Jamie Citron's Blog

Yes We Did!

Jamie Citron — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 12:48:17 EST

If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.
It’s the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen; by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the very first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different; that their voice could be that difference.
It’s the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled – Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been a collection of Red States and Blue States: we are, and always will be, the United States of America.
-Barack Obama
November 4th, 2008 - Grant Park, Chicago, IL

The Closing Argument.

Jamie Citron — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 11:36:42 EDT

Yes, government must lead the way on energy independence, but each of us must do our part to make our homes and our businesses more efficient. Yes, we must provide more ladders to success for young men who fall into lives of crime and despair. But all of us must do our part as parents to turn off the television and read to our children and take responsibility for providing the love and guidance they need. Yes, we can argue and debate our positions passionately, but at this defining moment, all of us must summon the strength and grace to bridge our differences and unite in common effort – black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American; Democrat and Republican, young and old, rich and poor, gay and straight, disabled or not.
- Senator Barack Obama

Jennifer Beals and Ilene Chaiken in Lakewood, Ohio to Campaign for Obama

Jamie Citron — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 11:55:18 EDT

Lakewood Ohio residents, Dawn & Brad, had a surpise visit Saturday from some guest canvassers.

Read about it below:

On Saturday, October 25, some lucky Lakewood residents were greeted by a special canvassing crew. Jennifer Beals (Flashdance, the L-Word) and L-word creator and executive producer Ilene Chaiken stopped by a local Lakewood neighborhood canvassing session for Sen. Barack Obama's campaign. After a brief meet and greet at the home of Chuck & Betsy Shaughnessy with the Lakewood-based volunteers, Jennifer and Ilene were quickly trained on canvassing protocol for the Obama team's Campaign for Change, and joined by Lakewood's own Karolyn Isenhart, they stepped out onto our streets to knock on some Lakewood doors and talk to voters.

This year's presidential election has seen an unprecedented level of interest and involvement throughout the United States, with the Obama campaign growing into the largest citizen-powered political organization that the country has ever seen. Everyone from schoolteachers to nurses to plumbers -- and yes, even a few celebrities -- have participated in the presidential contest on a grassroots level, with the hopes of delivering the country some much-needed change.

We're all together.

Jamie Citron — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 15:16:48 EDT

"With the challenges and crises we face right now, we cannot afford to divide this country by race or class or region; by who we are or what policies we support. There are no real parts of the country and fake parts of the country. There are no pro-America parts of the country and anti-America parts of the country. We all love this country, no matter where we live or where we come from. Black, White, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, young, old, rich, poor, gay, straight, city-dwellers. Farm dwellers. It doesn't matter! We're all together."
-Senator Barack Obama
Richmond, Virginia
October 22, 2008

Click the image below to watch the full clip:

Two weeks out!

Jamie Citron — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 11:42:01 EDT

Believe it or not, Election Day is just two weeks away. We need all hands on deck as we work to turn the page on the last eight years of failed policies and divisive politics promoted by George Bush, usually with the backing of John McCain, that have been so hurtful to the LGBT community. And we can, in fact, bring the change our community desperately needs. We’re close. But we all need to work as hard as we ever have over the next 14 days to make sure we cross the finish line.
I’m asking you to not just spend some time over these last 14 days helping us get out the vote. I’m also asking you to mobilize your network of supporters, contacts, and friends – and ask them to do the same.
PLEASE, IF YOU HAVEN’T ALREADY, TAKE GOTV WEEKEND OFF AND HELP US TURN OUT VOTERS
This campaign has built an unprecedented field program that has successfully contacted millions of voters. But we can’t let up in the final days. Help us meet our ambitious goals over the final days. There are so many states in play this year, which means there’s most likely a battleground state within driving distance of wherever you may be right now. To find out where we need YOUR help the most, and to sign up to help out in that state, please check out our Drive for Change program here: http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/driveforchange
CALL EVERYONE YOU KNOW, AGAIN, AND ASK THEM TO VOTE OBAMA-BIDEN
Whether or not you can take GOTV weekend off and travel to a battleground state, you can still help out from your home. We’ve got two tools that can help you reach out to people you have relationships with and talk to them about the importance of voting for Barack and Joe. The first, Hometown Pride, helps you brainstorm all the people you know “back home.” Check it out here: http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/hometownpride
The second, for those of you with iPhones, is a handy application that prioritizes your contacts by key battleground states, and keeps track of your results in one place. Find it here: http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/iphone
WRITE A LETTER TO THE EDITOR OR AN OP-ED ABOUT WHY YOU SUPPORT THE TICKET
You are a leader in the LGBT community, and people care about what you have to say. In these last weeks, it’s important that LGBT people hear from you about why you support the Obama-Biden ticket. Help us spread the word about Barack’s record on issues important to our community. We’ve created a Letter to the Editor tool that makes it easy to submit a letter to the editor of your local LGBT paper. It’s at http://my.barackobama.com/page/speakout/prideletter?js=true. Of course, you should also consider submitting an Op-Ed. If, while you’re writing, you’ve got a question about where Barack stands on an issue, you can find all the information you should need under the Resources section at http://pride.barackobama.com.
CALL VOTERS FROM THE COMFORT OF YOUR OWN HOME
Finally, you can also phone bank callers in key states right from the comfort of your couch. We’ve got a tool that will link you with voters we need to contact in battleground states, that you can access online. You can also get a group of friends or supporters together to participate in this easy way. Check it out at http://my.barackobama.com/modules/votercontact/login_signup.php.
I also want to extend a personal thank you for everything you have been doing to make sure we win in November. The LGBT community has come together and worked hard to make sure LGBT voters understand the vast contrasts between Barack and John McCain on the issues we care about. I know a lot of that hard work has come from you, and from the work you’ve done to inspire the people around you to step up and make a difference. Thank you for that, and thank you for what I know you will do over these last few weeks to help us win on November 4th.
And please forward these tools to everyone you think will find them helpful!
Thanks,
Dave Noble
National LGBT Vote Director
Obama for America

All hands on deck.

Jamie Citron — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 11:26:34 EDT

“We are all sick because of AIDS - and we are all tested by this crisis. It is a test not only of our willingness to respond, but of our ability to look past the artificial divisions and debates that have often shaped that response. When you go to places like Africa and you see this problem up close, you realize that it's not a question of either treatment or prevention – or even what kind of prevention – it is all of the above. It is not an issue of either science or values – it is both. Yes, there must be more money spent on this disease. But there must also be a change in hearts and minds, in cultures and attitudes. Neither philanthropist nor scientist, neither government nor church, can solve this problem on their own - AIDS must be an all-hands-on-deck effort.”
-Senator Barack Obama

On October 16th, the Obama Campaign held a conference call to highlight Senator Obama's commitment to fighting HIV/AIDS both abroad and domestically and the detailed policies he has in place to make it happen. Kerry Eleveld at Advocate reports:

Sen. Barack Obama's campaign held a conference call Thursday intended to highlight his policy prescriptions for combating the HIV/AIDS epidemic -- including increased funding for research, care, and prevention as well as developing a national HIV/AIDS strategy within the first year of his administration...
Sandra Thurman, former director of the White House Office of National AIDS Policy under President Clinton, stressed the importance of developing a national AIDS strategy.
“As a former director of the Office of National AIDS Policy, I can't imagine anything more important than having a national AIDS strategy, the likes of which we have never had in the history of the epidemic for over a quarter of a century,” she said.

Click HERE to read the whole piece.

