Stonewall Oregon

We support Suzanne Bonamici for Congress!

Suzzane Bonamici has a proven  record of accomplishments and concensus:

“…voters should choose Bonamici and her six years of high-quality legislating in the state House and Senate… Bonamici compiled a Salem record of solid, detailed work, with a focus on consumer protection and an ability to work with her colleagues.”
-The Oregonian

“Suzanne Bonamici has the right values, integrity, and has earned a record for her commitment of standing up for families, small businesses, and consumers. She is the clear choice for the 1st Congressional District.”
-Governor Barbara Roberts

“Washington desperately needs Suzanne Bonamici’s leadership. During her tenure in the Oregon state Senate, she has shown commitment, compassion, and equal treatment under the law for all of her constituents. She will take that commitment to the halls of the U.S. Congress.”
- Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese

“Oregon Stonewall Democrats stand proud to endorse Suzanne Bonamici for congress. Her record and steadfast commitment to equality for all of Oregon’s Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender citizens in unquestionable“
-Oregon Stonewall Democrats Chair Joey Kerns

Multnomah County GLBT Caucus

January 2012 Newsletter

Next Meeting – Phone Bank!

Join us at our next meeting on January 18, 2011 (7:00 pm,  3127 NE 67th Ave). We’re in full swing as we approach the last days of the Special Election for Oregon’s next Congresswoman. We’re going to have a brief meeting and then have a great time contacting our members in Congressional District 1 to encourage them to get their ballots turned in early.  Bring your cell phone and your best phone voice.

Ways to Get Involved Now

If you’re looking for something to do this weekend, you’re in luck. The Multnomah County Democrats will be putting voter information cards on doorsteps on Saturday January 14 and Sunday January 15. It’s a very easy way to get involved and if you can spend just an hour dropping off cards they’d love to have your help!  To sign up email chair@multdems.org. Details will be sent to you.

On Monday January 16, celebrate Martin Luther King’s birthday with the Forward Oregon Campaign for Suzanne Bonamici! We’ll be knocking on doors to remind folks to vote for Suzanne and to turn in their ballots.

Where: Forward Oregon Campaign Headquarters, 13575 SW Millikan Way, Beaverton OR

When: 10 AM, Monday, January 16th, 2012

RSVP online at the DPO!

Stay Current With Caucus Happenings!

Join us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/oregonstonewalldems

or follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/stonewalloregon

Better yet, take action by joining us!

The Agenda: December 2011

The Multnomah County GLBT Caucus invites you to join us tomorrow for our  final meeting of 2011, a Holiday Dessert Potluck!

Our last meeting of 2011 will be Wednesday, December 21, at 7:00 pm.   Join us as we prepare for a big year in 2012 and for a holiday potluck. Feel free to bring a holiday dessert to share.  Meetings are held at Multnomah County Headquarters 3127 NE 67th, Portland.

Celsi Dinner

Join the Multnomah County Democrats for its signature annual event, the Celsi Dinner, on Friday night, February 17, 2012, at the Melody Ballroom, 615 SE Alder St. in Portland.  Our special guest will be Rep. Tamara Grigsby, State Representative from Wisconsin. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to www.multdems.org.

November Meeting Recap

Our November Meeting was fun and productive. Congratulations to the new executive committee, Heather McDaniel (Chair), Camille Hopkins (Vice-Chair) and Stephen Kay (Treasurer) and Debra Porta (past Chair). We also want to thank members Debra Porta and  Mike Schryver (outgoing Vice-Chair) for their commitment and work to make the Multnomah County GLBT Caucus strong.  In addition to electing new leadership, Secretary of State Kate Brown stopped by and gave us an update on ballot initiatives coming down the pike for 2012.   We were also joined by Jessica Ventura, Portland Field Organizer from Basic Rights Oregon, for an update what the next three years hold.

Finally, the Multnomah County GLBT Caucus voted to amend its by-laws to extend its membership to residents in Clackamas County.

