“Is the HRC relevant?” asks The Advocate’s Kerry Eleveld. To answer this, Eleveld essentially referees a debate between John Aravosis of AmericaBlog, Larry Kramer of ACT UP fame, and Joe Solmonese of the Human Rights Campaign, and does a pretty good job of it. There’s a bit of boilerplate in there – Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) offering a reminder that the HRC does a large amount of research, providing facts and figures that are essential to pushing for any legislative change – but overall, it’s a good summary of the conversation many bloggers and commentators have had over the last year, and a pretty stinging indictment of the HRC’s approach. Eleveld uses Aravosis to point out that most of the HRC’s stated priorities – repeal of DADT, passage of ENDA, and making more gains in the direction of marriage equality – look pretty unlikely, and he lays the blame at the feet of the organization’s timid strategy that’s more attuned to the Bush era, when the priority was “stopping bad things from happening,” as Aravosis puts it. What does Solmonese have to say? Nothing but assurances that his approach will work…eventually.

Elsewhere…

D.C. –Speaking of Aravosis, he wants the LGBT community to jam the HRC’s phone lines today, calling in to demand more action from President Obama on securing a repeal of DADT. Let’s do it! (AmericaBlog)

California – The Palm Center, a DADT-focused think-tank, is convening a conference to highlight just how little impact other countries have seen from decisions to allow LGBT people to serve openly in their armed forces. (The Palm Center)

Uganda – While anti-gay forces rally for the “Kill Gays” bill in defiance of a police ban, Unitarian Universalist ministers and organizers are gathering in Uganda to help the country’s LGBT community push back. (Box Turtle Bulletin, The Advocate)

Texas – There’s nothing like gay divorce to bring out the election-year sharks. (Towleroad)