"The prospect of McCain appointments to high court should scare us all"

Jamie Citron — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 16:45:33 EDT

Paul Smith, the lawyer who successfully argued Lawrence v. Texas in front of the Supreme Court, had the following to say about what hangs in the balance on November 4th when it comes to judges:

IF YOU CARE about the rights of LGBT citizens, the two most important things you can do in the next few weeks are to vote for Barack Obama and to persuade friends and family to join you. Without for a moment diminishing the importance of the ongoing California initiative fight (which is itself huge), the ground zero for the movement pursuing LGBT equality right now is the presidential election. Either we will go backward, losing key rights we now have and leaving the country in the hands of those who offer at best their grudging “tolerance” (the term Sarah Palin used in the debate), or we go forward with real equality within our grasp.

One reason, of course, is that John McCain opposes every single legislative proposal for greater LGBT rights, whether it is the hate crimes bill, or protection from employment discrimination, or repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” This is a guy who says we shouldn’t even be able to adopt children! Barack Obama, by contrast, is supportive every time.

But another, even more important reason for electing Barack Obama is the Supreme Court, which now hangs in the balance. And that is particularly true with regard to LGBT issues. In 2003, I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to argue Lawrence v. Texas, the path-breaking Supreme Court case holding all sodomy laws unconstitutional. Lawrence not only eliminated the odious laws that had been used for many years to keep LGBT persons in a second-class status, it also laid the foundation for future progress in LGBT rights. Without it, our community’s future would look much different.

BUT WHERE ARE we now? We won Lawrence 6-3, but one of those who supported us, Justice O’Connor, has been replaced by the strictly conservative Samuel Alito. So the Lawrence majority is very likely reduced to 5-4 already. And one or more of those in the majority are likely to leave the court in the next four years.

If those departing justices are replaced by John McCain appointees, he has made it perfectly clear where they will stand. When asked in August at pastor Rick Warren’s Saddleback Forum which of the current justices he would not have appointed, McCain named four of the five remaining members of the Lawrence majority — Justices Stevens, Souter, Ginsburg and Breyer. He favors instead justices like the court’s current very conservative bloc — Chief Justice Roberts and Justices Scalia, Thomas and Alito.

President Obama, by contrast, would be likely to appoint justices like the four whom McCain rejected. When asked at Saddleback which justices he would not have appointed, he mentioned Justices Thomas and Scalia.

It is not just progressives who see this election as the turning point for the Supreme Court for the rest of our lives. Last February, noted conservative legal scholars Stephen Calabresi and John McGinnis endorsed John McCain for president, writing in the Wall Street Journal that his nomination was the “best option” to preserve what they called the “ongoing restoration of constitutional government.”
Translation: If John McCain wins, we can expect new justices who will work with the current conservative bloc to turn back the clock on a whole series of important constitutional precedents protecting individual rights.

Would a McCain court really overrule Lawrence? It’s hardly a long shot. The case as written by Justice Kennedy is closely tied analytically to the constitutional right to choose to have an abortion. If the latter goes (as it almost surely would if McCain wins) the Lawrence case would be left hanging by a thread.

BUT THE RELEVANCE of the Supreme Court in this election goes far beyond Lawrence. The court could very well be faced in the next few years with constitutional challenges to state decisions not to recognize other states’ marriages or the military ban or state laws that prohibit employers and landlords from discriminating based on sexual orientation. How those questions are answered will have a profound impact on the lives of LGBT Americans.

And even outside the context of LGBT issues, future court terms will address a whole variety of other critical issues, ranging from the power of the president to engage in detention and surveillance, to the First Amendment, affirmative action and who knows what else. The court plays a unique role in our society. And its appointees have life tenure.

Many of you have probably heard arguments about the Supreme Court in prior presidential election years, only to see things not change too much. But I’m here to tell you this election matters exponentially. People may have seemed to cry wolf in the past. But the days when Republican presidents appointed surprise moderates or progressives are now past. So as a community, we have every reason in the world to support Sen. Obama this year. We have a chance to see a president who has championed our rights his entire career. It’s not a chance we should pass up.

Final Debate Tonight!

Jamie Citron — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 18:04:36 EDT

THIRD PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE
TIME-DATE: 9 p.m. EDT, Wednesday, Oct. 15.
PLACE: Hofstra University, Hempstead, N.Y.
SUBJECT: Domestic policy.
MODERATOR: CBS' Bob Scheiffer.

"One more reason to be proud of my hometown"

Jamie Citron — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 13:05:20 EDT

I wanted to share with you the following email I received this morning from Obama Pride Chicago member, Michael R.

I'm a volunteer with Obama for America in Chicago. I'm doing everything I can here to support the campaign-- I even threw a house party and encouraged my friends to donate. But since Illinois is already pretty blue, I wanted to find ways to expand impact I can make.

That's what makes Hometown Pride such a great idea. I grew up in Florida, so I have dozens of old friends in this important state. By contacting five or more friends back home, I'm making a difference where it counts the most. So far, this is who I've reached out to:

My Mother-- I forwarded information about the campaign to her, and she passed it along to eight of her friends. They've started volunteering, making donations, and-- most importantly-- talking to their friends as well.

My Best Friend-- he's gay like me, but he was misinformed about a lot of Obama's positions on GLBT issues.

Summer Coworker-- It was only a summer job during college, but he and I email from time to time. Asking him to get his friends in the loop was a way to reach out to people I never would have met myself.

My "Aunt & Uncle"-- we're not really related, but I made sure my longtime family friends know how important this election is. When people are like family, they listen differently, and I think they really wanted to know what I thought.

My "Long Lost Friend"-- I hadn't spoken to her in a year, and a phone call about this historic campaign was the perfect excuse. She'd planned to vote for Obama, but didn't know about the registration deadlines. She registered online while we were catching up.

Participating in Hometown Pride is easy, and it puts my efforts where the campaign needs them most. Sometimes people just need to hear from someone they know to get excited. Best of all, come November, when my friends help send Barack Obama to the Whitehouse, I'll have one more reason to be proud of my hometown.

LGBT Activists Headed to Columbus, OH

Jamie Citron — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 22:06:45 EDT

Gay and Lesbian friends of Michelle and Sen. Barack Obama from Chicago and LGBT activists from coast-to-coast are converging on Columbus for a Weekend of Action to Win Ohio, October 18th and 19th, sponsored by Obama Pride.

The event kicks off at 9 a.m. at UFCW Union Hall, 4510 East Main St., Columbus, with a short rally. Participants will then fan out to canvass neighborhoods in Central Ohio critical to all Democratic candidates in the coming election.

Personal friends of the Obamas who will be firing up Columbus’ LGBT volunteers include:

Mary Morten, interim executive director for the Chicago Foundation for Women, which is one of the world’s largest women’s funds.

Dan Sprehe, a Chicago LGBT activist who worked on Obama’s 2004 Senate Campaign.

Kevin Thompson, Sen. Obama’s 2004 “Bodyman.” In the world of politics, that’s a personal assistant who travels with a candidate and takes care of everything from transportation and lodging to keeping the candidate’s favorite snacks and pens on hand.

Marsha Botzer, a National Co-Chair of Obama Pride America. She has served as co-chair of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Board of Directors. Botzer is also a founding member of Equal Rights Washington and founded Seattle’s Ingersoll Gender Center, an organization that serves the transgender community.

Jane M. Saks, founding executive director of the Ellen Stone Belic Institute for the Study of Women and Gender in the Arts and Media at Columbia College Chicago.

