Tuesday, April 21, 2015

An Ally Among Allies

A Tribute to Verna King

San Diego Democrats for Equality is forty years old this year (check out the new masthead for eNews).. We have made such incredible progress - this Club has helped to create such incredible progress - since 1975 that it is sometimes difficult to imagine what it was like back then.

For one thing, it was still illegal to even be LGBT in 1975 - California's sodomy law was not removed from the books until 1976. The Club's original name, San Diego Democratic Club, was at least in part a reflection of the tradition of other LGBT Democratic clubs around the State and nation to fly below the radar with nondescript/coded names.

Verna King, attending White House LGBT reception as "plus-one" of former Club President, Craig Robert

Thr San Diego County Democratic Party then, as now, required at least twenty members to be listed as members of a Club before a charter would be issued. Even with the limited Out level of the Club as compared to our community now, we were unable to find 20 LGBT individuals willing to risk friends, family and job by publicly signing on as members of an LGBT identified organization.

Into this breech marched Verna King and a handful of other non-LGBT allies. With their membership in San Diego Democratic Club, they allowed us to become a Chartered Democratic Club. In a very real sense, without Verna, our mission to include the aspirations of the LGBT community in the work and platform of the Democratic Party and the recognition of the LGBT community as a political force to be reckoned with within the Party and City may never have happened. Our history of achievement against the Briggs Initiative, for District City Council elections, the fight against HIV/AIDS, the creation of the LGBT friendly City Council District, the election of State Senator Chris Kehoe, CA Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins, Councilmember Todd Gloria, SDUSD Board member Kevin Beiser and County Supervisor Dave Roberts might still be an unfulfilled dream.

Verna King was a champion of Civil Rights and a progressive Democratic Party through out her life. She was the embodiment of the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice every where". We recently learned of the death of Verna King in Washington DC where she has lived for several years. She died just short of her 99th birthday. Perhaps the most fitting tribute to her is to say she was taken from us far too soon.

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Club Meeting on April 23rd

This month's Dems for Equality meeting will focus on election reform and local humanitarian efforts at the border with Enrique Morones from Border Angels.

The Club will also consider By-laws changes required to put the Club in line with recent California Democratic Party endorsement procedures. Proposed By-law provisions can be found HERE.

Social time starts at 6:30 PM with the meeting starting at 7:00. Both will be held at Joyce Beers Uptown Community Center in Hillcrest; 3900 Vermont Street, San Diego 92103. MAP

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Is it Time to Re-Up?

The Club depends on membership dues to keep the lights on and promote our candidates and issues to the community. A large number of community members depend on our Voters Guide to help them make an intelligent choice when marking their ballots so your membership renewal is critical to ensure those Guides get into those hands. If your membership has lapsed or if you know you're membership is soon to expire, please re-up now. You might also consider upgrading your membership to a higher level.

We have begun a notification process to let you know when your membership is about to expire. It consists of an email message approximately one month prior to expiration followed by a letter to those who do not respond to the email. Email is cheaper than US mail so, please log on and renew when you get the notice.

Even so, there is a cost associated with our email communications too. If your membership has expired more than a year ago, you can expect a notice from us that we will be dropping you from our email list for this newsletter and other Club communications. Please don't let that happen. Your membership is important to us and we would like to count you amongst our fellow Club members committed to progressive government and LGBT equality. Please log on through the link below and renew you membership now.

Dems for Equality would like to welcome Karla Cohn and Lemon Grove Mayor Pro Tem Racquel Vasquez as a new members of the Club. It's a pleasure to welcome back SDUSD Boardmember Kevin Beiser and Dan Mock who renewed at the Sustaining level. We'd also like to thank Suzie Ditmar, Elaine Graybill and Michael Thomason and welcome them back for another year.

You can find out more about the Club's membership levels and benefits online HERE. You can also renew with a credit card there. If you would prefer to use a check, send the check, made out to Democrats for Equality to:

San Diego Democrats for Equality

PO Box 33050

San Diego CA 92163

(Please note that to comply with Federal and State election laws, please include your full address and your job title/employer with your check. Telephone number and email address would be nice too!)

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For six years we have participated in the Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast. It's a great opportunity to start your day with your fill of inspiration and purpose with a nice breakfast to keep you that way.

Join us as we join with other community groups, leaders and activists for the Seventh Annual Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast on Thursday, May 21, 2015, 7:30-9 am at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel, 1 Park Blvd. Attended by more than 1,000 people, businesses, groups and organizations annually, this San Diego event is the largest Harvey Milk celebration in the state of California!

Thursday, May 21, 2015

7:30 AM - 9:00 AM

Hilton San Diego Bayfront

1 Park Blvd

San Diego, CA 92101

Get your ticket for the Dems for Equality sponsored table HERE.

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TPP

Few issues have divided Democrats more than the TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership) treaty now before Congress. A "bi-partisan" bill would grant President Obama the authority to seal the deal by requiring an "up-or-down" vote in Congress without amendments to the terms. Our representatives are now requesting comments about the Treaty/enabling legislation before they make some very important votes in the near future.

Senator Dianne Feinstein Senator Barbara Boxer

email (202) 224-3841 email (202) 224-3553

Rep. Susan Davis Rep. Scott Peters

email (202) 225-2040 email (202) 225-0508