For those who may have missed it, the Obama administration is in damage control mode after several significant Democrats have indicated they will be boycotting an upcoming GLBT-focused, $1000-a-person DNC fundraiser featuring Vice President Biden. The boycott (and rumored demonstration) is a result of the frustration felt by many gay activists who feel that Obama is breaking his campaign promises to them on a host of issues. That frustration turned to anger in the face of a recent brief from the Attorney General’s office supporting the so-called “Defense of Marriage Act” – even going so far as to invoke incest (if not by name) to deliver its crude, plainly bigoted message. The timing of the fundraiser simply adds insult to injury, suggesting that Obama, AG Holder, and the DNC can denigrate the GLBT community but still expect to treat them as (as Kos put it) an ATM.

And now comes word that a prominent Vermonter, scheduled to be honored at the event, is joining the protest. From Newsweek’s “Gaggle” blog:

Gay rights activist David Mixner and HRC National Field Director Marty Rouse aren’t the only high profile names to register dismay over the Justice Department’s pro-DOMA legal brief by pulling out of a DNC fundraiser scheduled for next week. We’ve learned that Vermont Senate President Pro Tempore Peter Shumlin, who shepherded the first marriage equality bill through the VT legislature and spent time stumping for Obama during the campaign’s fledgling days, also plans to boycott the event. Shumlin, who is not gay, had been scheduled to be one of the fundraiser’s honored guests but decided to drop out after last week’s DOJ memo

Some folks might recognize the name of the Human Rights Campaign Field Director, Marty Rouse. Rouse did a lot of consulting for Democratic candidates and caucuses in Vermont (including the Vermont Democratic Party proper) during the late 90s and into this decade. He worked closely with Shumlin during that period.

In Shumlin’s letter withrawing from the event, he writes:

By defending DOMA and making reference to horribly inaccurate and deeply hurtful stereotypes about gay and lesbian Americans, the Administration has chosen discriminate against a minority group that we all have a responsibility to be more courageous in defending. This action will only serve to sow the seeds for further hatred and division against the only minority group left in America that politicians can publicly discriminate against and see their approval ratings rise.

Some might be inclined to dismiss this move as grandstanding, but the realty is that Shumlin stands to build significant alliances and contacts at the event – particularly as an honoree – that he is taking a pass on by not attending (contacts that could be invaluable during a run for Governor). Of course, he’ll curry favor with others, but the point is, to simply write this move off as cynical would be… well, cynical. This is a big deal.

Shumlin’s complete letter is below the fold.

Dear Andy,

Further our recent telephone conversation, I was looking forward to seeing

you next week in DC for the DNC event with Vice President Joe Biden, but

after learning how the Administration and the Department of Justice is

choosing to defend DOMA, I am writing to let you know that I am canceling my

participation in the upcoming event.

As an early and strong supporter of Barack Obama I am shocked and

disappointed at the level of insensitivity that the Department of Justice

has shown towards gay and lesbian couples and their families.  By defending

DOMA and making reference to horribly inaccurate and deeply hurtful

stereotypes about gay and lesbian Americans, the Administration has chosen

discriminate against a minority group that we all have a responsibility to

be more courageous in defending. This action will only serve to sow the

seeds for further hatred and division against the only minority group left

in America that politicians can publicly discriminate against and see their

approval ratings rise.  My disappointment in this has led me to the

regrettable decision not to be a participant in the DNC event.

I am proud Vermont made history in how we enacted marriage equality – not

through a court order but through legislative action.  The tides of history,

love and justice came together in Vermont and I look forward to witnessing

this movement swell across the nation as all of America’s citizens are

granted equal rights.  It is my hope that the Obama Administration will

actively support what we did in Vermont – grant marriage equality to all

under the law – nothing more and nothing less.

Andy, I appreciate your hard work on behalf of the DNC and I make this

decision with regret.

My Best,

Peter Shumlin