Additionally, a bus of 50-plus LGBT activists from Massachusetts will make the trip to join the effort.

The canvass will run for two days, with four-hour shifts being assigned at the rally. Those who can’t attend the rally, but still want to participate in the canvass in the should contact Sean Pflendler at spfendler@ohiodems.org. And those without cars will be partnered with drivers.

Statement of Barack Obama on the Passing of Allan H. Spear

Jamie Citron — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:13:11 EDT

Senator Barack Obama today released the following statement on the passing of Minnesota State Senator and former President of the Senate Allan Spear:

“I join with all Minnesotans who mourn the loss of Allan Spear. His evenhandedness, command of the issues, and ability to reach across the aisle and work with colleagues of both parties were legendary and should inspire us all. He was a man of great courage who served as one of this nation’s first openly gay legislators. Michelle and I and the Bidens send our thoughts and prayers to Allan’s partner, Junjiro Tsuji, and all the family, friends and colleagues who loved him.”

Voices from the Field: Ben Z.

Jamie Citron — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 14:21:20 EDT

Obama Pride Chicago hit the doors of Davenport, Iowa this past weekend working hard to ensure an Obama Victory on November 4th. Obama Pride member Ben Z. reports:

Obama Pride Chicago joined nearly 100 other local Obama supporters on Saturday on a three hour bus ride to the Obama field office just outside of Davenport, Iowa. As it happened, John McCain was holding a rally downtown at the same time we were set to knock on doors in the city's precincts. His presence in the Quad Cities made us even more fired up to get out into the neighborhoods and get out the vote for Obama…

Read the rest of Ben Z.'s post HERE.

Or, plan your own target state trip by emailing us at pride@barackobama.com

Statement of Barack Obama on Ten Years Since Matthew Shepard’s Murder

Jamie Citron — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 15:03:12 EDT

Senator Barack Obama issued the following statement today regarding the ten years since Matthew Shepard was murdered:

"Today, we pause to remember the heartbreaking and senseless murder of Matthew Shepard. A freshman at the University of Wyoming, Matthew was a young man committed to fighting for equality and changing the world around him. He was tragically taken from us far too early, an innocent victim of an abhorrent hate crime, and never had the chance to see his dreams realized.

In the ten years since Matthew's passing, Congress has repeatedly and unacceptably failed to enact a federal hate crimes law that would protect all LGBT Americans. That's not just a failure to honor Matthew's memory; it's a failure to deliver justice for all who have been victimized by hate crimes, regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation. All Americans deserve to live their lives free of fear, and as Americans, it is our moral obligation to stand up against bigotry and strive for equality for all.

Today, Michelle and I send our thoughts and prayers to Matthew's parents, Judy and Dennis, and to all whose lives have been touched by unconscionable violence."

Obama Pride celebrates National Coming Out Day

Jamie Citron — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:09:13 EDT

A message from LGBT Vote Director, Dave Noble:

Today is National Coming Out Day, an occasion in the LGBT community when we all take special pride in living our lives openly, no matter our sexual orientation or gender identity. I’m encouraged today, as every day on this campaign, by the huge numbers of out activists playing an important role in our campaign. We have organized Obama Pride networks in almost every state, and every day we are talking to fellow members of our communities about the importance of this election for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
We’ve got just 23 days left to make sure we elect Barack Obama and Joe Biden, and finally turn the page on the policies and politics of the current Administration. While we come out today to family and friends, don’t forget to also “come out” to a battleground state and knock on doors over a weekend before Election Day! Our Chicago LGBT team is out in the field and we want you to join us. Email us at pride@barackobama.com and let us know where and when you can come out – for change!

Obama Pride at the Debate

Jamie Citron — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 10:30:22 EDT

Members of Obama Pride Nashville woke early in the morning to attend a pre-debate rally on the Belmont campus today!

Don't forget to join Obama Pride Nashville and watch the debate tonight.

SECOND PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE
TIME-DATE: 9 p.m. EDT, Tuesday, Oct. 7.
PLACE: Belmont University, Nashville, Tenn.
SUBJECT: Issues raised by audience members and submitted by Internet participants, in town-hall format.
MODERATOR: NBC's Tom Brokaw.

Friends of Barack visit Ohio

Jamie Citron — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 11:38:24 EDT

Mary Morten and Dan Sprehe are LGBT Chicagoans who have known the Obamas for a long time. This weekend they joined Obama Pride in Cleveland and Columbus to talk with LGBT voters about the Barack and Michelle they know. Mary, as the interim director and past president of the Chicago Foundation for Women has worked closely with Michelle and has done great work for the LGBT community in her home city, having been inducted into the LGBT hall of fame in 1996.

Mary & Dan spent Saturday morning pumping up volunteers and talking with undecided voters at the Cleveland AIDS Walk then headed down to Columbus for an afternoon Vote Rally where they shared the stage with Congressman Conyers, Congressman Abercrombie and local band Saving Jane!

Mary had this to say about her visit:

The LGBT volunteers on the ground in Cleveland and Columbus were unbelievable! There was so much excitement and enthusiasm along with a strong commitment to reaching out to their communities. It was contagious! I was thrilled to be part of this work!

Write About It.

Jamie Citron — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 19:52:24 EDT

Have something to say?

Want to share with the LGBT community why you support Obama?

The most powerful voice is yours. Write a letter to the editor today.

Click the icon below (or click 'write a letter to the editor' in the TAKE ACTION section above) and get started. Don't know what your local LGBT paper is? No problem, we have them listed for you. Not sure what to say? We have talking points at the ready to help you get started. You are one click away from making your voice heard in a way that will spread Barack's message to those who need to hear it, our community.

Writing a letter to the editor is an important way to keep our movement growing, as the LGBT press is an effective and targeted way to reach undecided LGBT voters. In addition to promoting Barack’s message of equality, your letters will play a crucial role in inspiring other supporters to get involved.

"We're going to be the edge."

Jamie Citron — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 19:52:50 EDT

“It's going to be really close in Florida, but my hope is that when Barack Obama wins, we're going to know that those were LGBT votes. And last time they used us as a wedge, but this time we're going to be the edge.”

Cynthia Nixon, of Sex & The City fame, stumped for Obama in South Florida on October 1st and drove home the fact that in tight races such as Florida, it could all come down to the LGBT Vote. The South Florida Blade reports:

"I've never done this before,” said Cynthia Nixon, to a standing-room only crowd. “I have never flown to another state to campaign for somebody. I've never made a speech on behalf of a presidential candidate. I've never given the maximum amount I am allowed by law to give to a Presidential candidate. But I have done those three things this month...I believe we are at a moment in our history when we need to say, ‘We're going the wrong way."

Speaking at the Wilton Manors GLBT Get Out The Vote center, Nixon urged a crowd of LGBT Floridians to get involved, sharing with the crowd her own passionate committement to Obama and the reasons she decided to get involved for the first time.

She noted Obama’s support for gay-inclusive anti-discrimination laws in Illinois while he was a state senator; she also praised Obama’s running mate Sen. Joe Biden, who wrote the federal Violence Against Women Act.

Fair Wisconsin endorses Barack!

Jamie Citron — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 15:35:08 EDT

Fair Wisconsin would like to announce to its members the endorsement of Barack Obama and Joe Biden. There are only 36 days until the election, and there is much work to be done. Please take action to help elect Barack Obama President on November 4th!

