Cleveland Stonewall Dems is working on many fronts

by Patrick Shepherd

Cleveland-Founded in the wake of the 2000 presidential campaign, the Cleveland Stonewall Democrats are devoted to securing equal rights for all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Toward this mission, the group is committed to:

• Engage voters to elect Democratic candidates who support issues of importance to the LGBT community;

• Energize the community to provide financial and volunteer support for gay and gay-supportive Democratic candidates; and,

• Advocate for public policy that ensures equal rights and protections for all Ameri-

cans.

As the group approaches its third birthday in August 2003, it is proud to report that its membership has:

• Advocated for the successful passage of a domestic partner benefits package for City of Cleveland Heights employees in April 2002 and worked to fend off a ballot referendum of the Cleveland Heights domestic partner benefits;

• Advocated against a strong "Defense of Marriage" bill in the Ohio General Assembly before the legislation died in the Ohio Senate last year;

Advocated for the introduction of Ohio's first LGBT civil rights bill in the state's General Assembly in March 2003;

• Worked with Cleveland Mayor Jane Campbell to feature her at LGBT events, ensuring her place in history as the first Cleveland mayor to address the LGBT community at Cleveland Pride, the Human Rights Campaign dinner, and several Stonewall Democrats events. She was the first Cleveland mayor to hoist the rainbow Pride flag over City Hall.

•

Helped to elect 81% and 73% of CSD-

endorsed candidates in the 2001 and 2002 general elections, respectively;

• Created a political action committee to offer financial support for endorsed candidates;

Launched an education campaign across Northeast Ohio to encourage more LGBT people to seek appointment to governmental boards and commissions;

• Built a comprehensive web site, http:// www.clevelandstonewalldemocrats.org, that encourages Ohioans to contact political campaigns, elected officials, and media to heighten visibility and spread the message about the struggle for equality;

• Worked with chair Jimmy Dimora to affiliate with the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party and secure Central and Executive Committee seats so that LGBT people would have a voice within the local Democratic Party; and,

• Hosted the National Stonewall Democrats Convention in April, 2002.

The Cleveland Stonewall Democrats holds annual events such as a summer picnic in August and political action committee fundraiser in September. "Bar Raids" (distribution of voter guides at LGBT restaurants, coffeehouses, bars and nightclubs) and a "Get Out the LGBT Vote" rally are staged on the eve of every general election.

In addition, the club seeks to expand our membership at annual events such as the Cleveland Pride Parade and Festival, Dancin' in the Streets, Northern Ohio Coalition's "We Are Family" picnic, Black Unity Pride Weekend, AIDS Walk Cleveland, and the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party Day at the Zoo.

Visit the web site at http:// www.clevelandstonewalldemocrats.org for

more information.

Patrick Shepherd is the president of the Cleveland Stonewall Democrats.

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