The Bilerico Project | Daily experiments in LGBTQ

Please join us at 6 PM EST tonight for a live chat with Rep. Paul Hodes, the Democratic nominee for the open Senate seat in New Hampshire.

I am a big believer that if you're going to make a criticism, be specific. If it's of a tactic, prove that there's a better one. If it's of an organization or group of people, show what the problems are and/or who the bad actors are.

That's why I cringe lately when I hear a lot of friends and colleagues in the LGBT community have been (rightfully) complaining about "the Democrats" in Congress and the White House, and how "the Democrats" don't deserve LGBT support this fall. Because every time I hear it, I think back to the aftermath of the New York State Senate vote on marriage equality, where all of the post-vote narrative- including from Democratic State Senator and bill sponsor Tom Duane- was "This is all the Democrats' fault." I wrote at the time that aside from Democrats being responsible for the bill getting as far as it did in the first place, such rhetoric makes people who aren't into politics identify "Democrat" with "sucks" or "no better than Republicans"- something that's not helpful when strong progressives run. It also creates this false notion that the solution is simply to engage in as many primaries as possible, even if there are Republicans who are equally vulnerable. And while we've been kicking anti-equality State Senators to the curb- another one last night- we'll never get a vote on marriage again under Republican control.

The same is true on ENDA, DOMA and other issues under Speaker Boehner. If we're ever going to build a pro-equality, and progressive majority, in Congress, our community has to seek and find our allies. That's a one-by-one process, not a party-by-party process. The LGBT community has to continue to find our enemies and our champions, and that's what I want to talk about today.

Join me on the flip for details on Rep. Paul Hodes joining us for a salon at 6 PM EST tonight, and what we'll be talking about.

Today, The Bilerico Project along with my home blog OpenLeft, AMERICABlog, Pam's House Blend, and Good as You will be launching a series of live chats with selected pro-equality champions in tight races. Rep. Paul Hodes from New Hampshire's 2nd District is the first candidate. He's from one of five states where same-sex couples have the freedom to marry- and he's a strong marriage equality supporter himself. He's a co-sponsor of inclusive ENDA legislation, as well as the Respect for Marriage Act, which would repeal DOMA. And he's voted to add sexual orientation and gender identity to federal hate crimes statutes, and to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell. And he's a straight ally, and running against an extremely anti-LGBT equality Republican. He's exactly the kind of champion I believe the LGBT community needs to get into the Senate and start moving the ball down the field.

Rep. Hodes will be joining us, along with OpenLeft, AMERICABlog, Pam's House Blend, and Good As You tonight at 6 PM. We'll be using CoverItLive.com. This isn't just another chat to talk about his race to replace anti-equality Republican Judd Gregg in the U.S. Senate, although, that's an important one I'll discuss tonight. We'll be asking, and want you to ask, about the holdup on LGBT issues in Congress, how we can get more straight allies in Congress and in the public on our side, what resources pro-LGBT activists can leverage to get more members of Congress elected and on our side, and how to move our movement forward. It's more of a "salon" than a live chat because if you're going to be asked for your support, you deserve that.

Please join us tonight at 6 PM EST for a live chat with Rep. Hodes, and bring your best questions.