Passionate Plea about Marriage Equality

This video has made the rounds a few times on Facebook and it’s definitely worth a look if you missed it. Zach Wahl, a 19 year old from Iowa was raised by two women and testified before the Iowa House of Representatives-have a look here.

The video was so popular, he actually was a guest on The Ellen Show earlier this year, which you can watch here.

On December 3rd, 2011 we’ll be electing our leadership team for the next two years.

You’re invited and encouraged to consider stepping up to lead our caucus into 2012 and beyond. If you’re interested or want more information click here to contact us.

If you want to let others know you’re running to be elected as our Chair, Vice-Chair, Recording Secretary, Communications Secretary, or Treasurer, please send us a candidate statement to be published to our membership. For more information, click here to contact us.

Elections will be held at the Portland Community College Willow Creek Campus on Saturday, December 3rd, 2011 from 9:00a.m to 10:30a.m in conjunction with the Democratic Party of Oregon State Central Committee Meeting. (click here for more information,  directions, lodging information)

Candidate Statements:

Chair:

Joey Kerns

I believe that a visible, active, and engaged GLBT community within the Democratic Party is necessary to advance the goals of the community and the Party.  I envision an increasingly, mutually beneficial relationship between the Democratic Party and the GLBT community—a Democratic Party that continues to be influenced by the opinions and actions of the Caucus, thereby advancing full equality.  That is why I have been active within the Democratic Party for over six years including being a precinct committeeperson and a founder and Past Chair of the Multnomah Democrats GLBT Caucus.  I have dedicated my life to GLBT causes including working as the Programs Director for Equity Foundation, Oregon’s GLBT community foundation, since 2007.

As Chair of the DPO GLBT Caucus, I will work with the Executive Committee to establish a written strategic plan that addresses clear and measurable goals for 2012, reinvigorates the local chapters, and establishes an annual timeline of caucus activity with deadlines.  In so doing, we will have a clear focus and further advance our issues in 2012 from the local and state levels to the federal level.  We will be the voice of the GLBT community in the Democratic Party.

Vice-Chair:

Debra Porta

I am running for the position of Vice Chair of the DPO GLBT caucus.

Activities:

• Chair, Multnomah County GLBT Caucus: November 2009-November 2011
• Vice-chair, Multnomah County GLBT Caucus: November 2007-November 2009
• Precinct Committee Person, HD 44
• President, Pride Northwest, Inc: 2007-current
• Member, United Way of the Columbia-Willamette Diversity Advisory Board

Why I am running:

In just a few years, the caucus has grown to a position of prominence and respect within the DPO as well as Oregon’s GLBT community, for which the GLBT Caucus provides a critical point of access, information, and leadership across Oregon.  I believe that the caucus has the potential to not only support equality and representative efforts across the state, but to lead on them as well. We can, and should be, the “go to” organization for not only what the priorities of the GLBT community are, but as a resource for that community and our members, for the information, facts, and political engagement which direct and inform public decision-making.  In addition, the caucus can and should be a major conduit through which GLBT community leaders are identified and developed to become elected leaders at all levels of government throughout Oregon.

Oregon is diversifying at an incredible rate and our efforts, collaborations, and coalition efforts should reflect that.  The GLBT Caucus has the opportunity to lead efforts in forming relationships and strengthening ties, and to finding the common goals with which to build them.  Efforts must also be continued and strengthened, to support and build the relationships between urban and rural caucus members, in order to establish collaborative efforts around the issues important to all of us, as GLBT Oregonians.

I believe that I bring skills and experience which will serve the caucus well, in these areas as well as others.

I appreciate your vote.

