Memo from the New Hampshire Stonewall Democrats

Hon. Ed Butler, State Representative (Hart's Location, NH)
Hon. Gail Morrison, State Representative (Sanborton, NH)

January 08, 2008

New Hampshire Stonewall chapter members have been actively involved in the campaigns of the Democratic candidates. Along with other GLBT organizations in our state, we have been focussed on pressing and clarifying the positions of the leading candidates on our issues. We have attended their events, have asked questions of concern to the GLBT communities and have worked with the various campaigns to make sure they remain aware of us as an important, knowledgeable and involved constituency. Instead of endorsing a particular candidate, we have encouraged our members to become actively involved with the candidate of their choice.

As the New Hampshire Democratic Presidential Primary season comes to a close, we note that:

• New Hampshire Stonewall Democrat members have advanced political issues of importance to the LGBT community at every opportunity during the New Hampshire primary season. We have birddogged candidates in order to ask our questions and Stonewall members organized and participated in the New Year's Eve celebrations at the implementation of civil unions. The high degree of support expressed by the press and the public cannot have been missed by the candidates and their campaign staffs, so influencing opinions.

• Along with National Stonewall Democrats, we have hosted a national training in conjunction with the Young Democrats of America, the New Hampshire Democratic Party and the Democratic National Committee. This training brought hundreds of LGBT Democrats to New Hampshire to engage presidential campaigns on LGBT issues.

• New Hampshire Stonewall Democrat members have sucessfully worked within the party structure to adopt an Affirmative Action and Inclusion plan for delegate selection to the Democratic National Convention which is inclusive of the LGBT Community (a 20% goal for LGBT participation).

• We have worked with presidential campaign to promote LGBT outreach as part of the delegate selection process for each campaign.

*We have been deeply involved in the various presidential campaigns of various candidates holding house parties for our candidates, attending debates, canvassing, submitting letters to the editor, blogging, providing visibility and calling voters.

Hon. Ed Butler and Hon. Gail Morrison
Co-Chairs, New Hampshire Stonewall Democrats

National Stonewall Democrats has launched www.PrideInTheParty.org as a stand-alone website where LGBT Democrats can sign up to participate in the delegate selection process and access state-by-state information. The program will work with presidential campaigns, state parties and allied organizations to ensure that LGBT Democrats are reflected in each state delegation. Pride in the Party will assist in training and advising interested individuals and in the development of delegate campaigns.

The New Hampshire Democratic Party maintains longstanding support for LGBT issues, including the freedom to marry for same-sex couples. Additionally, the state Democratic parties of Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Iowa, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Oregon and Washington State fully support the freedom of same-sex couples to marry. The state Democratic parties of Nebraska and Vermont voice support for civil unions.

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National Stonewall Democrats is the only national organization of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Democrats, with more than 90 local chapters across the nation. NSD is committed to working through the Democratic Party to advance the rights of all people regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

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