post isn't an attack. You're questioning the reasons and assumptions behind the change of heart from many of the bloggers and the national organizations. It's an interesting conversation.

But the framing of this post makes me really sad. We are not a "moral hazard"; we are a hardworking, grassroots group of folks from all across the country who are coming together to march and rally for our lives and our rights.

We are done cutting deals and making laundry lists for a handful of rights in a handful of states. We are free and equal people, and we are coming to DC with one simple demand: Equal protection in all matters governed by civil law in all 50 states. Now.

We are organizing from our hearts. You all have been right from the beginning - this job is messy, it's chaotic, and it looks impossible from the outside. It is a labor of love, but we're doing this because we believe in it. And we're committed to the big picture - all the work that has to be done all over the country AFTER October.

I personally appreciate all the endorsements of those whose hearts and minds have changed, whatever their reasons. But it makes me sad when people support us reluctantly or begrudgingly. This is a movement, and movements are messy. That doesn't mean it's a "bad idea." The only "bad idea" is discouraging genuine, heartfelt activism. My appeal to all of you is this: jump in and get messy too, because we have a special, special moment to share with each other. It isn't about numbers; it's about a new demand, and a new chapter in the struggle for social justice. We are the ones we have been waiting for.

Feel free to get directly in touch with me if you want to talk more about it. Everyone - EVERYONE - is welcome.

So much love,
Kip

Adam - the March will be a disaster even if it draws 300,000 people. It's motivation is negative - pique at Obama for failing to make lgbt issues THE priority of his first half-year in office. The more the proponents explain what it is about, the clearer it becomes that it's about HAVING A MARCH.

And it will inevitably suck critical resources and attention away from the effort to protect existing lgbt rights (marriage equality and partnerships) in Maine and Washington state. If the referendums reverse our recent hard-won legislative victories in those two states, the negative repercussions will erase any possible positive effect of even a huge turnout in D.C.

If you look at the budget put out by the organizers, for the main event they are renting enough port-a-johns to support 40,000 people.

So, they are either adequately planning for a fairly small event, or inadequately planning for a larger one. Neither thought is very comforting.

The march's web site dances around the question of how many actually have committed to attend the march. So only those who run the web site know whether 1,000 or 100,000 have signed up so far. What number constitutes success? If your goal is to create an impressive image for network TV, you'll need a big crowd for aerial shots by the news choppers. Washington TV people could give you better guidance, but I would guess at least 100K would be needed. I'm sure if only 10,000 show up, someone will still say it was a success because so many young people received training and motivation. Keep saying that and you might believe it. Why people need to travel to Washington to find out how to organize in their own state capitals and home towns mystifies me. Political organizing is not a big, dark secret. It's been taught in sociology and political science classes for decades. Have your networking party in DC, if you must, but then point the charter buses toward Portland and Bangor.

This is a thought-provoking essay.

When I began seeing endorsements from people who were previously critical of the march, I immediately wondered what was up. Nobody has really investigated what caused the change of heart, I think either the organizers cut some kind of "deal" with them or people figured the march was happening regardless and decided to "play nice" and support it.

The question of people needing to pick up the slack for something that wasn't their idea is an excellent one. Personally, I say let Cleve and 'em take all the credit and risk for this march. (I like Jones and would attend the march if I had the funds.)

The increasing emphasis on people supporting the march reminds me of the way Prop 8 became everyone's responsibility instead of the LGBT community of California. Could the out-of-state millions donated to that effort have augmented or replaced funding that was cut from local LGBT-oriented health and social service programs and community centers? I wonder if people in WA and ME are wishing they hadn't cut that check for California since "the community" doesn't seem to consider their initiatives as high a priority?

Great post, Adam!

The endorsement list is essentially meaningless. Any group and put its name on an endorsement. It is easy and costs nothing. Here in NYC, there are often very tiny demonstrations held by fringe groups on a host of issues. These demo organizers invariably have an endorsement list that includes the names of a few hundred organizations, unions, activists, etc. Then 20 people show up to demonstrate.

It should be really obvious to everyone that the key, titanic battle is in Maine. This is the last state which will vote on our equality for the next 3 years. The outcome there will directly affect legislative votes in NY, NJ and DC later this year. If the other side wins, they will be able to claim for the next 3 years, rightly, that marriage equality is rejected everywhere it is considered by popular vote, even in blue states like ME and CA.

Billerico readers, for all their professed passion for activism, have raised all of $500 for Maine via ActBlue (contrasted with over $20,000 raised by AmericaBlog). How many of these people will waste hundreds of dollars going to DC so they can feel "energized"?

Last Wednesday evening I was privileged to join the DC Host Committee in supporting the march. The point of the march, however, is not in numbers. This is the first step in a much longer term effort to redefine the politics and social consciousness of the nation. Those individuals who are moved to participate will find opportunities to learn by doing--how to organize, how to publicize, how to lobby, how to influence, etc. When they return home they will become the leaders of hundreds of local efforts that will, in time, change the world we live in.

Having observed the development of LGBT community consciousness for almost 50 years, I see the current discord within the community as somewhat akin to the aftermath of Stonewall. It has become popular to define Stonewall as the birth of the movement for gay rights. The immediate reality in the community was somewhat different and has been conveniently forgotten. The leading gay organization of the time was Harry Hay's Mattachine Society, which worked almost entirely underground, through very concealed social connections, the legendary "homintern". The reaction to Stonewall was hardly supportive from the openly liberal media or the closeted community. The fact that the initiative came from the transexuals and "street kids" made the matter even more controversial and subject to revision.

The march seems well positioned to capture the interest of broad swaths of the LGBT community that would never think of attending an HRC or Victory fund-raiser. This is an opportunity for LGBT people who are dissatisfied with the current political and social scene to learn how to make their voices heard, free from "establishment" filters. And I do not say this in any way to diminish the work and commitment of the "establishment".

There's an old Vermont story about two older gentlemen discussing the sexual revolution. One says, "It seems like there's a lot more of it going on now." The other replies, "It's not that there's so much more of it, but that there's a new crowd doing it."

Now let's all get out there and be "inclusive".

I am so ready for a new national strategy as the old one isn't working. Prop 8 & Maine are perfect examples of how our rights must be won at a federal level.

As David has pointed out, Maine will be the last state voting for equality for THREE more years. Well doesn't that give a Texan something to get excited about? At this rate, I will be six feet under by the time Texas adopts marriage equality...and it won't be because Texas voters delivered it either. It will only come through federal legislation or a S.C. decision.

So to answer the question posed by Adam where would I rather spend my dollar? Washington DC without a doubt. If I weren't going to DC I honestly would not send my dollars to Maine. What's in for me? Selfish maybe...but honest answer and one many probably would also say from the red states of our country. And I would propose that many people going to the march in blue states would also not send money to Maine to fight that battle. So to assume $ spent in D.C. by activists directly results in a loss of money to the battle for our cause in Maine is flawed argumentation.

And...why can't we do both? It's crazy that this is an either/or question posed by Adam. Choose your battleground and get involved! Why do we have to make this so hard and agonizing...this is crazy! Just sayin'

"The point of the march, however, is not in the numbers." Already a lowering of expectations. Ok, Dan, if people want to spend $200 or $300 to ride a bus to Washington to get "organized," fine. I thought in the age of the Internet that could be done online, but I guess there is still some value in face-to-face meetings. But since March leaders are saying now that the goal is not to assemble a big crowd to impress the media, nor to lobby Congress, why don't you just move the March to Portland or Ogunquit or Augusta and go knock on a few doors?