Vice-Chair:

Michael Miles

• 2010-Present       Chair                       DPO Second Congressional District Committee
• 2010-Present       Chair                       Klamath County Democratic Central Committee
• 2009-2011            Vice Chair              Democratic Party of Oregon GLBT Caucus
• 2008-2011            Chair & Founder  Willamette Valley Stonewall Democrats
• 2009-2010            Vice Chair              Marion County Democratic Central Committee

I am running for the position of Vice Chair of the Democratic Party of Oregon GLBT Caucus

Why I am running

I am running for Vice Chair of the GLBT Caucus because it’s a position I have already held and with that experience I can help any newly elected executive member’s transition quickly. I bring geographic diversity to the table since I am now based in Southern Oregon and have had the unique opportunity to have resided in all populaces Oregon has to offer, from the metropolitan diversity of Portland to the rural simple living of Southern Oregon. I know the people and know the politics.   I am running because I believe the DPO GLBT caucus should be the leading political action committee in Oregon and the leading source of GLBT resources. I believe we should recruit, endorse and elect LGBT and pro LGBT rights candidates. I’m running because I believe with our stature in the political world we have great responsibilities, through our communities and our members. We need to give back to the communities that work so hard to help see we have the same right as every Oregon citizen. Rather that entails sponsoring an annual statewide food drive or adopting a highway, we as the DPO GLBT caucus need to explore humanitarian efforts to help make our state the greatest in the nation!

In 2008 I founded the Willamette Valley Stonewall Democrats (WVSD) because I saw the need to have a visible LGBT political action committee in Willamette Valley. Shortly thereafter I was elected vice chair of the Marion County Democrats. Based in Salem then, I had the ability to quickly reach out to elected officials on an in person basis, the unique opportunity to monitor legislation in real time and the overall benefits of everyday visibility to the men and women who make up our state legislature and state government as a whole. I was able to form personal bonds with many elected officials.

Through my work in the community I quickly learned the counties in the WVSD (Marion, Polk, Linn and Benton) lacked any information source for LGBT people. There were many LGBT resources available but no single source who could direct you in the right direction. Over time and with much hard work the WVSD soon became that information source. Members of the WVSD knew that if they needed a resource all they had to do was call an executive member and that member could tell them who and how to contact the desired resource, from pro LGBT lawyers to county health services the WVSD strived to make a sense of community among LGBT people in our counties.

From Salem I moved to Klamath Falls, a rural community where LGBT people were afraid to be visible. Through my experiences in Marion County I helped a new up and coming LGBT outreach group in Klamath Falls prosper and become more organized. I taught them how to reach out to local community and find the resources they needed. They are well on their way to becoming the LGBT information source of the Klamath Basin and I’m happy to say we walked in the 2011 Fourth of July parade in Klamath Falls carrying a huge rainbow flag which mark the first time an LGBT contingent has ever been accepted in a Klamath County parade.

Thank you for considering me for Vice Chair of the DPO GLBT Caucus

Recording Secretary:

James Freed

I have been active in the Democratic Party here in Oregon since moving here in July 2008. I am a PCP and attend the monthly Mult Dems meetings and Mult Dems GLBT Caucus when available. I have canvassed for my state Rep District 35 last election and distributed slate cards for Prop 66-67. I also attend town hall meetings with Sen. Merkley, Se.n Wyden and my Rep Kurt Schrader. I participated in the platform convention and try to make myself available for events and most know my positions.

I am currently on the Board and Treasure for Veterans For Human Rights.

I retired from Federal Civil Service in Jun 2007 as a Program Manager for the Air Force. I had a distinguished career with different assignments including lead for F-4 Drones Avionics, financial manager for Special Ops aircraft Hulbert Field FL, F-35 support Equipment, A-10 workload re-assignment and McClellan base closure. I have edited government contracts and helped write a transition plan for multi-million dollar programs.

As recording Secretary I bring my experience and common sense ideas to the position.

Treasurer:

Cris Land

I have served as Treasurer for the LGBT Caucus for the last couple of years, and would be honored to be elected as Treasurer again for this coming term. My experience includes over 25 years of organizing work in LGBT and other social justice organizations and issues. I am a past Board Chair/ Co-Chair of Basic Rights Oregon, and currently serve as the Chair of the Columbia County Democratic Central Committee, Co-Vice Chair of the Oregon Democratic Committee Platform Committee, Delegate to the First Congressional Committee for Oregon, and as Delegate to the State Central Committee. I am also a proud PCP for Columbia County.

