Tuesday, May 26, 2015

We Are Transgender

May 28th Club Meeting To Include Officer Election/Transgender Rights Discussion

So much has happened over the last year - will happen over the next months. Marriage equality has come to State after State. Just a few days ago, Ireland became the first nation in the world to adopt marriage equality through popular vote. And next month, there's a very good chance that marriage equality will become nationwide in the United States as well. We've seen "Religious Freedom" bills become law, we've seen them fail and we've seen major blow-back from businesses in States where the legislatures thought these Freedom to discriminate laws were a good idea.

It's easy to overlook the fact that our transgender brothers and sisters in the LGBTI community have also seen major changes - some good, some very bad - in acceptance and equality as well. There has been a sea change in the depiction of transgender expression in media. New State laws have clarified rights to make it easier to have public records reflect the individual's gender identity and at the same time, other laws have made it harder to use public bathrooms. And here in San Diego in the last two months, a very supportive community has been insufficient to prevent three transgender people from ending their young lives.

We will be talking about the "T" in "LGBT" at our Club meeting on Thursday. Connor Maddocks, the Center's Project Trans Coordinator will be on hand to discuss recent advances in transgender equality as well as the challenges we still have to overcome. None of us are free until all of us are free. Please plan to attend this important meeting to learn what we've done right, what we've done wrong and what we can no longer afford to ignore.

We're also looking for a Vice President for Political Action. Georgette Gomez has resigned her Club office to pursue her campaign to become the next City Council member for District 9. We wish her well, but as we head into our busy endorsement season, we can not be without the officer in charge of the Club's endorsement process. If you are interested in taking over Georgette's unexpired term, please plan on standing for the office on May 28th. Although we are interested in promoting gender diversity in the Club's Board, the office is open to anyone who is a member of Democrats for Equality and has been a member in good standing for at least 90 days (since February 28th). If you have questions, would like more information, or just want to let us know you're interested in being elected, let us know HERE.

The Club meeting will be held at Joyce Beers Uptown Community Center 3900 Vermont St in Hillcrest. (Map and Info HERE) Social begins at 6:30 PM, Meeting begins at 7.

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Time to Join/Renew?

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. At the risk of sounding like a Public Television pledge drive, if you depend on our endorsements, Voters Guide, newsletters, social media posts and programs, you should be a member!

If your membership has lapsed or if you know your membership is soon to expire, please re-up now. You might also consider upgrading your membership to a higher level.

2016 is shaping up to be a very important election year for us. Do we continue the progress we've made with marriage equality, transgender recognition and equality and defense of women's reproductive rights and economic equality, or do we allow the White House to fall to the enemies of liberty and equality as the leadership of Congress has already done. On the local level, our work is critical. We need to defend/expand our majority on the San Diego City Council and take back the City Attorney/Mayor offices and put them to work for the citizens of the City instead of the Republican status quo campaign contributors.

Because next year is so important, we're starting early - next month to be exact. In June, we will consider endorsements in the Presidential race, State Assembly District 78 and City Council Districts 3 and 9. If you want to take part in all of our endorsement process and have your voice heard, you must join/renew your membership by the end of this month. 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 City Attorney Candidate Gil Carbrera and Rory Pendergast as new members of the Club. It's a pleasure to welcome back Brad Jacobsen who renewed at the Sustaining level. We'd also like to thank Southwestern Community College Board Member Tim Nader and Alex Sachs 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 join/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

Note that in order 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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June Endorsement Meeting

Yes, you heard that right. We're starting the 2016 Club endorsement process at the Tuesday, June 30 meeting. Note that because of a scheduling conflict, this meeting will not be on the traditional 4th Thursday of the month. Instead, it will be on the following Tuesday.

At the local level, the 2016 elections are shaping up to be difficult. Even heavily contested Presidential races seldom stay hot through the California Primary and it also appears no significant contest for US Senate will bring out Democratic voters in June 2016 either. San Diego City/County both have a process that allows a candidate who receives 50%+1 vote in the Primary, regardless of how paltry the voter turnout is.

Dems for Equality will begin endorsing in races where we can make a difference - where Democrats, rather than Republicans, are the likely Primary election majority. If we deal with these races now, we can concentrate on the more competitive races when they need it most. Specifically we will be considering endorsements in the San Diego City 3rd and 9th Council Districts as well as the 78th Assembly District and the Presidential race.

To be able to vote on endorsement for any of these races, members must be in good standing (i.e. membership paid) at least 25 days prior to the endorsement meeting. The exception to this rule is that members whose membership has expired within the last 65 days prior to the meeting may pay their dues (either at, or before, the endorsement meeting) and be eligible to vote on whether, and who, we endorse at the June meeting.

Having your voice heard regarding candidate endorsements is one of the primary privileges of membership in San Diego Democrats for Equality. If you're not at the table, you're on the menu. Join, rejoin or renew and make sure you make a difference in 2016. You can join/renew online HERE.

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