Tag Archives: Stonewall Democrats of Dallas

Texas Stonewall Democrats to honor state party Chair Boyd Richie prior to convention in Houston

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Boyd Richie

The above photo apparently was taken Tuesday night during Stonewall Democrats of Dallas’ monthly meeting at Ojeda’s on Maple Avenue. It was sent to Instant Tea on Wednesday by Daniel Graney, the president of the Texas Stonewall Democratic Caucus who, according to Facebook, is celebrating his birthday today. (Happy birthday, Dan.)

As we mentioned Tuesday, TSDC has named the Dallas chapter the recipient of the statewide group’s Roberto J. Flores Club Achievement Award, which is named for Graney’s late partner.

On Wednesday, Graney announced this year’s other award winners. They are JC Dufresne, a straight ally from San Antonio, who’ll take home the Buck Massey Legacy of Leadership Award, named for the late Buck Massey of Dallas; and Texas Democratic Party Chairman Boyd Richie, who’ll receive the Lone Star Equality Advocate Award.

All three awards will be presented in Houston prior to the state party convention, at a reception hosted by TSDC at the Hilton Americas Hotel from 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, June 7.

Graney’s full press release is below.

Continue reading “Texas Stonewall Democrats to honor state party Chair Boyd Richie prior to convention in Houston” »

—  John Wright

With early voting in full swing, Stonewall Dems and Log Cabin go head to head in Dallas tonight

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Expect bigger-than-usual turnouts at monthly meetings of the Dallas chapters of Stonewall Democrats and Log Cabin Republicans — now both held on the third Tuesday of the month. With early voting in full swing, candidates should be making last-ditch appeals to win over LGBT voters.

DV contributor Phyllis Guest, who serves as secretary for Stonewall Democrats of Dallas, reports that the group will also be celebrating an award prior to Tuesday’s meeting. The Texas Stonewall Democratic Caucus, the statewide organization, has announced that the Dallas chapter will receive the Roberto J. Flores Club Achievement Award. From a press release:

Created to recognize Stonewall Democrats clubs for growth in membership and political activism, the award recalls Flores, first Chair of the Club Development Committee of the TSDC.

SDD is the largest of the state’s Stonewall Democrats clubs with more than 400 members and has served as a model for other clubs across Texas. Its outreach and energy have spurred the development of Stonewall clubs throughout Texas and have enabled the TSDC to gain recognition as the official LGBT Caucus of the Texas Democratic Party.

Dan Graney, president of the Texas Stonewall Democratic Caucus, will present the award to Dallas President Omar Narvaez at a reception prior to the state party convention in Houston in June.

Stonewall meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Ojeda’s Restaurant, 4617 Maple Ave.

Meanwhile, Log Cabin’s monthly meeting will consist of a meet and greet for Dallas County Republican candidates, according to an email from the group.

“It’s a great, last minute opportunity to decide who it is you want to vote for — not by reading a pamphlet, but by reading a person. Already voted? Great! Join us for a drink anyway!” the group writes in an email.

The Log Cabin meeting runs from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at Texas Land & Cattle, 3130 Lemmon Ave.

UPDATE: Speakers at the Stonewall meeting will include openly gay former State Rep. Glen Maxey, who’s running for Democratic National Committee, and Taylor Holden from the Obama campaign.

—  John Wright

Stonewall Dems to endorse Domingo Garcia for Congress, Teresa Daniel for Commissioners Court

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Group declines to recommend Commissioner John Wiley Price for re-election

UPDATE: Stonewall voted Tuesday night to endorse John Wiley Price and three other candidates who weren’t recommended by the committee.

DAVID TAFFET and ANNA WAUGH  |  Staff Writers

A Stonewall Democrats of Dallas committee recommended endorsing Domingo Garcia in Congressional District 33 and Teresa Daniel in Dallas County Commissioners Court District 1 this weekend — but withheld recommendations in two other key races.

The committee’s recommendations will be up for ratification by the group’s general membership at Stonewall’s regular monthly meeting Tuesday night. The committee interviewed 57 candidates over the weekend from Friday night to Sunday morning. Several races didn’t result in a recommended endorsement because no one candidate received more than 50 percent of the committee’s vote. The general membership could still vote to endorse candidates in those races at the meeting tonight.

Eight of the 11 candidates for the new Congressional District 33 were interviewed, including former Dallas Councilman Steve Salazar and activist Carlos Quintanilla. Fort Worth Councilwoman Kathleen Hicks and state Rep. Marc Veasey were also present. But the vote went to Garcia, based on his record as a state representative and his efforts as a Dallas councilman in the early ’90s to overturn the Dallas Police Department’s ban on hiring gay officers.