I look forward to working with the LGBT Caucus members to make our voices heard within the Democratic Party.  Standing together, we can, and do, make a difference

This is a reminder that bi-annual officer elections, for the Multnomah County Democratic GLBT Caucus, will be held at November’s meeting.  This month’s meeting is Wednesday, November 16th, at 7:00 at the Multnomah Democratic headquarters (3127 NE 67th Ave).  Members are HIGHLY encouraged to attend and be a part of choosing caucus leadership!

In addition to officer elections, we will be joined by Oregon Secretary of State, Kate Brown.  Bring your questions, concerns, comments.

See you Wednesday!

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Good morning,

Welcome to the inaugural edition of the White House LGBT Update, where you’ll hear from the White House Office of Public Engagement on President Obama’s continued commitment to progress for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community.

We need your help to get the word out! Please encourage your friends and family to sign up for updates and don’t hesitate to drop us a line with your comments, suggestions, and ideas.

All the best,

Gautam Raghavan
Office of Public Engagement
The White House

President Obama to Honor Janice Langbehn with the Citizens Medal

 This Thursday, October 20th, Janice Langbehn will be presented the Citizens Medal for her efforts to ensure all Americans are treated equally.

While on vacation with her family in February 2007, Janice Langbehn’s partner, Lisa Pond, suddenly fell ill and was rushed to the hospital. Janice was refused access to her partner, who had experienced a brain aneurysm and later died alone. She filed a federal lawsuit and worked to get her story out to the nation, and her story received attention from President Obama, who personally apologized to her for the way she and her family were treated. He went on to require hospital visitation protections for gay and lesbian couples, through a rule that went into effect this past January for any hospitals receiving federal Medicare or Medicaid funds.

Watch the ceremony live this Thursday afternoon at 1:45 p.m.

Obama Administration Appears at Inaugural OutServe Armed Forces Leadership Summit

Last Saturday, Doug Wilson, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, delivered the keynote address at the inaugural OutServe Armed Forces Leadership Summit – including a very special message from the First Lady. In her message, Mrs. Obama graciously thanked gay and lesbian service members and their families for their service:

Until very recently, gay and lesbian Americans had to serve in silence, but in spite of this tremendous obstacle, service members like you persevered. With courage and determination, you chose to serve and continue to exemplify what is best about the American spirit.

Doug Wilson, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, at the OutServe Armed Forces Leadership Summit in Las Vegas, NV, Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011. (Photo from OutServe)

OutServe sent out a great tweet on Monday afternoon, highlighting our blog post about their organization

President Obama Delivers Remarks at the Human Rights Campaign Dinner

Earlier this month, President Obama addressed the 15th Annual Human Rights Campaign National Dinner at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC. This was his second time speaking at the dinner. In his remarks, the President stressed his commitment to the cause of equality and the steps his Administration has taken over the past two and a half years, and vowed to keep on fighting for LGBT Americans.

President Barack Obama delivers remarks at the Human Rights Campaign Gala at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. October 1, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton).

The President also expressed his hope for a more tolerant, just, equal America:

I am still hopeful, because of a deeper shift that we’re seeing; a transformation not only written into our laws, but woven into the fabric of our society… It happens when a father realizes he doesn’t just love his daughter, but also her wife. It happens when a soldier tells his unit that he’s gay, and they tell him they knew it all along and they didn’t care, because he was the toughest guy in the unit. It happens when a video sparks a movement to let every single young person know they’re not alone, and things will get better. It happens when people look past their ultimately minor differences to see themselves in the hopes and struggles of their fellow human beings. That’s where change is happening. And that’s not just the story of the gay rights movement. That’s the story of America — the slow, inexorable march towards a more perfect union. You are contributing to that story, and I’m confident we can continue to write another chapter together.

Read the President’s remarks and watch the video.

