Jeff Merkley, Oregon’s U.S. Senate democratic candidate,  earned the endorsement of National Stonewall Democrats.

National Stonewall Democrats is a grassroots network connecting LGBT Democratic activists from Seattle, Washington to Austin, Texas to Little Rock, Arkansas to Atlanta, Georgia. With more than 90 chapters across the country, Stonewall is a grassroots force for social change within our movement and within our party. Our members do the hard work of calling voters, putting together campaign mailings, going door-to-door for our fair-minded candidates and having tough conversations with Democratic party officials about why our families need and deserve more support from our party and its elected officials.

Laura Calvo, a member of National Stonewall Democrats board of directors and interim President of the Democratic Party of Oregon GLBT Caucus, said it was her honor to announce the endorsement of Jeff Merkley. Calvo said, “Jeff Merkley has been unequivocal in his support of equality for our entire community and every American family.  I think it’s very important to acknowledge Jeff’s significant contributions and leadership in regards to the issues of fair employment opportunities, having the equal right to provide for our families as every other American family has the right to do without question and for all Americans to be treated with dignity. In addition, Jeff Merkley has been an effective voice in the legislature in many other areas. From improving the Oregon economy, to ending predatory pay-day loan practices, to being one of the most effective advocates for public safety and protecting the rights of victims of crime, Jeff Merkley has been an effective leader. ”

Continuing, Calvo also said, ” Jeff Merkely’s record on the issues of what really matters to working Oregoninans is exemplary. To attempt to discredit that record with gutter generated attack ads is a mixture of twisted ethics and desparation unbecoming any sitting elected representative of the people of Oregon, especially a U.S. Senator. All too often GLBT Americans are the victims of violent crime or subjected to abusive slurs and vulgar rumors simply for being who we are. We are pretty good at recognizing smears and twisted outright lies for what they represent.  We’ve spent too many years of our lives fighting those kinds of vulgar attacks.  When confronted with sleazy attacks and lies we only go to work and fight that much harder to expose the truth. Oregon voters resent lies and aren’t fooled by sleezy campaign smears.”

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