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| Gay caucus members said Democratic Party Chair Howard Dean supports a proposed gay ‘inclusion’ rule for selecting delegates to the party’s national convention. (Photo by Hillary Hodge/AP) |
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HOME > NEWS > NATIONAL NEWS
By: LOU CHIBBARO J COMMENTS
 
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Stonewall Democrats and gay caucus members vowed to help recruit and elect more openly gay African Americans, who would become “twofers” to fulfill the categories of gays and African Americans.
One DNC insider, who asked not to be identified because he didn’t want to alienate party leaders he works with, said the main reason DNC officials opposed opening the affirmative action rule to gays was the “floodgate” factor.
“They were worried that opening this up to gays would open the way for every other group not currently included in affirmative action to demand to be added to the list,” said the DNC source.
“I am quite satisfied at the outcome, and believe it is a major step forward for our community in terms of eliminating under-representation in party affairs,” Shay said on Aug. 16.
Andy Tobias, the gay DNC treasurer and the party’s highest ranking open gay, called the compromise rule one more example of how the Democratic Party has outpaced the Republicans in reaching out to gays.
“Hats off to the DNC and the Democratic Party for being the party of inclusion,” Tobias said.
NSD board member Clair Lucas called the compromise rule “an historic step forward toward greater inclusion of GLBT Americans.”
“The flip of this is like every other constituency, the GLBT community must work for its inclusion and through that process build coalitions and partnerships that strengthen both the GLBT community and state parties. This is a beginning and not an end,” Lucas said.
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