What You May Have Missed

First Lady Michelle Obama leads a group of 400 local children on the South Lawn of the White House to help break the Guinness World Records title for the most people doing jumping jacks in a 24-hour period, Oct. 11, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

• Oct 17: SAMHSA awards $1.3 million to help communities offer expanded HIV testing, counseling, and referral for care
• Oct 17: HHS Secretary Sebelius delivers remarks at the National Coalition for LGBT Health
• Oct 13: Alison Nathan, former Associate White House Counsel, was confirmed by the Senate for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
• Oct 13: HUD Addresses LGBT Housing Discrimination
• Oct 13: South Korea State Dinner: What’s on the Menu?
• Oct 12: OPM Director John Berry’s statement on the passing of Dr. Frank Kameny
• Oct 12: The First Lady breaks the Guinness World Records title for the most people doing jumping jacks in a 24-hour period

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Multnomah’s GLBT Caucus has had tremendous success since its beginnings just a few short years ago.  Not only does the caucus have a direct impact on the priorities of the Oregon Democratic Party (full equality, nondiscrimination) and the success of equality legislation in the state of Oregon, numerous members hold leadership positions at the county and state party level.  Candidates and elected decision-makers look to us for input and listen to what we have to say, to the priorities of Multnomah County’s GLBT community.

October and November are great months for getting involved with the Multnomah County Democratic GLBT Caucus!  Over the next two months, we will be visited by Portland Mayoral candidates Jefferson Smith and Eileen Brady, city commissioner candidate Mary Nolan, as well as Secretary of State Kate Brown.  This is the also the time during which we make decisions about our priorities, directions we wish to go, and future leadership.  YOU determine these things-by attending meetings, sharing your views and priorities, and participating in these important decisions.  So join us!

Caucus meetings are held the third Wednesday of each month.  October’s meeting will be on the 20th 19th at 7:00 pm, and is a packed one!  We will be joined by Mayoral candidate Jefferson Smith and Portland City Commissioner candidate Mary Nolan, as well as representatives from CAUSA, who will discuss their LGBTQ alliance building efforts.

For more information or if you have any questions, please contact Debra at portad@stonewalloregon.org.

Meetings are held at the Multnomah County Democratic headquarters (3127 NE 67th Ave • Portland, OR 97213).

Hope to see you there!

Debra Porta
Chair
Multnomah County Democratic GLBT Caucus

Basic Rights Oregon will shortly decide whether to move forward with a ballot initiative to repeal Measure 36 (the state constitutional amendment which defines marriage as only between a man and a woman) in 2012.  They have issued the following call to action:

For over two years, Basic Rights Oregon has been engaging Oregonians in a conversation about why marriage matters. Through personal conversations, statewide TV commercials, social media and direct mail, they have changed the hearts and minds of tens of thousands of Oregon voters.

There is no doubt that the effort to win the freedom to marry is gaining momentum every day. We are so close. But close doesn’t cut it. If the election were held today, it is uncertain if we’d win.

This is serious crunch time.   We need to change the hearts and minds of thousands of Oregonians or there won’t be enough support to put forth a successful marriage equality ballot measure in 2012.

We are hopeful that we can get there but we can’t do this alone. We need everyone who cares about marriage equality to get engaged now! Basic Rights is launching our fall advertising campaign and unprecedented phone campaign to call over 20,000 Oregonians to have personal conversation and share why marriage matters.

We have a variety of volunteer dates and times to fit everyone’s schedule.  Click here to learn more about volunteer opportunities and to sign up.  

Multnomah County Democratic Chair KC Hanson is spearheading  a major phone-banking effort this Wednesday (October 12th) at the DPO headquarters (232 NE 9th) from 6-9 pm.  As KC puts it, “This is what we do best.  Let’s put our mouth where our mouth is.”

The bottom line is that we need a major push this week, to get the word out and talk to people!  Whether you join KC on Wednesday or sign up for one of the other dates, every effort adds to our ability to move forward on marriage equality for all of Oregon!

