Political Parties: The Democratic Party Working for LGBT Equality

There is a difference between the political parties on advancing equality for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer Americans. Check what the Democratic Party is doing...

   

By Brian Bond | Contact Brian Bond is Executive Director of the DNC's Gay and Lesbian Leadership Council. As an advocate for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community within the Democratic Party, Bond works to encourage LGBT participation in Democratic Party affairs at all levels. This is his forth tour at the DNC, having also served as Director for the Office of the Secretary and Director of LGBT Outreach. In additon to his work at the DNC, Bond served as Executive Director of the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund from 1997 through 2002. He has worked on several campaigns, serving as the Missouri State Field Director for the Clinton Gore Coordinated Campaign, and as campaign director for numerous congressional and statewide races around the country. As an HIV positive gay man, Bond has advocated for increased HIV/AIDS awareness and education within the political process and the need for the political system and the Democratic Party to ensure equal protection under the law for all Americans.

"I believe that every American deserves respect and dignity and equal rights under the law."
--DNC Chairman Howard Dean, Remarks at Eastern University, 3/29/07

 

THE 2008 ELECTIONS WILL BE CRUCIAL FOR THE LGBT COMMUNITY

In addition to the core questions about which party is offering the change the American people want on issues like health care, the economy and the war in Iraq, LGBT voters must decide which Party can be trusted to stand up for the rights of every single American.

While John McCain's Republican Party is promising four more years of President Bush's failed leadership and divisive scapegoating, the Democratic Party is fighting every day to promote fairness and equality.

We haven't won every battle and we know there is still education that needs to be done, but the facts speak for themselves: Democrats better represent the values and aspirations of the LGBT Community.

 

WHAT A DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS MEANS FOR LGBT AMERICANS

The election of a Democratic Congress has meant an end to Republican efforts to scapegoat the LGBT community by pushing mean-spirited constitutional amendments. Instead, Congress is debating how best to protect the LGBT community from workplace discrimination and hate crimes.

 

PROGRESS FOR LGBT AMERICANS IN THE STATES

These are the values that Democrats fight for every day. Here is a partial list of some of the things we have accomplished together:

The election of Democratic governors and state legislatures across the country has meant real progress, and real rights, for the LGBT community. In places like Massachusetts, Colorado, Iowa, Oregon, New Hampshire and even Indiana, the Democrats you helped elect in 2006 have blocked anti-LGBT ballot initiatives, passed civil unions bills, extended protections against employment discrimination, and passed second parent adoption bills.

The Democratic governors elected in 2006 have signed employment protections in Iowa, Ohio, Colorado, and Oregon.

Newly-elected Democratic governors have signed a second parent adoption bill in Colorado and domestic partner or civil unions laws in Oregon and New Hampshire, while keeping an anti-marriage amendment off the ballot in Massachusetts.

The Democratic state legislatures elected in 2006 defeated anti-marriage efforts in Indiana, New Hampshire, Alaska, Maryland and North Carolina.

US PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES POSITIONS ON LGBT RIGHTS

In the Human Rights Campaign candidate questionnaire, every Democratic presidential candidate endorsed a repeal of the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy, supported federal benefits for LGBT couples, supported inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity in the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and endorsed passage of a federal hate crimes bill.

LGBT DELEGATES TO THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION

At the DNC, we are working harder than ever to ensure our Party reflects the diversity of our country and promotes political empowerment for LGBT Americans.

For the first time in history, the DNC's 2008 Delegate Selection Rules required state parties to adopt inclusion plans for increasing LGBT participation in the convention and in party affairs. As a result, 50 out of 56 states and territories have set numeric goals LGBT delegates-up from 16 states in 2004.

The DNC sponsored first of their kind delegate selection trainings to educate LGBT activists across the country on how to become delegates and get more engaged in Party affairs.

OUTREACH TO THE LGBT COMMUNITY

The DNC's political trainings for field staff included essential outreach to the LGBT Community -- educating thousands of political operatives and activists from state party staff down to the precinct level.

The DNC's National Lawyers Council has set up a working group to advance voter education and opportunities for people in the Transgender community, which will educate political and electoral staff at every level on the special concerns for transgender voters.

Governor Dean appointed a record 7 openly LGBT members to the standing committees of the Democratic National Convention, including four members of the Platform committee. Governor Dean became the first chairman in DNC history to appoint a transgender standing committee member.

The DNC worked with State Parties and National Stonewall Democrats to reach out to LGBT organizations of color to promote greater inclusion.

The DNC is building a 2008 PRIDE at the Polls program that will include unprecedented outreach by the DNC, State Parties, and National Stonewall Democrats to LGBT American during the Pride season to engage in the effort to put a Democrat in the White House.

At the DNC's 2007 Winter Meeting, which coincided with World AIDS Day, the DNC passed a resolution calling for a comprehensive National AIDS Strategy and hosted HIV/AIDS awareness workshops in each of the caucus meetings.

IT IS NOT JUST THAT THE REPUBLICANS ARE BAD

We would never ask you to support the Democratic Party simply because the Republicans are bad. The LGBT community should support Democrats because we believe in an America that respects the rights and dignity of every American. Together, we can stand up and make that vision of America a reality. But in order to make that happen, we need you to get involved and be visible as a proud LGBT American. Too much is at stake in 2008 and we can't do it without you.

Without question, while we have come a long way as a Community, there are still many battles to be fought, misconceptions to overcome, and challenges to meet. This is no time to sit on the sidelines. There is too much at stake. The best way to continue to the path for full equality for the LGBT community is put a Democrat in the White House, give him or her an increased majority in the House and Senate to work with, elect more Democratic Governors, and put more Democrats in state legislative chambers.

If you have any questions, suggestions or concerns, we want to know, we want to be your Party and we want your vote. Please contact Brian Bond via email or at (202) 863-8037.

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