National Stonewall Democrats statement on World AIDS Day and the 30th anniversary of the discovery of the disease

Press Release - December 1st, 2011

On the 30th anniversary of the discovery of AIDS, there is still much work to be done. While the US has played a leading role in the ongoing progress surrounding the disease, those advances have been far too slow in coming. Stonewall Democrats across the nation are taking time today to remember those lost and to recommit ourselves to ensuring HIV/AIDS is at the forefront of our country's priorities.

National Stonewall Democrats commends the President's announcement of new measures today to combat HIV and AIDS as part of our country's first comprehensive HIV/AIDS strategy. Thanks to collaboration across the federal government this administration will be testing new approaches to integrating housing, prevention, care, substance abuse and mental health services, and enhanced education about HIV/AIDS. President Obama's leadership on this issue has seen the demise of the HIV travel ban and increased funding for domestic HIV/AIDS treatment and care.

Michael Mitchell to step down as National Stonewall Democrats Executive Director

Press Release - October 18th, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 18, 2011

CONTACT: Michael Mitchell - 347-416-2726 - mmitchell@stonewalldemocrats.org

Craig Roberts - 619-865-4550 - croberts@stonewalldemocrats.org

National Stonewall Democrats announced today that Executive Director Michael Mitchell has decided not to renew his contract, which is completed at the end of this month.

Statement by National Stonewall Democrats Executive Director, Michael Mitchell, on the passing of Dr. Frank Kameny

Press Release - October 12th, 2011

Last night, we lost a hero and a champion for LGBT rights. Dr. Frank Kameny was a courageous and undeniable force in our movement. In 1957, he was fired from his US Government job for being gay. The peaceful demonstrations he spearheaded predated the Stonewall Riots by several years, and no doubt opened a door to wider acceptance that allowed the fateful nights of 1969 to grab hold.

NSD Statement on the Final Repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Press Release - September 20th, 2011

Don't Ask, Don't Tell is Repealed; NSD Salutes All Who Helped Make Today Possible

"At midnight last night, the wrong-headed Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy came to an end," said Michael Mitchell, National Stonewall Democrats Executive Director. "Good riddance.

NSD Responds to Don't Ask, Don't Tell Certification

Press Release - July 22nd, 2011

Fulfilling a major campaign promise to the LGBT community, today President Obama signed the certification for Don't Ask, Don't Tell repeal, which moves us to the final stage of the repeal process set out by Congress last year. 60 days from today, we will finally see the end to over 236 years of institutionalized discrimination.

NSD Statement on President Obama's Endorsement of the Respect for Marriage Act

Press Release - July 19th, 2011

“With his commonsense endorsement of the Respect for Marriage Act (RMA), President Obama makes a strong follow up move to his having called DOMA unconstitutional and his instruction to the Department of Justice to no longer defend it in court,” said Michael Mitchell, NSD Executive Director.

National Stonewall Democrats Lauds Appointment of Rep. Wasserman Schultz as DNC Chair

Press Release - April 6th, 2011

"We couldn’t be happier with the announcement of Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz to lead the Democratic National Committee as we head into the critical 2012 elections," said Michael Mitchell, National Stonewall Democrats Executive Director. "Rep. Wasserman Schultz is a great friend to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community in her home state of Florida and nationally, where she is a founding member of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus. It is a brilliant move on the part of President Obama to appoint someone as smart, respected, passionate, strategic and cool-headed as Rep. Wasserman Schultz."

Statement from National Stonewall Democrats on President Obama’s 2012 Reelection Bid Announcement

Press Release - April 5th, 2011

“A victory for President Obama in 2012 is a victory for the LGBT community.”

“Barack Obama was the right choice for America in 2008 and is still very much the right choice for America in 2012,” said Michael Mitchell, National Stonewall Democrats Executive Director. “Because of the scores of actions beneficial to the LGBT community that the Obama administration has taken – all of which would have never happened under a GOP administration – President Obama is also the right choice for the LGBT community.

“Whether keeping his promise to sign Hate Crimes legislation and Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell repeal, or requiring that hospitals that receive government funding recognize same-sex partners, or directing the Department of Justice to not defend the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), or directing the State Department to allow transgender Americans the ability to have passports that reflect their gender identity, or any of the dozens of other actions the administration has taken to make sure that LGBT Americans are better included in the fabric of our great country, President Obama and his administration have proven themselves time and again to our community,” Mitchell said.

Statement from the National Stonewall Democrats About the Reintroduction of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA)

Press Release - March 30th, 2011

“Reintroduction of ENDA keeps the conversation about LGBT job discrimination ongoing.”

Statement by NSD Regarding the Obama Administration's Declaration that DOMA Section 3 is Unconstitutional

Press Release - February 23rd, 2011

National Stonewall Democrats applauds today’s announcement by the Obama Administration that it believes Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional and that classifications based on sexual orientation should be subject to a higher standard of scrutiny.

“Like many Americans, the President has been doing a lot of soul-searching around marriage equality and we’re very pleased that he has taken this crucial step toward the ultimate overturn of DOMA,” said Michael Mitchell, NSD Executive Director. “DOMA, like Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, has been a heavy burden on the LGBT community, as well as blight on the American ideals of liberty, freedom and equality.

"The President campaigned on the overturn of both DADT and DOMA and we’re happy to see him working to keep the latter promise like he did the first. While there are some who would say that this move comes late, we counter that this would not be happening at all with a Republican in the White House.

“I speak for all of our members when I say that this is incredibly welcome news."

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