Hicks expressed her support for the LGBT community, sighting her outspokenness after the raid on the Rainbow Lounge, which is situated in her district. She said her determination to improve the city and support for a fully LGBT-inclusive, citywide non-discrimination ordinance in 2010 brought criticism and led to her losing the seat of mayor pro tem. Hicks said there have been whisper campaigns about her being 40 and unmarried. She said she is a known Democrat who continues to push for Democratic candidates and platforms in a conservative Tarrant County.

Quintanilla spoke about his work with fighting discriminatory laws in Dallas among the Hispanic community. Sighting his past with fraud indictments back in Chicago for hot checks, he said he paid his debt to society and has risen to the activist and leader he is today. When asked how he would invigorate the Hispanic community based on low attendance at public forums he held before, he said he would continue to go door-to-door and reach out to Hispanic voters through social networking to engage them on issues important to them.

In the County Commissioner District 1 race, Stonewall endorsed Daniel, although each of the other two candidates had supporters among the membership. That district was redrawn to become majority Democratic although Republicans are expected to work hard to retain the seat being vacated by Maureen Dickey.

In the District 3 Commissioners Court race, Stonewall did not endorse. Micah Phillips, who is challenging 27-year incumbent John Wiley Price, was also seeking Stonewall’s endorsement. To make an endorsement, a candidate must receive more than half the votes of those members who heard the presentation of each of the candidates attending in that race.

In their statements, both candidates expressed support for the LGBT community.

Phillips, whose brother is gay, said, “No one should be treated differently.”

Price highlighted his experience on the Commissioners Court including chairing eight of 15 standing committees. But he got the biggest applause when he answered a question from Narvaez.

“Just give me a one-word answer,” Narvaez said. “Are you going to miss Maureen Dickey?”

“Can I use an adjective?” he said. “Not no, but hell no.”

But neither Phillips nor Price received enough votes to gain an endorsement. Voting was split and some members abstained. Abstentions kept either candidate from receiving more than 50 percent of the vote. One member said after the vote that he didn’t want to oppose Price because of his support for the LGBT community over the years, but didn’t want to endorse during the current FBI investigation into the longtime commissioner.

Openly gay District Clerk Gary Fitzsimmons, a founder of Stonewall Democrats, is a Price supporter and was furious about the non-endorsement.

“There would be no AIDS services at Parkland without him,” Fitzsimmons said. “None.”

He repeated a statement Price made to the group, that for years he was the only voice the LGBT community had on the court and that he had always voted with the community. He said that if Stonewall made endorsements based on an LGBT voting record, Price deserved the group’s support.

The committee also didn’t make a recommendation in the Democratic Primary for U.S. Senate, in which former State Rep. Paul Sadler and Dallasite Sean Hubbard are seeking the group’s backing; or in House District 100, the seat covering most of Oak Lawn that’s held by Rep. Eric Johnson.

In Congressional District 30, the Stonewall committee recommended endorsing incumbent Eddie Bernice Johnson over challengers Taj Clayton and Barbara Mallory-Caraway.

Other notable endorsement recommendations included out lesbian Sheriff Lupe Valdez over challenger Charlie Thomas; and Maricela Moore for judge in the 162nd District Court, in a race featuring six Democratic candidates who are vying to replace the retiring Larraine Raggio.

Read the Stonewall committee’s full list of endorsement recommendations after the jump. Today’s meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. at Ojeda’s Restaurant, 4617 Maple Ave.

Continue reading “Stonewall Dems to endorse Domingo Garcia for Congress, Teresa Daniel for Commissioners Court” »

—  Anna Waugh

Congressional District 33 candidates back ENDA, DOMA repeal at Stonewall Democrats forum

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Six of the 11 Democratic candidates for the U.S. Congressional District 33 seat are shown at the Stonewall Democrats of Dallas forum Tuesday, March 27. From left, state Rep. Marc Veasey, former Dallas Councilman Steve Salazar, Dallas activist Jason Roberts, former state Rep. Domingo Garcia, Dallas attorney Chrysta Castaneda and Hispanic activist Carlos Quintanilla. (Anna Waugh/Dallas Voice)

Six of the 11 Democratic candidates for the new U.S. Congressional District 33 voiced support for the LGBT community at a forum Tuesday night sponsored by Stonewall Democrats of Dallas.

The forum attracted an attendance of about 100, with dozens of people coming and going throughout and standing in the back of the Vixin Lounge at Sue Ellen’s to hear the candidates.