Senator Obama has called for an end to federal discrimination by fully repealing the Defense of Marriage Act and Don't Ask, Don't Tell, and supports an Employment Non-Discrimination Act that includes sexual orientation and gender identity. Wisconsin's own Our Lives Magazine recently profiled Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin, a national leader for LGBT equality and the co-chair of Barack's national gay leadership and policy committee. For more information about Barack's positions on issues important to the LGBT community, please visit http://pride.barackobama.com

Are you from Wisconsin? Do you have friends or family there? Help us win Wisconsin without leaving home!

Who is the LGBT candidate?

Jamie Citron — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 11:48:57 EDT

Huffington Post contributor, and Obama volunteer, Tanene Allison spent some time comparing the web presence and policy positions of Obama and McCain on LGBT issues.

Oftentimes in an election season, you hear the familiar cry from disillusioned voters that there really is no substantial difference between the two main candidates. In this election, that isn't the problem we face. A read-through of the platforms of the two parties and the policy proposals of the candidates quickly calls out their starkly different beliefs of where this nation should head. In particular, on the topic of LGBT Rights, the difference between the candidates could not be more stark.

For Tanene's full comparison, CLICK HERE.

Trans Blog Day for Obama

Jamie Citron — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 11:35:35 EDT

Yesterday, transgender bloggers coordinated a special blogging day harnessing the power of the trans community and trans allies to show their support for Barack Obama and to make a difference in the 2008 election! Dozens of bloggers participated, posting on their sites and encouraging trans community members and allies to donate to the campaign through a page set up by the National Stonewall Democrats. By the end of the day hundreds of people had donated, sending the message that they support Obama and transgender equality!

Annie Rushden, of Gardens in Bloom, had this to say:

The transgender community and our allies play a vital role in electing candidates across the country. We need to support Barack Obama based on his strong record of advocacy for the LGBT community; we also need to make sure we measure the impact transgender people and our allies are having on the campaign.

Obama Pride is honored by the enthusiastic support of so many in the transgender community and we congratulate all the participants in Trans Blog for Obama day for their huge success!

UPDATE: The quote above, attributed to Annie Rushden, is actually from the National Stonewall Democrats actblue page. Sorry for the error and thank you for pointing it out! You can still join in the cause and join the transgender community and allies support Obama campaign HERE.

Obama Pride North Carolina Marches!

Jamie Citron — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 16:15:36 EDT

June may be over but Pride festivals are happening all the way into the fall.

Obama Pride North Carolina spent the weekend registering voters, signing up volunteers and spreading the word about Barack's fantastic record on LGBT issues at North Carolina Pride.

Good work Obama Pride NC!

Breaking: The debate is on!

Jamie Citron — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 12:38:59 EDT

CNN reports that Senator McCain has agreed to join Senator Obama at the University of Mississippi for tonight's debate.

Don't miss out!

FIRST PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE
TIME-DATE: 9 p.m. EDT, Friday, Sept. 26.
PLACE: University of Mississippi, Oxford, Miss.
SUBJECT: Foreign policy.
MODERATOR: PBS' Jim Lehrer, "The NewsHour."

Obama Pride Chicago: Debate Watch Party

Jamie Citron — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 20:40:07 EDT

Michelle Obama: "He has never stopped pursuing that better world."

Jamie Citron — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 14:11:17 EDT

Michelle Obama states her case in The Advocate:

The World As It Should Be
By: Michelle Obama
In about a month, Americans will head to the polls to cast their votes for the next president of the United States. It will be a momentous day. But this presidential election has already changed our country in profound ways. The candidacies of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have smashed old barriers and broadened opportunities for all Americans. And I’m grateful to them -- both as a citizen and as a parent of two young girls.
But our country’s journey toward equality is not finished. It’s been five years since Lawrence v. Texas. It’s been 39 years since Stonewall. And we still have more work to do before we achieve equality for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Americans.
Election Day offers an opportunity to take another crucial step toward equality. Millions have joined this movement for change. People are hoping again -- believing again -- that we can come together to create a stronger, fairer nation. And on November 4 we’ll have a chance to put that hope into action.
Translating hope into action is something Barack has done for his entire career.
Barack and I met in Chicago 20 years ago. He thought the best way for me to know him was to get a sense of the work he cared about most. After college he had worked in neighborhoods that were devastated when steel plants shut down and jobs dried up. He’d been invited back to speak to people from those neighborhoods about how to create new opportunities for their families. He asked me to come with him.
I watched as Barack took off his jacket, rolled up his sleeves, and instantly connected with every person in that room. He gave the most eloquent talk about “the world as it is” and “the world as it should be.”
Too often, he said, we accept the distance between the two, and we settle for the world as it is -- even when it doesn’t reflect our values and aspirations. But he reminded us that we know what fairness and justice and opportunity look like. And he urged us to believe in ourselves and find the strength to strive for the world as it should be.
Barack Obama, the 2008 presidential nominee, is the same man I fell in love with on that day 20 years ago. He has never stopped pursuing that better world.
As an Illinois state senator, Barack championed the law that amended the Illinois Human Rights Act to prohibit discrimination on the basis of both sexual orientation and gender identity in the workplace, in housing, and in public places. In the middle of a tight race for U.S. Senate, Barack went on the record supporting a complete repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act. As a U.S. senator, he voted to protect our Constitution from the stain of discrimination by voting against the Federal Marriage Amendment.
He has supported full funding for the Ryan White CARE Act and has pledged to implement a national HIV/AIDS strategy to combat the continuing epidemic in the United States. He has also spoken out against the stigma surrounding HIV testing, a stigma tied all too often to homophobia. And he’s led by example: On our trip to Kenya, we both took a public HIV test.
This is why Barack is running for president—because he believes that if we work together, we can build the world as it should be.
We all know what that world looks like.
It’s a world where we repeal laws like DOMA and “don’t ask, don’t tell” and oppose amendments that would write discrimination into our Constitution—because discrimination has no place in a nation founded on the promise of equality.
It’s a world where the federal government protects us all against hate crimes and we recognize that equality in relationship, family, and adoption rights isn’t an abstract principle but goes directly to whether all Americans can lead lives of dignity and freedom.

Hometown Pride: How to get started!

Jamie Citron — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 21:33:14 EDT

We are just weeks away from the most critical election of our lifetime and every vote counts. The difference between Barack Obama and John McCain could not be clearer and as LGBT people we know what's at stake. Senator Obama's LGBT Vote team is asking you to take part in a program unlike anything done before. Not only are we asking you to get involved where you live, but we are also asking you to make a difference where you are from. It's crucial to remember all the contacts we have – even if we don't live near them anymore – and talk to them, we can bring in the handful of votes that decide this election. LGBT Americans are from every corner of the country. Join us today and make a difference in a corner of the US that you know best.

Find three to five people back in your hometown who you think you could have a conversation with about Barack and Joe. When you talk with these people, tell them why you personally support Barack and Joe. These are your friends and people who know you, tell them your story.

Get Started Today.

Not sure who to talk to? Think about people you're still close to, like family members – but also think about people you might not have talked to in years. Think about:

Family members, Former Teachers, High School Friends, Your Piano Teacher, Sports or Drama Coach, an old Babysitter, Barber or Sunday School teacher. T-Ball Teammates, College Friends, Mentors and Professors. Your first boss and co-workers at the drive-in, bookstore or corner diner. What about your first boyfriend/girlfriend?

