Stonewall Dems make their mark in Oregon — and nationally
By Daniel Borgen, PQ Monthly
Photo by Jules Garza, PQ Monthly
It’s nearly political convention time, and with that comes the familiar barrage of advertisements, speeches, debates — all of which is ramped up even more in the heat of a presidential election year.
LGBTQ rights have, as most everyone knows, sprung to the forefront of the national debate: marriage, adoption, Chick-fil-A, you name it — it’s probably queer-related. In addition to the big, welcome news that the Democratic Party will include marriage equality in its platform, it’s comforting to know there are plenty of Oregonians working hard here at home to ensure equality remains at the forefront.
Case in point: the Oregon Stonewall Democrats. Otherwise known as the Democratic Party of Oregon’s LGBTQ Caucus, the Stonewall Dems honed in on specific Legislative Action Items (otherwise known as political objectives) during the state convention and made sure ample queer representation makes it to the National Convention.
Joey Kerns, chair of the Democratic Party of Oregon’s LGBTQ Caucus; photo by Jules Garza, PQ Monthy
“We were successful in getting 15 self-identified LGBT individuals elected delegates to the DNC Convention, which exceeded our goal by seven,” said Joey Kerns, who serves as caucus chair. “We employed a strategy that helped boil down a complex, state-wide process so that our members knew what conventions to sign up for and so they knew which candidates to support. By voting in bloc, strategizing, and forming coalitions, we ensured LGBT representation from Oregon at the DNC Convention.”
But their work didn’t end there. Here at home during the party’s convention held this past April, the Stonewall Democrats added four Legislative Action Items (LAIs) to this year’s Democratic Party of Oregon’s platform. Of those four, two received enough votes to be considered “top priority” by the party. The two priorities: to immediately pass the fully-inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act and repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, along with ensuring full marriage equality for same-sex Oregon couples.
“LAIs express the vision and goals of the party,” Kerns said. “This means we have the Democratic Party of Oregon on record and focused on supporting marriage equality, the repeal of DOMA, fully inclusive ENDA, among other LGBT issues. This great success represents months of strategizing and planning by caucus members.”
The other two pieces of the platform are: to adopt a non-discriminatory “comprehensive Oregon health care system that provides universal coverage accessible to all Oregonians” and to assure “freedom from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity as modeled by the Oregon Equality Act.” That’s quite an agenda — and one that undoubtedly puts equality at the forefront this election year and beyond.
But it’s not all policy-making and agenda-following. When November comes around, folks also have to win races. On that front, the LGBT Caucus has honed in on some races they see as key to their success.
“We, of course, support all Democrats in the election,” Kerns explained. “But we have decided to support [Oregon Secretary of State] Kate Brown, [State Representative candidate] Claudia Kyle, [State Rep] Tina Kotek, and have officially endorsed Nena Cook for Oregon Supreme Court.”
For more on the Democratic Party of Oregon’s LGBTQ Caucus visit wwww.stonewalloregon.org.
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2 comments on “Stonewall Dems make their mark in Oregon — and nationally”
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Wow, in 2012 the Democrats will finally add equality to their platform. Perhaps we can look forward to 2036 when they’ll declare corporations aren’t people and sever their ties to Wall Street. And in 2052, we might see the day when the party platform commits itself to peace and prosperity rather than the endless wars they’ve been supporting since I was born in 1962.
For all the queers and their allies who think this issue is important, please note that the Pacific Green Party was founded in 1991 with a core principle of equal rights for all, regardless of …. sexual orientation.
It has been said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and we’ll take what we can get. I only wish rank and file Democrats would wake up and see how un-progressive their party really is and join the international party committed to peace, justice, sustainability, and democracy.
Brian, get off your high horse and open the door to reality. Progressives of all stripes are necessary to move the ball forward, and especially those of us that have decided to work within the behemoth of the Democratic Party. You may not have noticed, Brian, but we are making inroads.
I applaud progressive activists of all stripes, and indeed, I work with them on progressive local and state issues. We are ALL needed. I am frankly tired of the brian-esg whiners for whom the glass is always a 1/4 full, there never is enough progress, and dammit, our history stinks, too.
Last I checked that even the most devout Progressive is unable to change what didn’t happen 20 years ago.
The bottom line is this, throwing barbs at progressive Democratic activists is like circling the wagons and pointing the rifles inward. It is strategically destructive and a waste of time to belittle those that agree with you, that are working toward the same goals as you, but have simply decided to use a different street to get there.
Your pride in being a Green is fine, but as it blinds you to the good works others do, it just serves to feed your ill-informed prejudice.