The district begins in southeast Fort Worth area that includes the Rainbow Lounge and cuts through Arlington and Irving before ending in North Oak Cliff.

State Rep. Marc Veasey, former state Rep. Domingo Garciaand former Dallas Councilman Steve Salazar were the three frontrunners in attendance at the forum.

Three lesser-known candidates in the race also participated: local business owner and activist Jason Roberts, Dallas attorney Chrysta Castaneda and Hispanic activist Carlos Quintanilla.

All six candidates said they support repealing the Defense of Marriage Act, in addition to passing an LGBT-inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act and Student Non-Discrimination Act.

Continue reading “Congressional District 33 candidates back ENDA, DOMA repeal at Stonewall Democrats forum” »

—  Anna Waugh

Tonya Parker’s controversial marriage policy continues to attract media attention, analysis

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Judge Tonya Parker

Despite lesbian Dallas County Judge Tonya Parker’s hope that her refusal to marry straight couples until marriage equality is gained in Texas will fade from the public’s attention, her name and stance still frequent headlines.

More than a month has passed since her comments at a Stonewall Democrats of Dallas meeting were first reported on Instant Tea. Our video of Parker’s comments has been viewed more than 29,000 times. A longer story followed, as did hundreds of interview requests from national media.

Parker told us the media attention was “an incredible distraction” before declining a longer, in–depth interview.

The Dallas Morning News ran articles and opinion pieces on Parker’s comments, the most recent coming just last Monday in the form of a front-page article. In the article, Parker clarified that she only wants to serve and doesn’t want to make political statements. As with us, she declined The DMN’s request for a longer interview. The article, like all of ours, found only positive support from various friends and people who’ve interacted with Parker or influenced her career.

Then, on Friday, a New York Law School blog post analyzed the legality of Parker’s decision, comparing her stance to a New York county clerk’s refusal to issue same-sex marriage licenses last year after marriage equality became law. The contrast between the job responsibility of the county clerk and the job option for Parker to perform marriages is clearly defined in the blog, along with kudos to Parker for her decision.

So, while Parker continues to decline interview requests— the Morning News reported that she’s turned down CNN and The Ellen DeGeneres Show — the comments she made in February continue to be discussed and analyzed.

—  Anna Waugh

Ex-Councilman J.T. Price rescinds endorsement of Theresa Daniel over her support for gay rights

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On Monday we told you that Theresa Daniel, a Democratic candidate for the newly redrawn District 1 seat on the Dallas County Commissioners Court, had sent out an endorsement letter signed by 17 “LGBT Leaders & Friends.” Among other things, the letter mentioned that Daniel is a longtime member of Stonewall Democrats of Dallas, which is, of course, the party’s LGBT caucus. Well, apparently that came as a surprise to former Dallas City Councilman Jesse “J.T.” Price, who had endorsed Daniel for Commissioners Court. Daniel reports this morning that, after learning that she’s a member of Stonewall, Price requested that she remove his name from her endorsement list.

“I am disappointed by this development, and had I known Price held this view, I never would have used his name to begin with,” Daniel said in an email. “To my mind, being a Democrat means that you are inclusive and accepting of others. It also means that you are committed to fighting discrimination wherever it exists. I am proud of my convictions, proud of my work with the LGBT community and Democratic Party, and proud of my membership in Stonewall Democrats.”

FYI, in case you’ve never heard of Jesse Price, according to Dallas Morning News archives, he served on the council from 1967 to 1972.

Read Daniel’s full email after the jump.

Continue reading “Ex-Councilman J.T. Price rescinds endorsement of Theresa Daniel over her support for gay rights” »

—  John Wright

LOCAL BRIEFS: Stonewall voter registration drive, Lone Star Ride Casino Night

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Stonewall holding voter registration drive

Stonewall Democrats of Dallas will be at JR’s Bar & Grill, 3923 Cedar Springs Road, on Sunday, July 30, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. to register new voters. The registration table will be next to the Cedar Springs entrance.

Those registering to vote only have to fill out a short form that asks for name, address and some form of identification, such as a driver’s license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number.

LSR hosting Casino Night

Lone Star Ride Fighting AIDS hosts its fourth annual Casino Night on Thursday Aug. 4, from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. The event is hosted by Audi Dallas, 5033 Lemmon Ave., and tickets are $50 in advance and $65 at the door. The ticket price includes cocktails and appetizers as well as enough chips to get started at the tables.

Players can spend their winnings on silent auction items when the tables close.

For more information, call 214-460-4887.