Not sure what to say? If you're talking about LGBT issues, we have some great talking points to help you start the conversation.

· John McCain has never once voted to progress LGBT equality. He voted against federal legislation that would protect LGBT people from being fired just for who they are, he believes gay people should not be able to serve in the military, visit their loved ones in the hospital and he isn't even sure we should be able to adopt.

· Barack Obama has a clear and consistent record in support of LGBT people. He promises to include me and other LGBT people in his vision of America and will work to make sure I am secure in my job, safe from hate crimes and equal in the eyes of the law.

· The Supreme Court is one vote away from overturning important decisions about personal privacy, like Lawrence vs. Texas and Roe vs. Wade, that protect all Americans from government intrusion – especially LGBT people.

Don't stop here. Do you know that your former high school English teacher is worried about social security? Is your softball coach or first boss worried about the struggling economy? Did your uncle just lose his job? Find out about Barack's plans to help every American HERE.

Friday Night

Jamie Citron — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 17:19:16 EDT

Don't forget to tune in to the first Presidential Debate this Friday night! The theme of this week's debate is Foreign Policy.

FIRST PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE
TIME-DATE: 9 p.m. EDT, Friday, Sept. 26.
PLACE: University of Mississippi, Oxford, Miss.
SUBJECT: Foreign policy.
MODERATOR: PBS' Jim Lehrer, "The NewsHour."

Find a place to watch with other supporters, or host an Obama Pride Watch Party and invite your friends who are still undecided.

Find details on all four debates HERE.

An intolerable risk?

Jamie Citron — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 16:18:58 EDT

Two weeks ago in St. Paul, Minnesota, John McCain and the Republican Party justified continuing the discriminatory ban on LGBT Americans serving openly in the United States military by including a plank in their national platform extolling "the benefits of traditional military culture, and the incompatibility of homosexuality with military service." This was no surprise in light of Sen. McCain's longstanding support for the discriminatory "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. In fact, in a 2007 letter, McCain said that the law "unambiguously maintains that open homosexuality within the military services presents an intolerable risk to morale, cohesion and discipline." An intolerable risk? Barack Obama thinks differently. It's time for a change.

Few people know this better than Marine Staff Sgt. Eric Alva, the first American casualty in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Alva underscored the need to repeal Don't Ask, Don't' Tell and his support for Barack Obama in a YouTube video message HERE.

In a September 17th conference call with reporters, the campaign's LGBT Vote Program underscored Sen. Obama's strong belief that the key test for military service should be patriotism, a sense of duty, and a willingness to serve. Discrimination should have no place in our military.

On the call, Lt. Gen. Claudia Kennedy, the first female three-star general, said Senator McCain is "out of touch with reality" and "reckless … to put aside the reality of our world and try to stick with a very old, outmoded way of thinking about people. We should be looking at people on the basis of merit and on the basis of performance… Senator Obama, in my view, is the perfect commander-in-Chief for the Twenty-First Century." Kennedy emphasized that our nation's security was particularly undermined when intelligence officers, like translators, are discharged under Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

Congressman Patrick Murphy (D-PA), a West Point Graduate and Army JAG recruiter, told reporters that Barack Obama was prepared to "put the full force of his administration on repealing the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy and for that I applaud him and think that's exactly the right approach." Murphy also observed that "John McCain does not believe our military personnel are as professional as the twenty-three other NATO countries that allow their military members to serve openly."

It's clear that John McCain is wrong. After gay Navy linguist Jason Knight was discharged in 2005, he was recalled back to service and sent to Kuwait where he had the support of his commanders and colleagues. You can watch Knight's video message HERE.

Barack Obama's commitment to LGBT equality does not end with his vow to rescind Don't Ask, Don't Tell. As president, he also pledged full repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act and promised to sign into law LGBT inclusive hate crimes and employment nondiscrimination legislation

OUT in the Field: LGBT Students for Obama Penn State

Jamie Citron — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 15:31:20 EDT

Daniel Kolbe, working with Penn State Students for Obama, wants to make sure the LGBT community on campus is throwing it's weight behind Barack Obama and that LGBT and human rights issues are at the forefront of the debate. The Daily Collegian reports:

Daniel Kolbe said this election will directly affect how he lives his life.
"It's important to me to have the right to be an equal citizen in our country," said Kolbe, a member of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community (LGBT).
Passionate about his beliefs, Kolbe is president of LGBT Students for Obama, created in March. Kolbe (junior-information sciences and technology) would like to bring LGBT issues into the spotlight this election by informing voters.
Both Kolbe and Zachary Zabel, president of Penn State Students for Barack Obama, said Obama has the community's best interests in mind.
"We want to basically try and bring a lot of LGBT and basic human rights issues to the front and have people look honestly at all the issues within the campaign and make informed decisions on who they are going to be voting for... Ultimately, considering the age of the average college students, this election is what's going to impact their future," Kolbe said.

OUT in the Field: Rebecca & Julia

Jamie Citron — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 15:20:05 EDT

Periodically, we at Obama Pride want to share with you the voices and views of LGBT Americans across the nation. The reasons why LGBT people choose to support Barack Obama for President are as diverse as our community itself. This week we bring you Rebecca & Julia from San Francisco, California. Check back often for other LGBT Voices in support of Obama.

We endorsed Barack Obama for president last fall and we want to tell you why.
First, let us introduce ourselves. We are Julia Adams and Rebecca Prozan. We have been together for 6 ½ years, 5 ½ of which we've had the fortune of legal recognition and protection as domestic partners. We met in law school. Julia has been committed to public interest law and social justice issues all her life and currently manifests that practice as an attorney focusing on plaintiff-side employment discrimination and tenant's rights. Rebecca has been deeply dedicated to public service, both pre and post law school, and currently serves as an Assistant District Attorney in San Francisco.
Prior to law school, Julia worked with the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network. There, she became very familiar with the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy. Currently, SLDN estimates that every single day two highly-trained, devoted Americans are fired from the military as a result of DADT. For more than a decade, thousands of lives have been ruined by this policy. While some of us may not choose to serve our country in this way, those who do should be able to do so openly and proudly. Obama has been clear – the only test should be a sense of duty and an ongoing willingness and capacity to serve our country, without consideration of one's sexual orientation.
Rebecca worked as the LGBT Community Liaison for San Francisco Mayor Willie L. Brown, Jr. before attending law school. During that time, she helped organize the first public domestic partner ceremonies, which became an annual event during Mayor Brown's administration. The public ceremonies provided many people with their first view of same sex commitment ceremonies. This year, domestic partnership finally evolved into marriage rights for same sex couples in California. The issue of marriage equality is important to Californians, and Obama supports the extension of equal rights and benefits to same sex couples under both state and federal law. Obama opposes Proposition 8, a discriminatory ballot initiative on the November 2008 ballot that seeks to amend the California Constitution to prohibit same sex marriage.
We are lucky to live in tolerant San Francisco, which is home to the most vibrant LGBT community in the country. However, we've noticed that San Francisco has become inaccessible for many. Like the rest of the country, our economic outlook is not as bright as it once was. Layoffs are more and more common and no longer a surprise to hear about. Families are leaving the City due to being priced out of our housing market and because the school system is failing. Public safety concerns continue to threaten our quality of life. And we would like to see a world where folks do not have to call the streets their home.
We trust Barack Obama to firmly and appropriately address these nuts and bolts issues once elected. Obama's experience as a community organizer gives us confidence that he understands how the White House will need to concretely step up and take action to turn things around. The fact that he and his wife recently paid off their graduate school loans, from the proceeds of one of Obama's books, demonstrates that the Obama family knows what it is like to work to make ends meet.
In addition, Obama had the good judgment to stand up and oppose the war in Iraq from day one. He knows that every day we fail to address global warming means another day less for humankind in the end.
We cannot wait another four years for action – Obama must win this November.

