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- MARIO ACOSTA-VELEZ
Friday, July 18, 2008
A RECENT VIEWPOINT in the Washington Blade raised questions about the
influence of the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club in D.C. politics (“D.C.
gay groups losing their clout,” op-ed by Peter Rosenstein, July 11).
The viewpoint shared below presents a more accurate assessment of the
well-rooted and increasing influence of the Stein Club.
We are one of the oldest LGBT Democratic clubs in the nation, and by
far the largest and most active LGBT political organization in the
District. Our mission is to grow the political influence and civic
participation of diverse members of the LGBT community.
The political clout of the Stein Club is most evident in the value that
political candidates give to receiving a Stein Club endorsement.
Beginning in 1978, the Stein Club’s endorsement of Marion Barry was
instrumental in his first election as mayor when he was one of the few
politicians in the District who openly supported gay rights. Since
then, the Club’s endorsement has attracted more and more candidates to
the regular endorsement meetings. The majority of our endorsed
candidates have gone on to win elections and support LGBT issues. Some
recent examples of Stein Club-endorsed candidates who were elected
include: Anthony Williams (mayor), Kwame Brown (Council At-Large), Jim
Graham (Council), Adrian Fenty (Council), Jack Evans (Council) and
Vincent Gray (Council).
The Club’s candidate endorsements are based on the candidate’s
positions on and support for issues impacting the LGBT community. We
have never based an endorsement on a candidate’s status as incumbent or
not. Today, the Stein Club’s endorsements are viewed by candidates as
one of the most important in the city, and certainly one that is
difficult to obtain given the Club’s 60 percent threshold. The
significance of a Stein Club endorsement reached new levels this year
when we followed a suggestion by Lee Brian Reba, deputy chief of staff
for Council Chair Vincent Gray (and long-term Stein Club member) to
march in the Capital Pride Parade with endorsed candidates.
BEYOND ENDORSING CANDIDATES, the Stein Club plays a growing leadership
role in advocating for legislation, policies and initiatives to advance
important issues in the community. The Stein Club has worked to
strengthen domestic partnership legislation, which has become the
strongest in the nation, and was instrumental in passing legislation to
establish the permanent Office of LGBT Affairs within the District
government.
We worked to expand the D.C. Human Rights Act, advocated for the
establishment of LGBT diversity training and worked to increase the
number of LGBT individuals serving on boards and commissions. Recently,
we worked with Council members Kwame Brown and Jack Evans to persuade
the Nationals to review its procurement policy to include
non-discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender
expression and identity in order to open opportunities for LGBT-owned
businesses.
THE STEIN CLUB continues to create an entrance ramp for civic activism,
grassroots leadership and political mobilization. This year we
partnered with the Gay & Lesbian Leadership Institute to provide
campaign training on how to run for ANC positions as openly LGBT
persons. We also began our series of LGBT Ward House Parties, which
provide a forum for our members to engage with Council members.
Today, Stein Club veterans can be found in elected and appointed
office, on D.C. boards and commissions, in executive branch
policymaking positions, on Council member staffs, as leaders of civic
associations, labor and business groups, and in Democratic Party posts.
Many of these leaders express appreciation for how their Stein Club
involvement influenced their lives.
We agree that advocacy groups in our community need greater
participation. The Stein Club welcomes all who wish to attend its
meetings, socials, candidate debates, rallies, campaign trainings and
fundraisers. We are proud of our membership and its contributions.
Blade readers can learn more about activities and become a member by
visiting our web site, www.steindemocracts.org.
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