"I am here to recruit you."
Those
words spoken by Clark County Commission Rory Reid were familiar to the
crowd of one hundred, packed into the Gay and Lesbian Center of Las
Vegas for the Stonewall Democratic Club of Southern Nevada meeting.
A cynic would accuse the Nevada gubernatorial candidate of egregious
pandering. But for anyone following Rory's campaign, they'd know he has
used the late Harvey Milk's words for months; in front of crowds of
varying sexuality, race, age, education and social status, in all
corners of the state of Nevada. He does this not to pander, or to be
provocative. As Rory said during Stonewall Dems' meeting, he
understands that like Harvey, and more recently President Obama, he
can't just win this election, he must build a movement.
Nevada's
current governor, Jim Gibbons (who is running for reelection against
Rory), made his Republican pontifications over small government and low
taxes a reality. In doing so, he's nearly choked the life out of the
state. We are experiencing a deep depression and instead of making bold
decisions to increase revenue for the state, he's cut vital services,
state employees salaries (not his own of course) and even tried to
eliminate the Nevada Equal Rights Commission (NERC), the agency that
oversees the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. It’s the only
agency in the state that resolves LGBTQ-related discrimination, and the
only agency that enforces, SB207, a bill to end discrimination against
transgendered persons in Nevada. This is not the first time Governor
Gibbons has tried to trample on LGBTQ rights, he also vetoed SB 286,
the bill allowing Domestic Partnerships in NV; a veto that was,
thankfully, overridden.
Which
brings me back to Rory. While he admits he does not know every detail
to SB207, he strongly supports the rights of transgendered persons and
feels they should have the same rights and legal avenues as everyone
else if they are discriminated against. And he was appalled at the
governor’s attack on NERC. Stonewall members reacted strongly to his
suggestion that a study be conducted before Clark County employees are
given Domestic Partnership rights. Rory insisted that he is willing to
meet with and talk to anyone to provide him with more insight and
understanding on the subject. His bottom line: as governor of Nevada,
everyone is welcome, everyone is equal, and he will work hard to make
it that way, but he needs our help.
Equality
Democrats like Rory Reid need us. He needs us not to just vote for him,
but to engage him, our peers, our neighbors and our friends. Rory Reid
has a plan to pull this state out of this depression. Stonewall
Democrats of Southern Nevada have been attending and hosting dozens of
events each month, working to keep our majorities in all houses in all
levels of government, but most importantly, to remove anti-LGBTQ bigot,
Jim Gibbons from the governor’s mansion in Carson City.
We
have come closer than ever before to repealing Don’t Ask Don’t Tell,
making marriage legal for everyone and getting rid of the abhorrent
Defense of Marriage Act. Our hard work can not be undone by our own
midterm election apathy. Rory is here to recruit you, and so am I.
Please help me, and the Stonewall Democrats of Southern Nevada elect
Rory Reid the next governor of Nevada www.RoryReid.com
By Laura Martin
Communications Directior
Stonewall Democratic Club of Southern Nevada
http://sdcsn.blogspot.com/
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