NEW VIDEO: Michelle at the LGBT Delegates Luncheon

Jamie Citron — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 17:24:15 EDT

Lawrence Goldyn, openly gay professor and mentor to Barack Obama, speaks to the Washington Blade

Jamie Citron — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 11:30:04 EDT

Around 1980, Lawrence Goldyn was an openly gay political science professor, an outspoken supporter of Civil Rights and a conduit for open discussion at Occidental College in Los Angeles. Not an easy thing to be on a campus known for its socially conservative leanings. Goldyn was also a mentor to a politically burgeoning Barack Obama. He recently sat down with the Washington Blade to talk about his experience teaching eighteen year old Obama.

Goldyn on Barack:

“He was remarkable in that he was not intimidated by a publicly gay figure and, in fact, was interested in learning from me, whether formally or informally. That required an extraordinary kind of confidence in an 18 or 19 year old — the kind that comes from somewhere deep inside, that was still finding its way into his adult personality.
“He demonstrated a kind of social courage, which has served him well and helped get him where he is today,” said Goldyn, who described himself as a strong supporter of Obama’s presidential campaign.

Barack on Goldyn:

“He was a wonderful guy,” Obama said of Goldyn in that interview. “He was the first openly gay professor that I had ever come into contact with, or openly gay person of authority that I had come in contact with... just his comfort in his own skin and the friendship we developed helped to educate me on a number of these issues.”

Colorado has its say

Jamie Citron — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 10:51:20 EDT

The Colorado Stonewall Democrats enthusiastically endorsed Barack Obama today:

After the historic National Democratic Convention held in the Mile High City the Colorado Stonewall Democrats proudly endorsed Senator Barack Obama for President of the United States as the best candidate in this presidential race looking out for LGBT Americans. From hate crimes legislation to an inclusive ENDA and from HIV prevention to Gays in the Military, Senator Obama is on the right side of the issues. As demonstrated during Senator Obama’s acceptance speech at Mile High he, like millions of fair minded Americans believes that we can rise to our greater natures and find respect and a place at the table for LGBT Americans.

Between The Lines endorses Barack Obama

Jamie Citron — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 19:11:16 EDT

Michigan's LGBT newspaper endorsed Senator Obama today, and in no uncertain terms, made it clear how much is at stake in this election. Read the whole thing here.

Unlike four long years ago, the Michigan LGBT vote is being strongly courted outloud and proud by the National Democratic party this year with the leadership of Barack Obama... The stakes in this election could not be higher. All of us in the 11 battleground states of 2004 know the effects of letting our opponents win wars that restrict our rights. We cannot afford to risk anything less than electing and swearing into office President Obama on Jan. 20, 2009.
The stark contrast between candidates is easy to see with a look at LGBT-issue Web site www.pride.barackobama.com versus Sen. John McCain, who has no such site. Or, look at the National Democratic Platform and compare it with the National Republican Platform on LGBT issues...
BarackObama has asked for and will receive our support, endorsement and anything else we can help them with in the next 60 days. We urge all our readers to educate themselves, their family members and co-workers about the urgency of this election in our lives. Tell them how harmful the last four years have been for those of us living under this assault. Enough is enough. Pick up the phones, register people to vote (last day is Oct. 6), share your stories and please vote for Barack Obama on Nov. 4. because, "Yes we can!"

Quinn on Obama

Jamie Citron — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 14:18:11 EDT

The first openly gay New York City Council Speaker, Christine Quinn, joined 50 LGBT organizational leaders and Obama Pride New York for an Obama Pride Rally and mass endorsement on the steps on City Hall.

"I am confident . . . he will be the most pro-LGBT president we've had", said Quinn.

Barack talks to the Washington Blade

Jamie Citron — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 21:18:22 EDT

Recently LGBT newspaper The Washington Blade submitted a series of questions to Senator Obama regarding his potential Administration and the LGBT Community. Below are a few excerpts.

On Role Models

Blade: Do you have any role models who are openly gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender?
Obama: A college professor of mine helped me to see the lives of LGBT people from a different perspective. He was the first openly gay professor that I had ever come in contact with, or openly gay person of authority that I had come in contact with. And he was just a terrific guy. His comfort in his own skin and the friendship we developed helped to educate me on a number of these issues.

On Executive Appointments

Blade: Would you resume the practice started by President Clinton but discontinued by President Bush of creating a high-level White House staff position serving as liaison to the GLBT community?
Obama: I will make sure the voices of LGBT people are heard in the White House and I thought it was wrong that the Bush White House eliminated this position.

On Judges

Blade: Would you decline to nominate a qualified Supreme Court justice or cabinet member who had a history of anti-gay rulings?
Obama: I would have to consider the totality of the candidate’s record and qualifications. However, I think someone who has an established record of failing to support equal opportunities for all Americans would not fare well in an Obama-Biden administration.

On HIV/AIDS

Blade: President Bush has been praised for his AIDS relief efforts in Africa, but many domestic AIDS service providers say the U.S. focus on the epidemic abroad ignores growing infection rates here at home. How would your AIDS policies differ from President Bush’s and would you put a greater focus on the domestic problem?
Obama: President Bush has done a good job with international AIDS programs, but I think we need to do more, especially domestically. If elected, during my first year in office, I will develop and implement a comprehensive national HIV/AIDS strategy that includes all federal agencies. That strategy will reduce HIV infections, increase access to care and reduce HIV-related health disparities. Congress should pass the JUSTICE Act to combat infection within our prison population. And, as President, I will continue to confront the stigma — too often tied to homophobia — that continues to surround HIV/AIDS.

On DOMA

Blade: You have called for the full repeal of DOMA. If elected president, will you introduce legislation calling for its repeal during your first year in office?
Obama: I have long been on record opposing DOMA, and an Obama-Biden administration will work hard to ensure that we can pass a repeal of that law as soon as possible.

On the passing of Del Martin

Blade: Del Martin died on Aug. 27 — she and Phyllis Lyon, her partner of 55 years, got married in the first legal gay union in California in June — affording Phyllis many of the basic protections and rights granted to married couples, such as hospital visitations and estate planning issues. Do you envision a time when all GLBT citizens will have similar basic rights? During your administration?
Obama: Michelle and I were extremely saddened to learn about Del’s passing. Del committed her life to fighting discrimination and promoting equality.
As I have said before, I’m running for President to build an America that lives up to our founding promise of equality for all — a promise that certainly extends to the LGBT community. I do envision a time when we all enjoy that promise, but we have to work hard to get there. LGBT Americans deserve real change, and they deserve it now. Certainly as a nation we can all agree that discrimination has no place in our America. Same-sex couples face legal discrimination every day — that we can, and must, end — by repealing DOMA, providing federal rights and responsibilities to same-sex families, and supporting LGBT parents, to start. And we need to remember that it’s not just couples that need protection — we need to pass long overdue legislation that ends employment discrimination, enhances hate crimes protections, and repeals “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.”

