What: Netroots Nation 2010: A progressive conference for bloggers and activists to help promote change.
Where: Las Vegas, Nevada
Why: To understand what we can do for the future of the progressive movement. Or so I thought…
I walked into my first panel Thursday, July 22nd and was a little starry-eyed at the speakers for the Marriage Equality panel, “Marriage Equality: Building a Movement Online.” The line-up was hosted by Americablog’s own Joe Sudbay, and included Jessee Connolly, the campaign manager for No on 1 in Maine, Adam Bink, blogger for OpenLeft, Julia Rosen, formerly of Courage Campaign, and Michael Crawford , with Freedom to Marry.
With high hopes for a conference I have never been to. I must admit to my first panel being somewhat of a disappointment. The little blurb, in the packet, about this particular panel says:
The panelists will talk about successes and failures in online organizing for marriage equality, best practices and how to build stronger ties between traditional LGBT organizations and online activists.
However, oddly enough, that isn’t truly what took place. What did, in fact, take place was a thorough albeit interpreted (“Hey look, we lost, but look at all the great things we did!”) view of what took place in the past of campaigning for marriage equality.
Now, honestly, I believe that this is a great tool for looking forward, but given the nature of the audience — a group of LGBT activists and bloggers attending a progressive conference — what was discussed was neither news nor new analysis.
I guess this is where I thought the panel went wrong. I believe the panel, with the all-star line-up that it had, should have been able to help us, bloggers and/or activists, find a place in the campaign process. They should have been encouraging us to get involved, or giving us tips on how to.
There were of course things that I did like. I was impressed that the panel recognized its fight for equality failures. Not as victims, but more so as chances to evaluate and realize that every state and the fight within every state will be a different one across the board. Really looking at how each person played an individual role in each case and celebrating the things that worked well is beneficial.
Another great point was brought up by Rosen, who also worked against Prop 8 in California, and No on 1 in Maine. She mentioned that unity was lacking. That is, I believe, the main message that needs to be sent to the LGBT community, whether you blog or not; whether you are involved in politics or not.
Unity is what will help us win. Being divided makes us weak and easy targets. Now, whether that means that we do more as a community in social aspects or if we start getting behind candidates and pushing for knowledge about them, I don’t know which would be best. I think there is a true need for both.
In that need, I believe there is an even greater need for community. A greater need for shared ideas. A need for a greater purpose and a unified front.
What do you think we need to do better? Where do you think we are?