Photo slide show of DNC in Denver
Posted by Laura Calvo on 31st August 2008
Here is some of the unedited photos from Denver:
Tags: DNC, GLBT, obama
Posted in National Stonewall Democrats, News, Oregon Democrats | No Comments »
Archive for August, 2008
DNC LGBT Caucus Chair Honored By Trans Delegates
Posted by Laura Calvo on 31st August 2008
On Wednesday, August 27, 2008, trans delegates from eight states honored the Chairperson of the Democratic National Committee LGBT Caucus Rick Stafford with the Jane Fee Award.
The award, named for the first openly out trans identified delegate to the national convention in 2000. The award is presented at the DNCC to a person who h
as worked tirelessly on behalf of the transgender community within the democratic party.
Rick, who hails from Minnesota and is a member of the Democratic National Committee, has a long history of being a true friend and ally to the trans community. Rick was instrumental in helping Minnesota legislators pass the first in the nation anti-discrimination protections for trans people. Rick has been at the forefront of advocating for platform language and legislation embracing gender identity language.
As a gay man living with AIDS and a long time democratic party leader, Rick has not only been a vocal advocate, but a mentor to many of the trans people who join with him in the leadership of the democratic party.
Presenting the award to Rick at the 2008 DNCC LGBT Caucus held at the Denver Convention Center is Babs Casbar, New Jersey Delegate and President of the New Jersey Stonewall Democrats.
In 2000, Jane Fee was the only Trans identified delegate to the national convention. In 2004, 4 trans identified delegates were elected to represent their states. This year, 9 trans delegates were elected from around the country. However, one of the delegates faced the threat of losing her employment if she took the time off of work to attend. Over half of the trans delegation this year were people of color.
Trans delegates attending the 2008 DNCC also included, Melisa Sklarz (D-NY), Amanda Simpson (D-AZ), Diego Sanchez (D-MA), Vanessa Foster (D-TX), Laura Calvo (D-OR), Marissa Richmond (D-TN), and Marti Abernathy (D-IN).
Prominent trans leaders, Mara Kielsling from NCTE, Shannon Minter from NGLTF, Donna Rose, and Dr. Dana Beyer were also in Denver for the convention.
Tags: DNC, lgbt, transgender
Posted in National Stonewall Democrats, News, Oregon Democrats | No Comments »
2008 DNC: Hope + Change = Equality For All
Posted by Laura Calvo on 30th August 2008
Our Oregon delegation is back from the Democratic National Convention. I can only speak for myself, but it
would probably fair to say we were all left breathless with emotions at one point or another during our convention.
KC Hanson, Sam Sappington and myself arrived three days ahead of the DNCC to attend the National Stonewall Democrats convention. Frank Dixon was there too. With his duties as Vice Chair of the DPO, Frank was left with a few unavoidable scheduling conflicts. All of us suspected we too would be having our fair share of scheduling problems in the coming days. There were just so many events and too little time. I had over 20 pages of spread sheets with event information. Everything from political forums and receptions to baseball games and rock concerts. There was even a poker tournament with Ben Affleck to benefit paralyzed veterans.
At last count, continuing to rise at the convention, 374 LGBT people officially registered as delegates, alternate delegates, committee people, or convention pages at the 2008 DNCC in Denver. Interestingly, if the 374 person delegation were a state delegation, we would be the third largest state delegation, with only California and New York having more delegates.
The aftermath of last years non-inclusive ENDA struggle some of the detracting sentiment heard by our community was related to trans people not being considered a part of the larger gay and lesbian community, trans folk had been riding on the coat tails of the gay and lesbian community, and that trans people had done a really poor job of lobbying their congressional representatives to be included in ENDA. On the flip side of that issue was over 300 LGBT advocacy organizations that opposed the non-inclusive ENDA, holding fast to the commitment that we are a community which can not be divided.