Compare Obama and McCain on LGBT Issues

Jamie Citron — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 17:01:13 EDT

Obama Pride has released a comprehensive list of issue contrasts between Senator Obama and Senator McCain covering an array of topics. You can view it by CLICKING HERE or by visiting the resources section on pride.barackobama.com

Below is a sample of some of the issues covered, click above for the whole piece and spread the word! Please send to at least five of your friends and encourage them to do the same.

Obama Pride at Gender Odyssey

Jamie Citron — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 15:19:11 EDT

Obama Pride National Co-Chair, Marsha Botzer, led a team of Obama Pride volunteers registering voters and signing up supporters at the 6th annual Gender Odyssey Conference. Here is what she had to say about their efforts:

Labor Day Weekend saw the 6th annual Gender Odyssey Conference at the Convention Center in downtown Seattle, and Obama Pride was there with a table right at the entrance. This conference deals with gender identity and expression concerns, and hundreds of individuals, families, professional providers, allies and friends attend this conference each year. We talked about Obama to most of them! This conference draws folks from all over the world, many quickly affirming their support for Obama, their commitment to vote, and their thumbs up support and best wishes. We signed up lots of new Obama Pride members, handed out a huge number of Obama Pride stickers, and registered a good number of first-time voters! All in all, a very successful Washington State Obama Pride effort.

Thanks Marsha and Obama Pride Washington!

Obama Pride launches official Facebook page!

Jamie Citron — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:55:10 EDT

Obama Pride is now officially on Facebook. Join and find other supporters in your area, keep up with the blog, take a peek at new photos and videos from speeches and events around the country, register to vote, post and find Obama Pride activities near you.

JOIN TODAY!

WashBlade: "Biden called a proven advocate for gay rights"

Jamie Citron — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 15:14:50 EDT

Last week, Washington Blade reporter Lou Chibbaro Jr. took the time to speak with some LGBT Delawareans about Vice Presidential Nominee Joe Biden:

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama’s decision to pick Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) as his vice presidential running mate drew immediate praise from gay activists in Delaware, who called Biden a strong and reliable friend of the gay community... He has voted for gay-supportive legislation and against anti-gay measures nearly every time such legislation came before the Senate during his 35-year tenure as a senator, according to Delaware activists.
"He’s a great choice for vice president,” said Steve Elkins, executive director of Camp Rehoboth, a gay social and community service organization in Rehoboth Beach, a Delaware resort town with a large gay community.
“Biden has always been very supportive of everything we’ve done,” Elkins said.
"We have reason to think he's very positive on all LGBT issues," said Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality.

CLICK HERE for the whole article.

Our Brothers & Sisters

Jamie Citron — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 15:06:34 EDT

Happy Labor Day!

CLICK HERE (or click the picture below) to watch a new Obama Pride video! It was originally premiered at the LGBT Caucus meeting at the Convention last week.

"When I am President of the Unites States, gays and lesbians will have somebody who will fight for equal rights for them, because they are our brothers and they are our sisters."
-Senator Barack Obama

Equality.

Jamie Citron — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 18:26:05 EDT

Last night, Barack Obama gave a landmark speech at Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colorado. Eighty thousand people were in attendance and another thirty eight million watched on TV. The following is an excerpt I wanted to share with you:

“The challenges we face require tough choices, and Democrats as well as Republicans will need to cast off the worn-out ideas and politics of the past… I know there are differences on same-sex marriage, but surely we can agree that our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters deserve to visit the person they love in the hospital and to live lives free of discrimination.”
- Senator Barack Obama (D-IL), August 27, 2008

Barack on the passing of activist and pioneer Del Martin

Jamie Citron — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:30:25 EDT

It was with heavy hearts that we learned that civil rights activist and pioneer Del Martin passed away. Senator Barack Obama made the following statement on her passing:

“Michelle and I were deeply saddened to hear that Del Martin had passed. Del committed her life to fighting discrimination and promoting equality. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her spouse Phyllis Lyon, and all those who were touched by her life.”

Rick Stafford honored with the Transgender Caucus' Hero Award

Jamie Citron — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:23:25 EDT

Congratulations to Rick Stafford, Chair of the Democratic National Comittee's LGBT Caucus on his reception of the 2008 Transgender Caucus' Hero Award. Rick was presented with the award at today's LGBT Caucus meeting by Babs Casbar, New Jersey Delegate and President of the New Jersey Stonewall Democrats. Congratulations to our friend Rick on the honor and to the 2008 Transgender Delegation for a historic year!

Other speakers at today's meeting included Governor Howard Dean, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, Minnesota Congressman and Ally Tim Walz, Massacusetts Congressman Barney Frank, Obama Campaign Manager Steve Hildebrand and a visit from Alan Cumming. What a day!

Hillary calls all of us to action

Jamie Citron — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 10:14:17 EDT

Last night, to thunderous applause, Senator Hillary Clinton took the stage and gave the speech of a lifetime.

I am honored to be here tonight. A proud mother. A proud Democrat. A proud American. And a proud supporter of Barack Obama.

My friends, it is time to take back the country we love.

Whether you voted for me, or voted for Barack, the time is now to unite as a single party with a single purpose. We are on the same team, and none of us can sit on the sidelines.
This is a fight for the future. And it’s a fight we must win.

One line in particular gave way to cheers that nearly shook the Pepsi center. Everyone cheered while waving Hillary, Obama and Unity signs by the thousands.

No way. No how. No McCain.

Barack Obama is my candidate. And he must be our President.

Senator Clinton ended by reminding us of the weight this election holds, and asked every American to give their all to bring about the change we need.

We are Americans. We're not big on quitting.

But remember, before we can keep going, we have to get going by electing Barack Obama president.

We don't have a moment to lose or a vote to spare.

Nothing less than the fate of our nation and the future of our children hang in the balance.

It was a historic speech and a thrilling night and as Chelsea Clinton said when introducing her mother (and I apologize for paraphrasing) Senator Clinton put eighteen million cracks into the glass ceiling, and in doing so, shattered it allowing new opportunities and a brighter future for everyone.

Michelle pays a visit to the LGBT Delegates Luncheon

Jamie Citron — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 00:18:35 EDT

Representatives Tammy Baldwin and Barney Frank, the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund and the Human Rights Campaign held a lunch to honor the 360+ LGBT Delegates attending this year's convention and were joined by our very own Michelle Obama! Michelle spoke on the promise of equality, Barack's commitment to justice and the spirit of public service that they both share.

“We all know that our country’s journey toward equality is not finished yet. We know it right here in this room. It’s been five years since Lawrence v. Texas, and 39 years since Stonewall, but still we’ve got work to do before we achieve equality.”

Pam Spaulding over at Pam's House Blend does a great job of capturing the mood of the room and even has a video clip of Michelle's entrance. CLICK HERE to head on over and check it out. Michelle closed by saying:

“Discrimination has no place in a nation founded on the promise of equality.”

UPDATE: Lauren Manning, another Obama blogger, wrote up a piece on the LGBT delegate lunch as well and has some fantastic video. Check it out HERE.

Obama Pride at Convention: Day One

Jamie Citron — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 23:22:17 EDT

Day One. We are officially one full day into the convention. I am writing to you right now from the Pepsi Center, while Michelle Obama gives tonight’s keynote address. I wish I could convey the feeling here to you. The excitement is palpable; I see the same hope in the eyes of the delegates that I saw in the eyes of the caucus goers back on a cold January night in Iowa. Democrats from every state, all so excited to be here, and I have lost count of all the rainbow Obama, Biden and Clinton buttons I see all over the convention center!

