Stonewall Democrats register record number of new voters at Pride parade, have more events scheduled before Oct. 6 deadline

Jesse Garcia

The deadline to register to vote before the November elections is approaching fast with just one full week left before the Oct. 6 cutoff, and local LGBT political organizations are stressing the importance of casting a ballot.

“The reason we have [certain] elected officials in place today is because people didn’t turn out to vote for progressive candidates and they let someone else choose for them,” said Stonewall Democrats of Dallas President Jesse Garcia. “Anytime you feel like you want to complain about your government or your leadership, if you don’t vote you don’t have the right to complain.”

Stonewall has been on the Cedar Springs Strip registering voters 16 Saturdays out of this year and they had record success during the Alan Ross Texas Freedom Parade on Sunday, Sept. 21.

“It was just amazing. We’ve done over 16 days at The Crossroads this past year where we sit there and beg people to vote, but they were just coming in droves [during the parade]. People are very energized about this election.”

Just on parade day, Stonewall signed up 364 voters, a number up from last year’s 220 and half the total of the close to 800 people Stonewall has registered all year.

But the work isn’t done, Garcia said. Stonewall is making voter registrars (people who have been deputized to register voters) available at the following locations:

• Friday, Sept. 26, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Debate Watch Party: Obama vs. McCain on Foreign Policy and National Security, Havana’s, 4006 Cedar Springs Road.

• Sunday, Sept. 28, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Cathedral of Hope, 5910 Cedar Springs Road (partnering with League of Women Voters in a nonpartisan capacity).

• Thursday, Oct. 2, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Debate Watch Party: Biden vs. Palin on Various Topics. The Eagle, 2515 Inwood Road, #107.

• Saturday, Oct. 4, 8 p.m. to midnight. Women of Distinction “Rock The Vote” Buddies II, 4025 Maple Ave.

• Sunday, Oct. 5, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Cathedral of Hope, 5910 Cedar Springs Road (partnering with League of Women Voters in a nonpartisan capacity).

• Sunday, Oct. 5, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. AIDS

Arms LifeWalk, Lee Park.

These events are open to the public and will register Dallas County residents.

Log Cabin Republicans is also signing up voters.

“Several of our members serve as precinct chairs and organize block captains and walkers to go door-to-door to identify and register voters, as required,” President Rob Schlein said.

Even the Resource Center of Dallas will be registering voters on Oct. 4 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., with volunteers from their GEAR and FUSE groups.

“This election, regardless of what candidates you support, has generated a lot of interest in our community. We want to ensure that as many people who want to take part in the election can,” RCD spokesman Rafael McDonnell said.

Rob Schlein

Individuals can also download registration forms online at www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/reqvr.shtml.

Those forms have to be mailed or faxed in by the registration deadline.

Garcia’s excited that so many people want to register, but he knows it’s only half the battle.

“We are going to be out there just as much afterwards every weekend, pushing the gay-friendly candidates and pushing early voting,” he said. “It’s great to register, but you’ve got to come back and actually vote too.”





This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition September 26, 2008.