The convention personally and politically touched me on so many levels as a latina lesbian transwoman with a gay son, another son in the military, a gay nephew who adopted a child with his partner, a lesbian niece who works her fingers to the bone in health care, and as an American. Not to mention being a member of one of possibly one of the most marginalized groups of people in society, doubly complicated by being a part of another tradi
tionally marginalized group of people.
September 5th will mark the thirteenth anniversary of the time I was involuntarily outed at work and forced into a disability retirement solely because my trans history was discovered and was labeled a freak. It took a long time for me to recover from that ugly time in my life to get where I am at today.
For anyone, gay, straight, or otherwise, who has any doubt that I, or any other trans person, have no worth, do not deserve equal rights, can wait while the rest of the community moves forward to equality under some sort of instrumentalist theory, or are not a part of the larger gay and lesbian community, I don’t have the words to respond politely.
We are not gay people. We are not lesbians. We are not bisexual or trans persons. We are people, inseparable and inextricably connected to one another. Our allied brothers and sisters come from a diverse mix of colors, issues, and unique personal histories.
On the anniversary of the “I have a dream speech” delivered by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. another momentous time in history also happened at Invesco Field in Denver Colorado. The Democratic Party became united. But that is not the whole of the legacy of Barack Obama. I believe the message of hope and change for a better and brighter future for all of us was heard around the world.
Barack Obama is the real deal. Certainly our world is not in a happy place and will likely never be a perfect 
place. If you’re view is the “glass is half empty”, as is much of the the world in this time in history, then perhaps it is time to start viewing your world as a glass being half full. Fill yourself with the hope that we can work together to change our world for the better.
We must end the war in Iraq but maintain our security at home and elsewhere with intelligence and diplomacy. We must never again adopt a policy which includes the preemptive invasion of another country. We need a commander-in-chief who will not squander our best and brightest for the sake of a dollar.We need to feel the safety of our homes and streets.
We urgently need to begin the restructure of our health care delivery here at home, making health care a basic right for all people.
We must change the way the system works against families of all kinds. Children should not go hungry and parents should not have to work three or four jobs just to keep a roof over their heads and safe nutritious food on the table.
We must all work to guarantee that the people who we elect to represent us do actually represent us and work for our benefit.
We must continue to be vigilant of those who wish to keep us oppressed and deny basic civil rights to us and our families simply because of who we love, our skin color, or how we are born. Not just LGBT people, but all people must be equal in all respects.
Having come from Denver this last week, I see what is meant by the saying that politics is the art of the possible. The possibilities for LGBT people and all people is palpable.
Our brush stroke in the art of the possible is clearly defined and well within our means. We must indivually and as a whole and united community engage in the belief of change and hope for a better future.
We have a very clear calling, along with some very clear steps we all need take to be bring about the change we all hope for.
We are democrats. Our core values are adopted and defined in our party platform. We are included and a part of the intrnsic fabric of our democratic party. Our well being is woven into those core values expressed in the party platform and echoed in the true meaning of our constitution. We have the tools and means to effect the change we want. We as gay, lesbian, bisexual an transgender are empowered to participate in the change and hope for a better future for all our sakes. We simply can not afford to stand back and watch our future dissolve before our eyes.
Here in Oregon, we have a responsibility as a community to step up to the plate. As a community we have no choice choice but become fully engaged as a community. Where ever we are in life, we must consider the intolerable outcome if we fail to act now!
We are less than two months away from the election. If you have any spare time or resources to spare in the next two months, consider making an investment in your future.
If you ask yourself or doubt that you can make a difference, please reach out to any democratic campaign office in the state. Call or write your friends and relatives, even those in other states and beg them to support democratic candidates where ever they may be. If you’re still not convinced you can and do make a difference feel free to email treasurer (at) stonewalloregon (dot) org.
Here are a couple of links to get you started:
Jeff Merkley is a champion for GLBT people everywhere. As our Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives, Jeff Merkely was one of the crucial keys to bringing the Oregon Equality and Family Fairness Act from a dream to reality.