LGBT bereavement support group starting

VITAS Innovative Hospice Care in Fort Worth will offer its next grief support group, intended specifically to meet the needs of LGBT people who have lost a loved one, beginning Wednesday, Aug. 1, at Agape Metropolitan Community Church, 4615 East California Parkway.

The group, to be led by the Rev. Teri Lubbers, will continue to meet each Wednesday in August.

To register or for more information, call the VITAS Bereavement Department at 817-870-7070.

Marine to speak at RCD

Justin Elzie, the first U.S. Marine discharged under “don’t ask, don’t tell” in 1993 after coming out as gay on ABC’s World News Tonight, will appear at a book signing and meet-and-greet event Saturday, July 30, at 2 p.m. at Resource Center Dallas, 2701 Reagan St.

Elzie was the first Marine to challenge DADT in federal court and after winning his lawsuit, he was reinstated and went on to serve four years as an openly gay Marine.
After coming out, he was recommended for promotion and served as platoon sergeant.

Elzie will be signing copies of his memoir, Playing by the Rules, on Saturday at RCD. The event is open to the public, and a limited number of copies of Elzie’s book will be available for purchase.

—  John Wright

Say so long to Jesse Garcia at Sue’s tonight

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Jesse Garcia

A while back we briefly mentioned that gaytino extraordinaire Jesse Garcia is leaving Dallas for Washington, D.C. — and a position at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration on Children, Youth and Families. Garcia, former president of Stonewall Democrats of Dallas, current president of LULAC #4871-The Dallas Rainbow Council and host of The Jesse Garcia Show on KNON, has declined our request for an interview about his departure. He says he’s barred from discussing his new position with the media, and he wants to leave town “quietly with no drama.” Which is too bad, because there’s plenty to talk about. But the good news is, if you want to hear from Garcia about his time in Dallas and what lies ahead, you can drop by Sue Ellen’s tonight, where Stonewall Democrats’ Board of Directors is holding a “Thank You for Being a Friend” reception. Just don’t start any drama. From a recent email to Stonewall members:

Jesse Garcia former Stonewall Democrats of Dallas President is hanging up his Texas boots and moving to Washington, D.C. He will leave us on July 15th. The board of directors is having a “Thank You for Being a Friend” reception for him on Tuesday July 12th at Sue Ellen’s from 6:30pm – 8:30pm (UPSTAIRS VIXEN LOUNGE). Please stop by, have a drink and bid him good luck on his next journey! For more information, contact Omar@stonewalldemocratsofdallas.org.

—  John Wright

WATCH: Gay intern credited with saving Giffords’ life speaks at Stonewall fundraiser in Dallas

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Daniel Hernandez Jr. at the Brick on Tuesday night.

Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords is doing “remarkably well” for someone who was shot in the head only six months ago, according to Daniel Hernandez Jr., the openly gay intern credited with saving her life on Jan. 8.

Hernandez appeared Tuesday night — on the 42nd anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion — during a fundraiser for Stonewall Democrats of Dallas and Dallas Stonewall Young Democrats, first at a private residence in Oak Lawn and later at gay bar the Brick.

In his prepared remarks, Hernandez didn’t talk much about Giffords, instead focusing on the importance of 2012 elections for Democrats. But in response to a question from an audience member, Hernandez noted that Giffords is still in Houston but has been released from the hospital and is undergoing outpatient rehabilitation.

“I don’t know if any of you saw the pictures, but she’s looking great,” Hernandez said. “The only real difference is she has a little bit shorter hair and she’s wearing glasses. So it’s great to see the same smile, and she’s doing remarkably well, considering the fact that she was shot six months ago, and I think the progress that she’s made has been truly inspiring not just for those of us in Tucson and in Arizona but really around the country.”

Continue reading “WATCH: Gay intern credited with saving Giffords’ life speaks at Stonewall fundraiser in Dallas” »

—  John Wright

What’s ahead for LGBTs in Dallas, Fort Worth under cities’ new mayors

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Dallas-mayor elect Mike Rawlings and his family were led in a prayer by the Rev. Steven C. Nash of Mount Tabor Baptist Church following his victory speech on Saturday. (John Wright/Dallas Voice)

TAMMYE NASH | Senior Editor
nash@dallasvoice.com

With municipal election runoffs finally complete in North Texas, LGBT advocates in Dallas and Fort Worth said they are looking forward to working with new mayors and councilmembers in both cities.

Mayoral runoff candidates in both cities openly and diligently courted LGBT voters, and all four candidates participated in forums specifically addressing LGBT issues. Advocates said those efforts indicate that Dallas Mayor-elect Mike Rawlings and Fort Worth Mayor-elect Betsy Price will likely be willing to work with the LGBT community in the years to come.

