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Fitzsimmons, other Texas LGBT supporters appear on list released by Obama campaign
March 12th, 2008
Dallas County District Clerk Gary Fitzsimmons and John McClelland, president of Denton County’s Stonewall Democrats chapter, appear on a list of 40 LGBT Barack Obama supporters released by his campaign yesterday. The list also includes Randall Ellis, former executive director of the Lesbian/Gay Rights Lobby of Texas; Christina Ocasio, a transgender activist from Austin; and Glen Maxey, a former Texas state representative.
Fitzsimmons’ presence on the list may further anger some members of Stonewall Democrats of Dallas, who were pretty miffed when he made a motion to allow debate on the group’s proposed endorsement of Clinton last month. Fitzsimmons, one of the group’s founders, said he was seeking a co-endorsement of the two candidates. In response, one prominent Stonewall member who was at the meeting threatened not to support Fitzsimmons’ bid for re-election in 2010.
I think it’s largely true that last week’s primary was a positive thing for the local LGBT community. But it’s also true that there are probably some longtime friends who are not talking right now because of this race.
Meanwhile, on the Clinton front, her national director of LGBT outreach talks about the gay vote in Dallas and Texas in this interview with Queerty.
One last thing: Based on projected precinct caucus results, Obama has unofficially won Texas by one delegate, 108-107, according to The Houston Chronicle. CNN, meanwhile, projects a three-delegate victory for Obama, 109-106.
— John Wright
March 12th, 2008 at 10:16 am
Dear readers,
No one is pissed off at Gary Fitzsimmons and every Stonewall member is proud of the work he has done for Dallas County. I will support his candidacy in 2010 because he has shown great leadership.
Stonewall Democrats of Dallas is happy to have both Clinton and Obama delegates locally, at last count 44 delegates and alternates elected at the precinct conventions.
We, like other communities around Texas, are currently divided when it comes to presidential candidates… both who are outstanding on LGBT issues. But we are united in getting people like Rick Noriega in the U.S. Senate, Lupe Valdez in the Sheriff’s office and other LGBT-friendly Democrats into statewide and local offices.
Both Clinton and Obama Stonewall delegates are coming together to help push Equality resolutions at the Senatorial Conventions with help from our friends at Equality Texas and HRC.
I want to thank every person out there who turned out to vote and I encourage you to vote in the runoff on Tuesday, April 8 (early voting March 31 and April 4) for our friend Diana Lackey running for Tax Assessor Collector. This fantastic LGBT voter turnout in the primary helps (encourages) politicians to engage our community and listen to our issues.
Keep the momentum going on April 8 and on November 4.
Jesse Garcia
President
Stonewall Democrats of Dallas
March 12th, 2008 at 11:17 am
In this day and age, it is important for the GLBT community to stand up for their candidate. Whether we agree on the same candidate is what makes politics great. I hope my name is listed on the 40 LGBT supporters for Obama. I voted for him (twice) and am a delegate for him at my Senate District Convention. I was also present at the Stonewall meeting where the Honorable Fitzsimmons made a stand for open-minded debate about the candidates and the issues. Anyone that was “miffed” about Gary’s motion needs to take a step back and rethink the entire issue and re-examine what actually happened. What actually happened was a railroad job by the Clinton supporters. If anyone should be “miffed”, it is the Obama supporters for the “strong-armed” tactics and obvious partisanship of Clinton supporters including the Stonewall President himself.
Now those that are not talking because of this really should reexamine themselves. I have many friends that have supported Hillary. I still talk to them. At least they are standing up for something. And that, in the end, is a good thing. So, let’s not get divided on who we support. But let’s debate the issues, be civil, and whomever wins, we all get behind and support.
And in 2010, we all need to get behind Gary again, because he has proven himself very capable in his current position and is an example for all candidates, gay and straight, to follow.
Jason
March 12th, 2008 at 11:58 am
I respectfully disagree with Jason Bradberry’s comments regarding the fact that the Stonewall endorsement of Hillary Clinton involved some sort of “railroad job” nothing could be further from the truth.
Our Endorsement “process” is clearly defined in our By-Laws and all members in good standing are invited and encouraged to participate on the Endorsement Committee where we meet at the John Thomas GLBT Community Center for an entire day and this year, two days, interviewing and screening candidates for endorsement. The vote among this committee is conducted democratically and a simple majority wins. The ‘recommendations’ of the Endorsement Committee are then submitted to the General Membership of Stonewall which then ratifies or rejects the recommended Endorsement. Our general membership clearly did not want to engage in an open ended and lengthy debate and opted instead to quickly ratify the recommendations of the Endorsement Committee by a comfortable margin. That’s all there was to it.
That said, I do concur with Mr. Bradberry’s assertion that we do have two exemplary candidates and I have no doubt that once our Nominee is determined, that the GLBT community will be very unified and rally around that candidate for victory in November.
Jay Narey
Secretary
Stonewall Democrats of Dallas
March 12th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Thanks Jessie for your kind words. Your thoughtful and considerate remarks are the reason you are steadily becoming the most respected GLBT leader in Dallas. For the record, Jessie Garcia ran a fair endorsement meeting and is an outstanding Stonewall president. I was proud to support him when he first ran and supported him again when he ran for reelection. He has a great future as an elected official – I guarantee we’ll see Jessie in the legislature within the next decade!
This has been a wonderful primary season! We have see a tremendous number of new faces on both sides, a fully engaged public in political discussion like never before and real PASSION and ENTHUSIASM for our candidates. This is what we have been working toward for so long in the lgbt community and groups like Stonewall Democrats. This is why politics can be so much fun.
March 12th, 2008 at 10:52 pm
I find it hard to hard to understand how the Gay Community has supported The Clintons. For one thing, in Bill Clintons great biography , does he mention any of the Gay Men and Women he appointed, or employed in the White House. David Mixner is not even mentioned in his tome. Check out this link tool. Clinton’s urging of Kerry to triangulate in the 2004 election and support marriage amendments in various states. http://www.americablog.com/2007/06/bill-clinton-reportedly-told-john-kerry.html
The Clintons have alsways looked on the Gay Community as a cash cow to be milked, and what do we get. Dont Ask Dont Tell., Doma, and maybe a photograph in a gay pride parade;
March 14th, 2008 at 10:54 am
[...] this week I alluded to tensions within the gay community caused by the race between Clinton and Obama. Comes now this story from the Washington Blade, which [...]