GayINC 101: a Tutorial

Wondering if you’re part of GayINC? Some recent comments by GayInc bloggers have asked/mocked/been incensed by people asking that question:

Most entertaining PHB rumor out there: that we are all tools of Gay Inc. We’re still waiting for our raises from $0 to $0…plus generous D&G gift cards….” – Pam Spaulding

“If you only knew how laughable it is to call me “Gay Inc.” – Jeremy Hooper

GayINC stands for Gay incorporated. “Gay rights” organizations like the Human Rights Campaign, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, GLAAD, Lambda Legal, Stonewall Democrats, LCR, GLSEN, PFLAG, GetEQUAL, NYAC, GMHC, NCLR, NCTE, SLDN, SU, Freedom to Marry, Victory Fund and Equality Federation are all non-profit CORPORATION$. The IRS defines a non-profit is defined as:

“…an organization must be organized and operated exclusively for exempt purposes set forth in section 501(c)(3), and none of its earnings may inure to any private shareholder or individual.”

But that doesn’t mean these GAYInc organizations work for free. Their Executive Directors are paid very well.
But payment doesn’t have to be money. Lack of D&G doesn’t make you any less of a  mouthpiece for GayInc. If you worry that you may be a mouthpiece for GayInc, ask yourself the following questions:

If so, you might be  a mouthpiece for GayInc.

Marti Abernathey is the founder of the Transadvocate and the previous managing editor. Abernathey has worn many different hats, including that of podcaster, activist, and radiologic technologist. She's been a part of various internet radio ventures such as TSR Live!, The T-Party, and The Radical Trannies, TransFM, and Sodium Pentathol Sunday. As an advocate she's previously been involved with the Indiana Transgender Rights Advocacy Alliance, Rock Indiana Campaign for Equality, and the National Transgender Advocacy Coalition. She's taken vital roles as a grass roots community organizer in The Indianapolis Tax Day Protest (2003), The Indy Pride HRC Protest (2004), Transgender Day of Remembrance (2004), Indiana's Witch Hunt (2005), and the Rally At The Statehouse (the largest ever GLBT protest in Indiana - 3/2005). In 2008 she was a delegate from Indiana to the Democratic National Convention and a member of Barack Obama's LGBT Steering and Policy Committee. Abernathey currently hosts the Youtube Channel "The T-Party with Marti Abernathey."