Unlike Jeff Merkely’s republican opponent who tries to pretend to be good on our issues, while voting in favor of the Federal Marriage Amendment twice and comparing relationship equality to polygamy. Please contrast that to the fact that the republican nominee for president voted against the Federal marriage Amendment Act.
The Democratic Party of Oregon, Basic Rights Oregon and eQuality Giving have all enthusiastically endorsed my personal freind Jeff Merkley.
This site has been specifically set up for the LGBT community to easily get involved in helping to elect Barack Obama. The site and drive behind it is the work Oregonian Terry Bean.
Transgender Community and Allies:
Trans folk and their allies with National Stonewall Democrats have set up an easy to use web page to support Barack Obama. It’s a great way to show your support for Obama and the trans people in your life.
Tags: bisexual, democrats, DNC, gay, lesbian, merkely, obama, transgender
Posted in Events, Jeff Merkley, National Stonewall Democrats, News, Oregon Democrats, Statewide | 2 Comments »
Breaking: Oregon Tribe to Legally Marry Same-Sex Couple
Posted by Laura Calvo on 20th August 2008
The Oregonian is reporting that the Coquille Tribe in southern Oregon has passed a law permitting same-sex marriages and that a lesbian couple intend to be legally married in the the spring.
Posted in Oregon Democrats | No Comments »
Democratic Target Practice
Posted by Laura Calvo on 20th August 2008
Zach Johnson, Chair of the Democratic Party of Oregon Gun Owner Caucus, announced the they are sponsoring an all day shooting event at the Central Oregon Shooting Sports Association range on September 28th.
For more information you can go to the Blue Steel Democrats blog
The Gun Owner Caucus members have been great supporters and allies to the GLBT community. If you are out that way, plan on stopping by to say hello.
Posted in Oregon Democrats | No Comments »
More rare than a solar eclipse
Posted by Laura Calvo on 14th August 2008
In breaking news today, The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on Lemons v. Bradbury.
It’s official! There will be no anti-gay ballot measures or referendum on Oregon’s November ballot. This will be only the second time in 24 years of Oregon general elections that an anti-gay measure will NOT appear on the Oregon ballot. Since 1984 it has been more common to see a solar eclipse than to see an Oregon general election ballot without an anti gay measure.
Read more at Just Out, Gay Rights Watch and Basic Rights Oregon
Tags: anti gay, civil rights, court, repeal
Posted in News, Oregon Democrats | No Comments »
Colorado’s New Congressman to Join Frank and Baldwin
Posted by Laura Calvo on 13th August 2008
Jared Polis (D-CO) is likely to become the first-ever openly gay man elected to the U.S. Congress as a non-incumbent, according to the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund. Polis won his Democratic primary tonight in the race to represent Colorado’s 2nd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. As the Democratic nominee in an overwhelmingly Democratic district, Polis is nearly certain to win the seat in November. He would join Reps. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and Barney Frank (D-Mass.) as the only openly gay or lesbian members of Congress.
Rep. Tammy Baldwin, elected from Wisconsin in 1998, was the first openly gay person to be elected to the U.S. House as a non-incumbent. Rep. Barney Frank of Massachusetts announced he was gay in 1987 after having served several terms in the House.
Tags: baldwin, Congress, frank, gay, polis
Posted in News | No Comments »
DNC Platform News
Posted by Laura Calvo on 12th August 2008
There’s an article in the Washington Blade reporting on the Democratic National Party Platform that
delegates will be voting to adopt at the DNC Convention in Denver. The title of article is, “Dem platform called ‘strongest ever’ on gay rights”.
The final approved draft, complete with the edits as decided upon at the DNC Platform Drafting Committee in Pittsburgh PA last Saturday is not available yet. When it becomes available I will post a link to the document.
We here in Oregon have been watching and involved in the process every step of the way and long before anything ever showed up in the current media cycle.