By Laura Calvo

I had a couple of phone calls today about how the Oregon Republican Party removed anti-gay language from their party platform this weekend. My immediate thought  was this was great news, shifting almost as quickly to thinking about how this would change the political landscape in 2012. Especially when it comes to the tentative plans to mount a ballot initiative to repeal Measure 36.

I read the article in the Oregonian and I encourage you to read the article too. I’m a democrat, but I’m more than willing to try to see this move by the Oregon GOP as a positive step. After reading the article and giving every benefit of doubt to the other side of the aisle, I’m not so sure it’s time to withdraw all the troops and celebrate. I’ll explain a bit further but first here is a snippet or two from the Oregonian article.

 The Oregonian 

“Wording that essentially condemned same-sex marriage and civil unions, and that stated such couples were unfit to be parents, was

removed from the official party platform during a weekend convention in Bend.”

Also from the article,
“But the language change didn’t come easy. In fact, it was almost defeated, said Xander Almeida, who was among those who pushed to remove a section of the platform seen as denigrating lifestyles and rights of gays and lesbians.

Almeida said his motion to remove the language was first shot down 2-1 by a caucus of members focusing on the “family” section of the platform. He thought his effort was over until he talked to party Chairman Allen Alley, who told him the proposal should go to a full floor vote.

“That’s where things really kind of got heated,” Almeida said. After a contentious debate, the amendment passed with a bare majority of the 230 delegates who attended.”

The article mentions that they did this to attract younger voters along with gays & lesbians.

I thought wow as I read the article. Keeping in mind that the Montana Republican Party platform calls for the criminalization of homosexuality. Also, North Carolina looks like they will have ballot measure calling for the definition of a marriage as being between one man and one woman. The media and most folks would call that “anti-gay”.

But all of you “younger voters” and all of you gays and lesbians that the Oregon GOP is trying to lure, there are a couple of sage old sayings that may apply.  ”Buyer beware” and “The devil is truly in the details”.

It’s up to the individual to decide, but when someone says something is so, it does pay to check it out.

Here’s whats left in the Oregon Republican Party platform after they got rid of all the anti-gay language:

From the Oregon Republican Party Platform:

“The Oregon Republican Party believes that the traditional family is ordained by God our Creator and is the foundation of our society. A traditional family is formed through the marriage of one man and one woman. This environment is the optimum for raising children into responsible, self-sufficient, productive citizens.”

I’m not sure how this platform reconciles with the earlier piece in the article:

“Wording that essentially condemned same-sex marriage and civil unions, and that stated such couples were unfit to be parents, was removed from the official party platform during a weekend convention in Bend.”

It’s not a typo. Their spokesperson explains it away as, “that merely comports with Oregon’s constitution”.  This along with the prior statement that the “old” platform was, “unnecessarily hostile to a specific group”. News flash: It still is hostile.

Not only does their so-called new platform support the enshrinement of discrimination, it says pretty clearly that the optimum for children is their definition of a family. In other words, gay parenting is not optimum.

I’m just one person who is probably past being a young voter and the fact that AARP keeps hounding me to join attests to that fact. But,  I’m going to bet that a lot of young voters are not going to surge to support this “kinder, gentler” version of what republicans stand for.

It’s not just the gay marriage issue either.  They are on record as opposing death with dignity, and  the right of a woman to decide her own reproductive health.

The nouveau right bristles and doth complain too much when called homophobes or bigots. This self-described shift to appear to  be more centrist is more like an attempt to shift smoke and mirrors to mirrors and smoke than actually removing harmful, hurtful, discriminatory value statements.  It’s more akin to lip service and a great job of the art of media spin.

Going from unmasked and outright anti-gay, to being a kinder anti-gay is still hostile. Perhaps that is progress in some sense of the word.  I for one will be watching closely.  They have laid out their agenda for 2012 on a wide variety of issues. Unfortunately, it is only more of the same.

Melissa Etheridge’s Tuesday Morning was a tribute to Mark Bingham, one of the heroes aboard flight 93.