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What you can do:
--Contact your state representative! Click here
www.civilunionsillinois.org
to instantly send a message to your representatives urging them to commit to voting for HB 1826. The only way your elected leaders will know how you feel is if you tell them. Tell them your personal story about why civil unions is important to you. Sending a message takes only a few minutes, but is crucial to making HB 1826 successful.
--Spread the word! Lawmakers in Springfield need to hear from as many LGBT and allied supporters across the state in order to make civil unions a reality. Will you tell 5 friends to contact their representatives as well?
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"Larry McKeon is our only openly gay legislator. If he is replaced by someone outside of the LGBT community, we will be the only major Democratic constituency unrepresented in Springfield,"; said Richard Ingram, President of Stonewall Democrats Illinois. ;"We look forward to increasing our representation in Springfield more than we have today. We anticipate that our Democratic Committeemen share our view and will appoint another LGBT to represent the 13th District."
Stonewall Democrats Illinois is part of a national grassroots force for social and political change within the LGBT equality movement and within the Democratic Party. Stonewall Democrats Illinois creates change through education, advocacy, and mobilization.
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“It is unfortunate that Sister Claudette refuses to repudiate statements made in a recent speech by Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan in which he reportedly equated Jews and gays to “filth” and told his audience: “don’t be afraid to hate”, said Stonewall President Rick Ingram. “In a Tuesday interview on WVON radio, the Associated Press reported that Sister Claudette referred to criticism of her actions as “absolutely ridiculous”, and referred to Farrakhan’s remarks as only being “perceived by some as anti-Semitic” (emphasis added). “How can she combat discrimination and hate if she doesn’t even recognize it,” said Stonewall Democrats Vice President Tom Chaderjian.
Sister Claudette is in a leadership and advisory position at the Nation of Islam as Farrakhan’s Chief of Protocol and National Director of Community Outreach. “ When you combine her ridicule of her critics with her refusal to repudiate Farrakahn’s speech, it leaves us no choice but to conclude that she is in agreement, and there is no room on the Commission for anyone who represents a position advocating hate”, said Ingram.
“Governor Blagojevich is a strong supporter of equal rights for GLBT Illinoisans, and we applaud him for that, but Sister Claudette is doing the Governor and the Commission a great disservice. Her continued presence on the Commission has proven to be disruptive and divisive, and she should resign from the Commission. If she refuses to do so, Governor Blagojevich should remove her. “The real tragedy here is that her actions have been allowed to divide traditional allies in the human rights community. For the good of the Commission and its important work, she should step down”, said Ingram.
Stonewall Democrats Illinois is part of a national grassroots force for social and political change within our movement and within our party. We create change through education, advocacy, and mobilization.
]]>Following the Forum, Stonewall members engaged in a lively debate over the candidates and races for the upcoming primary. The democratic process was in full display as members spoke passionately, asked thought provoking questions, and exercised their political voice in several races.
Jim Jordan, a Stonewall member and forum attendee commented: "It’s sometimes difficult for GLBT Democratic primary voters to sort through the candidates’ positions on GLBT issues. The Stonewall forum gave the candidates themselves a chance to present their credentials on issues that affect the GLBT community, and the endorsement process focused members on the distinctions between candidates and how they could affect our community.”
Stonewall President Rick Ingram said: “This is the way the process should work. The members have spoken.”
Stonewall Democrats urges support for the following candidates:
Candidates endorsed are:
Forrest Claypool, Cook County Board President
Tom Dart, Cook County Sheriff
Deborah Shore, Commissioner of Metropolitan Water Reclamation District
Ruben Zamora, 14th Congressional District
John Sullivan , 3rd Congressional District
Candidates Rated as Highly Qualified
Paul Mangieri, State Treasurer
Alexander Giannoulias, State Treasurer
Christine Cegelis, 6th Congressional District
Highly Qualified candidates are those who evidence a high level of support for GLBT issues, but who did not receive the 60% super-majority required for endorsement.
]]>Human Rights Campaign
www.hrc.org
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
www.thetaskforce.org
National Stonewall Democrats
www.stonewalldemocrats.org
Democratic National Committee (DNC)
www.dnc.org
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC)
www.dccc.org
Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC)
www.dscc.org
Democratic Party of Illnois (IDP)
www.ildems.com
Tom Chaderjian
Vice President
Jim Derico
Treasurer
Secretary
Development
Political Action
Communications
If you would like to be more involved please contact us at:
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We invite you to BE ACTIVE in GLBT Democratic politics in Illinois – TODAY by licking on Membership and joining Stonewall Democrats Illinois.
Stonewall Democrats Illinois is part of a national GLBT grassroots political federation. As advocates for social and political issues in our community and within the Democratic Party, we fulfill our mission through:
EDUCATION – We educate our community about the differences between the Democrats and the Republicans on our issues and the difference that party makes in moving our agenda forward. Though it’s hard to believe, around 22% of GLBT voters voted for George W. Bush in 2004, with negative consequences to the GLBT community.
ADVOCACY – We act as advocates within the Democratic Party. As a partisan political organization, we have the responsibility to insure our issues are addressed. We have the tough conversations with Democratic Party officials about why our families need and deserve more support from our party and its elected officials. “Back of the bus politics” just won’t cut it for GLBT Democrats!
MOBILIZATION - We support fair-minded Democrats who actively support our issues, defend our values against hate-inspired attacks, and understand the value we bring to the Democrat party by mobilizing our members and volunteers in their campaigns. We act to get out the vote to exercise our political power and voice. We invite you to join us whether you’re a political veteran or just getting your feet wet. Our GLBT Democratic family is diverse, energetic, fun and waiting for you.
Candidate Endorsement Policy
Please click on the link below to download Stonewall Democrats Illinois Endorsement Policy.
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