Our process and input to a comprehensive platform has been evolving over the last 4 years. The 2006 Democratic Party of Oregon Platform clearly signaled the Democratic Party’s call for the Oregon Legislature to pass the Oregon Equality Act and the Oregon Family Fairness Act. Both historic laws were enacted into law by the signature Governor Kulongowski in 2007.
For the record, The 2006 DPO Platform, the Oregon Equality Act, and the Oregon Family Fairness Act do not contain the the words Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, or Transgender.
There’s a huge back story regarding the platform story that very few media outlets report adequately. Not meaning to overly criticize the media, especially the media geared to the GLBT community, but much of what is reported to us is the result and not the work, time, and personal commitment put into that result.
Tags: DNC, platform
Posted in National Stonewall Democrats, News, Oregon Democrats, Statewide | No Comments »
Barney Frank RE: John Mccain
Posted by Laura Calvo on 9th August 2008
“In a number of areas, Senator John McCain is praised for moderation that he has not in fact
shown in his votes.”
Hon. Barney Frank (D-MA)
Sound kind of familiar? Trying to look like a moderate, but not when you look at the votes on the floor of the Senate. Most especially so when it comes election time?
“With one exception, the relevance of which Senator McCain himself is rapidly diminishing, John McCain’s record is completely opposed to our efforts to combat prejudice and gain legal equality.”
“The one exception has to do with his vote against the constitutional amendment that would have banned marriage.”
Here’s why it sounds familar. Oregon’s current Republican junior Senator and who is also McCain’s Oregon campaign chair is trying hard to appear moderate at election time, just like McCain.
Back to Barney Frank,
“He [McCain] did vote against that amendment [Federal Marriage Amendment] on states’ rights grounds. But in his effort to win over the right wing support he has needed to secure the Republican nomination and hold Republican votes in November, he has paved the way for a retreat from that position.”
Oregon’s Republican junior Senator doesn’t need to pave any kind of way to retreat to hold Republican votes. Thats because Oregon’s Republican junior Senator already voted twice to support the Federal Marriage Amendment.
Representative Barney Frank of Massachusetts does share something in common with a particular Oregonian. That would be Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives Jeff Merkley who is the pro-equality Democratic candidate for U.S. Senator from Oregon. Both Jeff Merkley and Barney Frank are endorsed by eQuality Giving.org
Tags: Barney Frank, mccain, Merkley, smith
Posted in Gordon Smith, Jeff Merkley, National Stonewall Democrats, Oregon Democrats, Oregon Senate 2008, Statewide | No Comments »
Obama Pride Includes Prominent GLBT Oregonians
Posted by Laura Calvo on 8th August 2008
Dave Noble, the Director of the LGBT Vote at Obama for America, in a national email update mentioned prominent Oregon LGBT leaders Terry Bean and Roey Thorpe. Washingtonians Marsha Botzer, founder of the Ingersoll Gender Center located in Seattle and Alex Wagner, a Seattle attorney are also mentioned. It’s a broad sampling of the who’s who of LGBT Americans.
Rep. Baldwin and other leaders join the team
This week, we’re proud to announce that Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) has joined our campaign as co-chair of the National LGBT Steering and Policy Committee. Congresswoman Baldwin was Chair of Senator Hillary Clinton’s National LGBT Steering Committee through the primary. She will join Tobias Barrington Wolff, law professor at the University of Pennsylvania and civil rights lawyer, who chaired Senator Obama’s LGBT Policy Committee through the primary. They will be co-chairs of the National LGBT Steering and Policy Committee moving forward.
In a release, Congresswoman Baldwin said “I am proud to support Barack Obama for President and work hard for his election because we share a commitment to equality for all Americans. This is our quest and our common goal. From now through November, we will reach out aggressively to our fellow LGBT Americans to ensure that they know there is only one candidate in this race who will stand up for equal rights and build a coalition that can deliver the change that we desperately need.”
Tags: obama, Oregon, roey thorpe, terry bean
Posted in Events, National Stonewall Democrats, News, Oregon Democrats, Statewide | No Comments »