Stonewall Democrats of Dallas sticking with Hillary Clinton

by John Wright of Dallas Voice

Despite the rising tide of support for Barack Obama, North Texas’ largest LGBT political group is sticking with Hillary Clinton, who experts say must win the state March 4 to remain in serious contention for the Democratic presidential nomination.

A record gathering of Stonewall Democrats of Dallas members voted during the group’s regular monthly meeting Tuesday, Feb. 19 to endorse Clinton after an attempt by Obama supporters to block the endorsement failed.

Members voted 67-35 to defeat a motion that would have allowed debate on the group’s proposed endorsement of Clinton, one of 24 recommended by a Stonewall screening committee.

The motion came from openly gay Dallas County District Clerk Gary Fitzsimmons, an

Obama supporter and one of the founders of Stonewall Democrats of Dallas. After Fitzsimmons’ motion was defeated, the group voted 82-24 to ratify the full slate of endorsements.

“It was disappointing that Stonewall members were prevented from debating the presidential race,” Fitzsimmons said Wednesday, Feb. 20. “Nevertheless, Democrats are blessed with two great candidates, and all of us will be enthusiastically supporting the same candidate in four months.”

Jesse Garcia, president of Stonewall Democrats of Dallas, said Wednesday that nearly 150 people attended the standing-room-only meeting at Ojeda’s Restaurant in Oak Lawn, the most in the 12-year history of group. Stonewall Democrats of Dallas is the national organization’s largest chapter in the state and third-largest in the country.

With Texas figuring to have a say in the Democratic nomination for the first time in decades, many came just to support one of the presidential candidates. Garcia said Stonewall signed up 19 new members at the meeting, bringing the chapter’s ranks close to 400.

“It’s great to have a choice,” said Garcia, who supports Clinton. “It’s great for the LGBT community to be courted by both campaigns. These battle scars we have after last night’s meeting, they’re just going to be temporary.”

LGBT representatives from both the Clinton and Obama campaigns spoke at the meeting, and Garcia announced that National Stonewall Democrats will host a town hall at gay Dallas nightclub Station 4 on Monday, Feb. 25.

Garcia said the town hall, one of only two such events in the country thus far, will feature Jon Hoadley, executive director of National Stonewall Democrats; Mark Walsh, national LGBT director for the Clinton campaign; and Tobias Wolff, national LGBT adviser for the Obama campaign.

The event is open to the public and will begin at 7 p.m. at S4, which is at 3911 Cedar Springs Road.

Also at Tuesday’s meeting, Garcia encouraged Stonewall members to attend precinct caucuses beginning at 7:15 p.m. following the primary March 4. In Texas’ system, delegates are awarded to presidential candidates based partly on the popular vote and partly on elections at precinct caucuses.

“Really, in Texas, you get to vote twice,” Garcia said.

In addition to electing delegates, those who attend precinct caucuses will have an opportunity to support two resolutions that Stonewall hopes will be added to the platform of the state Democratic Party.

The resolutions were drafted by Equality Texas, the statewide gay rights group.

One would encourage passage of legislation to protect school children from bullying and harassment. The other would encourage passage of legislation banning discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in employment housing, insurance, education and public accommodations.

Chuck Smith, deputy director of Equality Texas, said he hopes the resolutions will benefit from increased participation at the caucuses this year.

“We would seek to have coverage at every possible precinct,” Smith said. “This is the process by which the state party platforms are developed.”

Smith said he hopes to have printable versions of the resolutions posted at www.equality texas.org in the next few days.

For a printable list of candidates endorsed by Stonewall Democrats of Dallas, go to www.stonewalldemocratsofdallas.org.