Fort Worth

“I was very pleased that both candidates, Betsy Price and Jim Lane, had an open dialog with our community during the runoff campaign,” Fairness Fort Worth President Thomas Anable said. “And I believe we can continue making the kind of progress we have made over the last two years as we go forward with Betsy Price as our mayor.”

Price, former Tarrant County tax assessor/collector, defeated lawyer and former City Council member Jim Lane, 56 percent to 44 percent.

Anable noted that Price and her husband, in another outreach to the LGBT community, attended Celebration Community Church on the Sunday before the June 18 runoff vote. Celebration, pastured by the Rev. Carol West, has a primarily LGBT congregation.

Anable said the city’s Employee Health Benefits Committee is expected to present estimates to the council during negotiations on the FY 2011 budget on costs associated with expanding health care benefits for the city’s transgender employees. Including insurance coverage for gender reassignment surgery is the only one of 20 recommendations made by the City Manager’s Diversity Task Force — convened in 2009 following the Rainbow Lounge raid — that has not already been implemented.

Although the city now offers domestic partner benefits, Anable said, the employee is required to pay the full cost of those benefits. The Employee Health Benefits Committee is also investigating the cost to the city to pay the same percentage on DP benefits that it already pays on benefits for employees’ opposite-gender spouses and children.

“We have already completed diversity training for 20 percent of the city’s employees, and with Mayor-elect Price having said she is on board with continuing that training, and with set-asides for GLBT-owned businesses, we are looking forward to working with her on these and other issues,” Anable said. “I have to say I am very pleased with the way the [electoral] process worked in Fort Worth.”

Dallas

In Dallas, Stonewall Democrats of Dallas President Omar Narvaez and Dallas Gay and Lesbian Alliance President Patti Fink said they are looking forward to a productive relationship with Mayor-elect Mike Rawlings, even though both organizations endorsed his opponent, David Kunkle, in the runoff.

Rawlings defeated Kunkle, 56 percent to 44 percent.

“We had some differences in policy approaches during the election cycle itself, but I fully expect that Mayor-elect Rawlings and DGLA will have a good working relationship going forward,” Fink said. “I know that DGLA will work to have a good relationship, and I don’t expect that Mayor-elect Rawlings would want any less.

“Elections are a time when we have some heated discussions about who we want to lead our city, but when it’s done, we all come together and work for what’s best for the city,” Fink added.

DGLA endorsed another candidate, Ron Natinsky, in the general election, at the same time issuing a rare warning against Rawlings, saying that Rawlings seemed likely to put business considerations ahead of human rights considerations.

However, when Natinsky failed to make the runoff, DGLA gave its endorsement to Kunkle without re-issuing the warning against Rawlings.
Narvaez said that while members of his organization that their endorsed candidate did not win, “we are looking forward to working with Mike Rawlings…. I think we will see some really good things coming out of the City Council in the next few years.”

Narvaez said that although Stonewall Democrats endorsed Kunkle as an organization, “we had several members who supported Rawlings and worked on his campaign and with him. Mike Rawlings is a great idea man who will work well with all the communities in our city. I don’t think he is the kind of person to hold a grudge. He is too mature for something like that. He is a bigger man than that.”

Narvaez said the fact that Kunkle came out ahead in voting precincts identified as being heavily LGBT means that Rawlings “knows he has some work to do in the LGBT community.” But, he added, he believes the mayor-elect is willing to do that work.

“I think he will be there to support our community, and we will support him as well, because our main mission is to move Dallas forward and make it a better, more inclusive city for everyone.”

Both Narvaez and Fink said they are excited about the LGBT Pride month reception planned for Monday at Dallas City Hall, during which Councilwoman Delia Jasso will present an LGBT Pride Month proclamation from the council.

“We can start working on it now, and maybe next year we can have a whole month of Pride events [involving city officials],” Fink said. “We heard a lot of support for that across the board from council candidates and council members who screened with us during the election.”

Narvaez added, “Hopefully next year, the Pride Month celebration will include a rainbow flag flying over City Hall.”

Narvaez said he hopes to see the City Council move forward in the coming months with plans to form and city human rights commission or board, and that Stonewall Democrats will continue to work with city officials to find ways to reinstate city funding for HIV/AIDS services and programs.

Fink said that while the city already has numerous policies and protections in place for its LGBT employees and citizens, “we want to work to ensure that those policies and protections are optimized.”

—  John Wright