Honoring the Grassroots

Earlier this week, while I was gathering local info for my small piece, "Gay Gut Punch," for this issue's News section, I learned that a group of local gay-rights organizations were meeting to plan action and response to the passing of the anti-gay ballot measures across the U.S.

Of particular interest was this growing groundswell of young gay activists on a national level calling for a concerted national protest. So what was the role of the established NGO to be?

After a phone conference between representatives from local groups, including Soulforce, Atticus Circle, and Equality Texas, ET's Chuck Smith called to talk about their participation in the movement.

"All three protests [in Texas] will be grassroots organized. We've been in touch with organizers and have agreed to help by providing talking points and posting information and publicizing the events," he said.

"But we are going to honor this as a grassroots effort."

Here, here. The best way to encourage a new crop is to fertilize, water, step back, and watch it grow.