By KEVIN NAFF & JOSHUA LYNSEN
Jan 24 2008, 11:34 AM |
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A gay man’s lawsuit against the Democratic National Committee has revealed allegations of bitter, behind-the-scenes disputes that appear to pit black DNC officials against gays.
In a fiery e-mail exchange obtained this week by the Blade, a senior official with the gay partisan group National Stonewall Democrats denounces a top DNC staffer, Leah Daughtry, for allegedly inciting anti-gay prejudice.
“Imagine what [DNC Chair Howard] Dean could do if people like Leah were confronted for their bigotry and fired,” writes the Stonewall Democrats official. The author’s name is redacted on the e-mails obtained by the Blade. The e-mails were sent in 2006.
Referring to Daughtry, the official says, “I think Samuel L. Jackson said it best when he said ‘I’m sick of these mother fuckin’ snakes on this mother fuckin’ plane.’ It may be time to drive the snakes from the DNC.”
The Stonewall Democrats group works closely with the DNC.
Dean responded to the comments in a written statement sent Wednesday to the Blade.
“Anyone who truly knows Leah and her values appreciates her deep commitment to fighting for fairness and equality for everyone regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation or gender identity, and any insinuation otherwise is irresponsible and despicable,” he said.
“The DNC has consistently refrained from commenting on ongoing litigation out of respect for the legal process and to protect the interests of everyone involved. It is disappointing that the plaintiffs are using dishonest smear tactics in order to try their case outside the courtroom.”
John Marble, a Stonewall Democrats spokesperson, declined to comment on the messages.
Daughtry, who is black, is a longtime party operative, Dean’s chief of staff and overseeing the party’s upcoming national convention in Denver. She was unavailable for an interview this week, but a gay coworker defended her performance at the DNC.
“I do not consider her in any way, shape or form homophobic,” said Philip McNamara, the DNC’s director of party affairs. “She is a good, caring person.”
Daughtry was deposed last week in a lawsuit filed by former DNC gay outreach director Donald Hitchcock, who was fired shortly after his domestic partner, Paul Yandura, criticized Dean in a 2006 letter to gay Democrats.
The lawsuit alleges Hitchcock was discriminated against and treated differently at the DNC because he is gay. It also alleges the DNC “threatened, interfered with and retaliated against” Hitchcock because he advocated for gay issues.
Joe Sandler, the DNC’s general counsel, has said the charges “have no merit” and that the organization is “committed to defending its position vigorously in court.”
Damien LaVera, a DNC spokesperson, said in a statement that the organization is inclusive and diverse.
“Over the last three years the Democratic National Committee has made diversity in hiring a top priority,” he said. “The DNC now has a record number of LGBT staff, a diverse convention team and just this month a record number of openly LGBT individuals were appointed to the standing committees of the convention.”
But e-mails obtained by the Blade show the Stonewall Democrats official questioning the commitment of some party staffers to inclusion and diversity.
The messages to Brian Bond, Hitchcock’s successor at the DNC, were triggered by the news that a lesbian had been elected to the Alabama state legislature.
Patricia Todd won her seat in the Alabama House of Representatives in July 2006, following a protracted fight in which her victory was temporarily overturned.
Todd defeated her Democratic opponent, Gaynell Hendricks, by 59 votes in a primary runoff, but Hendricks’ supporters challenged the outcome, arguing that Todd should have been disqualified because she missed the deadline for filing a campaign finance report, a charge Todd denied. A party subcommittee overturned results of the election, but Democratic Party Executive Committee officials later voted 95-87 to reverse the decision and let Todd’s victory stand.
Party insiders said Alabama Democratic Conference Chair Joe Reed, who is black, orchestrated the challenge.
According to media reports at the time, Reed wanted an African American to represent the mostly black district. The Birmingham News reported that the vote by the full Democratic Party committee split largely along racial lines.
The initial e-mail written by the Stonewall Democrats official on Aug. 26, 2006, says, “Just a quick update … Patricia Todd has won in Alabama. The Alabama Democratic Party threw out the challenge by her opponent about 20 minutes ago.”
Bond replied to the Stonewall Democrats official’s e-mail in a message sent about 30 minutes later.
“Told you it would work out. Although I was getting nervous. This is the exact reason why we need greater glbt rep on state committees and more people of color representing the glbt community.”
The Stonewall Democrats official replied to Bond, taking issue with his phrasing.
“It didn’t exactly ‘work out.’ We — and especially the [Gay & Lesbian] Victory Fund — spent MUCH time working on this. That being said, the party only narrowly upheld Patricia’s victory with Dr. Reed walking up and down the aisle standing directly in front of each person and staring them in the face as they did.
“The party needs to shun the divisive politics of people like Dr. Reed, and yes Leah Daughtry, whose only loyalty are to themselves and not the Democratic Party or the American Family. They are a cancerous sore who have ailed our operations for too long.”
Reed did not respond to an interview request this week.
‘Stirring up’ opposition?
Documents in Hitchcock’s lawsuit reveal another incident in which blacks and gays apparently clashed.
Yandura’s open letter to gay Democrats in 2006 came shortly after reports surfaced that some members of the DNC Black Caucus opposed a proposal by gay DNC member Garry Shay of California to add gays to the party’s affirmative action guidelines for selecting delegates to the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
According to documents obtained by the Blade, Daughtry allegedly led a vigorous effort to thwart the plan.
In transcripts of Bond’s deposition, Hitchcock’s attorney asks, “Do you recall ever calling up Mr. Yandura in July of 2006 to talk to him about a senior staff meeting in which, in your words, Leah Daughtry was stirring up black constituents and caucus members against gays?”
Bond replies, “No.”
Hitchcock’s lawyer later asks, “Do you recall a conversation in which you told [Yandura] that [Daughtry] was stirring up black constituencies to oppose language for mandatory guidelines in the delegate selection?”
Bond responds, “No, I did not.”
Hitchcock’s lawyer then asks, “Did you ask him to reach out to … the executive director of the NAACP, to tell him that Leah Daughtry was using him and his organization against the gay community?”
Bond replies, “I don’t recall that.”
The attorney for Hitchcock then presents Bond w
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