Bay State Stonewall Dems Join Other GLBT to Oppose Question 1

BSSD is joining with the MTPC and other GLBT organizations to stop question one on this year's MA ballott to eliminate the income tax.

Why the GLBT and ally community should be voting NO on 1:

  • The income tax question on the ballot is a reckless proposal that will have severe and immediate consequences for all of us. This binding referendum will take more than $12 billion -- nearly 40 percent -- out of the state budget, driving up local property taxes and leading to drastic cuts in services.  
  • This would affect programs currently funded by the state for LGBT communities including: LGBT youth, HIV prevention programs for transgender woman and gay/bi men, and LGBT domestic violence, LGBT Againg Project and so many others.  
  •   Part of MTPC's advocacy is to fight for resources and services for the transgender community, but without state revenue for programs to begin with, our requests will be pointless. This is why we are asking for our community to Vote No on Question 1 on November 4, 2008.  

The following organizations are endorsing this campaign:

Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC)
MassEquality
The Development Resource Center
MataHari: Eye of the Day
Massachusetts National Organization for Women (MassNOW)
AIDS Action Committee (AAC)
Gay and Lesbian Labor Activists (GALLAN)
The Network/La Red
Bay State Stonewall Democrats
The Home for Little Wanderers

Find out more information at: http://votenoquestion1.com/


Gov. Deval Patrick is slated to speak at the Stonewall Democrats National Convention this weekend.

The Stonewall Democrats, a grassroots organization that represents lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual/transgender individuals, is holding its national convention this weekend in Denver, Colo. ahead of the Democratic National Convention.

Patrick (D-Milton) will address the convention Sunday at the Renaissance Hotel. The Massachusetts Democratic Delegation will be staying at the same hotel the following week for the Democratic Party's convention.

Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D) will speak the night before Patrick, at the Stonewall Democrats' national dinner.


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Bay State Stonewall Democrats to Honor Community Acitivists

The Bay State Stonewall Democrats will honor GLBT Community Activists Holly Ryan, Gunner Scott, and Diego Sanchez on June 11, 2008 at 6:00 PM at the Union Club located just down for the MA State House at 8 Park Street.

Please click here to purchase your tickets: http://www.baystatestonewalldems.org/events/unionclub


MASSACHUSETTS DEMOCRATIC PARTY ELECTS GAY AND LESBIAN DELEGATES TO NATIONAL CONVENTION DELEGATION

The Massachusetts Democratic Party and the Bay State Stonewall Democrats are pleased to announce that we have completed the election of our delegation to the Democratic National Convention, and met our goal for GLBT representation. At a meeting of the Massachusetts Democratic State Committee at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 103’s Freeport Hall, the committee elected 12 Pledged Party Leaders and Elected Officials, 2 unpledged add-ons, 20 at large delegates, and 6 at large alternates.

The Democratic State Committee set a goal of sending 8 gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered Democratic activists to Denver in April 2007 upon creation of the 2008 Delegate Selection Plan.  Throughout the year, a host of groups across the state worked tirelessly to insure the goal was met. Delegates could be elected at congressional level caucuses, or at large at the DSC meeting on May 10th.

Four gay and lesbian delegates were chosen at the congressional level caucuses on April 5th:

Richard Branson, Boston, 9th Congressional District, Pledged to Senator Obama                      

Stephen Driscoll, Pembroke, 10th Congressional District, Pledged to Senator Clinton

Patricia Deal, Arlington, 7th Congressional District, Pledged to Senator Clinton

Robert Demers, Tewksbury, 5th Congressional District, Pledged to Senator Clinton

While the numeric goal of eight does not include Alternate delegates, Tony Fernandes of Winthrop was elected as an alternate for Hillary Clinton in his Congressional caucus.  Congressman Barney Frank is included in the numeric goal and automatically attends the DNC by virtue of his office.

The final stage for selecting delegates was held on Saturday, May 10.  The additional three delegates selected on Saturday were:

Thomas Barbera, Waltham, Pledged to Senator Obama

Carol Ann Aloisi, East Boston, Pledged to Senator Clinton

Lynda Tocci, Medford, Pledged to Senator Clinton

Aloisi, also Secretary of the Massachusetts Democratic Party, received the most votes among the female pledged delegates for Clinton.  “I am thrilled to be heading to Denver.  I very much look forward to starting a national campaign in Denver that will help Democrats secure the White House and increase our majority in Congress,” she said.

Three gay and lesbian Democratic activists were also chosen to hold seats on the standing committees of the convention.  Rebecca Edmonson of Somerville, Joseph Kaplan of Mansfield, and Paul Giorgio of Worcester were all chosen Members of standing committees attend the convention but serve in a volunteer capacity and do not have a vote at the convention.  The first transgender Committee member, Diego Sanchez, also from Massachusetts, was appointed by National Party Chairman Howard Dean in March. “We’re thrilled about the level of GLBT representation in the delegation,” said Bay State Stonewall Democrats co-chair Shawn Hartman. “The Massachusetts Democratic Party and each presidential campaign team worked closely with various groups, including the Stonewall Democrats, to diversify the entire delegation, and their efforts clearly paid off.”
 

MA Democratic Party Chairman John Walsh congratulated all the gay and lesbian candidates.  “I am proud that we have reached our goal and elected the terrific GLBT activists who will join us in Denver. Our delegation is an exceptional one, both because of the caliber of the activists as well as their diversity. They are truly a representative of Massachusetts Democrats and I look forward to working with all of them in the days ahead.”

 


Democratic State Committee Elections Announced

The Bay State Stonewall Democrats recently grew their representation on the Democratic state committee, including two members who now serve on the Executive Committee and another who was elected Secretary of the party. Additionally, the chapter supported the election of the first openly-transgender member of the committee while LGBT Democrats now chair at least 8 city committees across Massachusetts.

Barbara Hoffman                  Steve Driscoll               Joe Kaplan

Bonnie Winokar                    Tom Barbera               Karen Payne

Dee Dee Edmonson            Tom McGrath               Lesley Phillips

Elizabeth Corcoran-Hunt       Rhonda Bourne              Paul Giorgio

Chad Raddock                     Carol Ann Aloisi             Shawn Hartman  

Congratulations to all those who ran.  We welcome everyone to BSSD and look forward to your continued commmittment to the Democratic Party!


Become a Delegate to the Democratic National Convention!

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) voters are one of the most loyal voting-blocks in the Democratic Party – second only to the African American community. We are everywhere and we vote!

We have earned our seat at the table and it is now time to make sure we have a strong voice in selecting the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee at the National Convention August 25-28 in Denver. This is our chance to be a part of the solution this country so desperately needs.