Gay Today: World

Lesbian & Gay Democrats Mobilize
for the 2002 Elections

Compiled By GayToday

Washington, D.C. - The National Stonewall Democrats on Sunday concluded their national convention in Cleveland, Ohio having intensively trained for the 2002 election cycle.

Members from around the country attended seminars to enhance their readiness for the fall campaigns. Attendees were trained in areas including media relations, fundraising, PAC formation, voter registration and persuasion, and "Get Out the Vote" programs. NSD members also discussed issues of concern to local Stonewall affiliates and chapters.

National Stonewall Democrats Executive Director Chad Johnson

"Our convention highlighted that NSD's strength comes from its grassroots foundation," said Chad Johnson, NSD Executive Director.

"That's what makes our members a vital element of the Democratic party. Gay Democrats are no longer placated by having an official talk to us, take our money and then run out the door to vote against us."

Last week, Senator Bill Frist (TN) and Representative Tom Davis (VA), who head the RNSC and RNCC respectively, thanked members of the Log Cabin Republicans for their support at the LCR national convention in Washington, D.C.

A few days later both men publicly stated their opposition to the Employee Non Discrimination Act (ENDA), which would prohibit most workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation.

ENDA is considered by many the most important piece of legislation relating to gay and lesbian Americans that Congress will consider this year. Opinion polls also show that ENDA enjoys broad public support across the country.

In contrast to the hypocrisy of Frist and Davis, the NSD convention came on the heels of a historic meeting between Senate Democrats and national lgbt political leaders to discuss issues of importance to the lgbt community.

The meeting itself followed a vote by the Democratically-controlled Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, chaired by Senator Ted Kennedy (MA), that moves ENDA to the Senate Floor.

Arriving at Stonewall's Cleveland convention after attending the Senate meeting, NSD Executive Director Chad Johnson briefed attendees on the substance and historic atmosphere of the meeting.

"The only reason ENDA is moving to the Senate floor is because Democrats control the Senate and its committees," Johnson told the crowd. "And the only way that ENDA will move to the House floor is if we help elect Democratic majorities to both Houses of Congress this fall."

The convention also saw the formation of two new NSD working groups. The Advisory Council of Clubs and Caucuses (ACCC) was created as a working body of local Stonewall club and caucus presidents.

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The group will enable NSD to better mobilize on the local level and to more effectively communicate with and serve its chapters and affiliates. Also formed was the NSD Advisory Council of Elected Officials, a group of elected gay Democrats, chaired by New Hampshire House Democratic Whip Raymond Buckley.