Earlier today was the first DNC LGBT Caucus meeting led by Caucus Chair Rick Stafford.

Incredible speakers including Tim Gill, Shannon Minter, Melissa Sklarz and Marjory Hill reminded us of the central place LGBT Americans hold in the party, and of the role we play in changing America for the better. Tammy Baldwin concluded the meeting by letting us know that there are 40% more LGBT delegates than in 2004 and more total than have ever participated before.

As I am typing this Michelle is speaking about the common thread that runs through all Americans. It reminds me of when she said,

“We are only here because of those who marched and bled and died, from Selma to Stonewall, in pursuit of that more perfect union.”

We are all in this together.

America is in Denver tonight. The convention room is filled with an amazing quilt of people, all strengthened by a common cause and empowered by unshakeable hope. Every time I saw another Obama Pride or LGBT for Clinton button I was excited by the part our community is playing in this convention conversation, in this historic election, and in the future of our country... and it is still only day one!

Governor Sebelius has just adjourned the convention until tomorrow at 3:00 PM so I will leave you for tonight but please check back tomorrow! The LGBT Delegates are gathering for lunch with Tammy Baldwin, Barney Frank and a host of exciting speakers. I look forward to telling you all about it.

UPDATE: Rocker and gay rights activist Cyndi Lauper spent day one on the floor of the convention with Obama Pride staffer Alex! Cyndi spent the evening visiting with LGBT Delegates, talking to press about LGBT equality and even had a visit with the Biden family. Check back later today for photos!

Obama Pride prepares for Convention

Jamie Citron — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:22:58 EDT

Evening everyone! It has been three exciting days here in Denver and the festivities have not even technically begun. Shortly after arriving in Denver we were greeted by this poster in the DNC Convention Headquarters:

Obama Pride Denver is ready to go!

We settled in quickly and got to work but took some time to take a sneak peek at the convention podium.

We rounded out Sunday evening by speaking at the closing ceremonies of the College Democrats of America Convention and we were truly moved by the passion and excitement of the young LGBT and allied future leaders of our party.

It is time to pack it up and call it a night but check back tomorrow for photos of the first DNC LGBT Caucus meeting and the opening night speeches!

Obama Pride welcomes Joe Biden to the team!

Jamie Citron — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 11:09:40 EDT

Obama Pride is glad to welcome friend of the community, Senator Joe Biden, to the 2008 Democratic ticket. You can welcome Joe too, and share your story with him, HERE.

Touched down in Denver

Jamie Citron — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 04:03:20 EDT

Obama Pride heads to the Convention!

Greetings from Denver, Colorado. The LGBT Vote team just landed and we are tired, but we are excited about joining thousands of other Democrats all working hard towards electing candidates who care about our issues!

Obama Pride will be participating on the convention floor, in caucus meetings and in events all over Denver. Check back often for daily updates from every corner of the 2008 Democratic National Convention!

Barack Obama's fight to expand hate crimes protections

Jamie Citron — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 17:54:43 EDT

This month, the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs released a report highlighting a spike in hate crimes against LGBT people in June and July of this year. This disturbing report reminds us that LGBT people continue to be targets of bias-motivated violence while the law continues to fail them. The law does not provide federal officials with the law enforcement tools that they need to prosecute these crimes for what they are -- bias-motivated hate crimes -- and it does not provide local law enforcement with the resources that they need to prosecute hate crimes at the state and local level.

Barack Obama has made strengthening and expanding the federal hate crimes law a priority.

As a United States Senator, he co-sponsored the bill that would expand hate crimes protections to include crimes based on sexual orientation or gender identity. The bill also would provide local law enforcement agencies with federal aid in fighting and prosecuting hate crimes.
Barack cast the critical 60th vote that prevented the bill from being defeated by a Republican-sponsored filibuster. [2007 Senate Vote #350]
He has pledged to continue his support for enacting these protections into law if elected President, promising earlier this year to “place the full weight of my administration behind the enactment of the Matthew Shepard Act to outlaw hate crimes… on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.” [New York Blade, 6/10/08]
Barack has pledged to reinvigorate enforcement of all hate crime laws at the Department of Justice's Criminal Section. [www.barackobama.com]

While Barack Obama has been fighting to expand hate crimes protections, John McCain has been standing in the way. He has consistently stood in the way of the bill becoming law.

McCain voted against the hate crimes bill in 2000. [2000 Senate Vote #136]
McCain voted against the hate crimes bill in 2002. [2002 Senate Vote #147]
McCain voted against the hate crimes bill in 2004. [2004 Senate Vote #114]
In 2007, McCain was the only member of the Senate to not cast a vote at all on the bill. [2007 Senate Vote #350]

President Bush has threatened to veto hate crimes legislation, and John McCain is promising to yet again follow in his footsteps on an issue important to the LGBT community.

Last year, Damien Skipper lost his brother Ryan in a brutal hate crime. Ryan, just 25 years old, was beaten, stabbed and killed just because he was gay. Ryan’s family has since become forceful advocates for expanding the federal hate crimes law, and they support Senator Obama in large part because he is committed to passage of a federal hate crimes law. Damien recorded the following clip and wanted to share it with others:

Expanding and strengthening hate crimes protections is just one of the many issues important to the community where Barack Obama stands with LGBT people and John McCain has turned his back. Share Damien’s story, and your own support for Senator Obama, by forwarding this message to five friends who might still be undecided about who to vote for in November.

Obama Pride North Carolina goes to the movies

Jamie Citron — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:24:03 EDT

Obama Pride North Carolina spent the weekend registering voters at the 13th annual North Carolina Gay & Lesbian Film Festival in Durham. OPNC reports that the festival was a success and so was Voter Reg!

BUILD OBAMA PRIDE TODAY:

Jamie Citron — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 22:06:52 EDT

ORGANIZE AN OBAMA PRIDE WATCH PARTY FOR BARACK’S ACCEPTANCE SPEECH THURSDAY AUGUST 28!

On Thursday, August 28, Barack Obama will address 75,000 campaign supporters at Invesco Field in Denver, concluding the 2008 Democratic Convention and accepting the Democratic nomination for President. LGBT Supporters and Obama Pride are organizing watch parties in their homes and at popular LGBT venues across America and you can be part of the action, organize an Obama Pride Watch Party!

Anyone can organize a house party using tools on My.BarackObama.com and their own friends and contacts in the LGBT and Allied community.

CLICK HERE for some suggestions on how to organize your watch party, and, advertise it to folks outside your circle of friends.

Obama Pride Atlanta: On the move

Jamie Citron — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 15:40:16 EDT

Obama Pride Atlanta has been busy reaching out to LGBT Georgians all across the state and recently caught the eye of local LGBT paper, The Southern Voice:

The historic Democratic candidacy of Sen. Barack Obama — combined with a strong Libertarian contender from Georgia, Bob Barr, and the less dynamic campaign styling of presumptive Republican nominee John McCain — could tilt the state from red to blue. And to get there, Obama is counting on a bit of pink by openly courting gay Georgia voters like no other presidential candidate has before.

"You don't want to take anyone for granted. You want to let everyone know that their vote counts, that you care about their issues and that you're listening,” said Caroline Adelman, communications director for Obama’s Georgia campaign, in an interview this week at the campaign’s recently opened office on Spring Street.

Local volunteers are partnering with Georgian and national staff to spread the word about Barack's relationship with the LGBT community.

Former Georgia Equality political director Kyle Bailey serves on Obama’ national LGBT steering committee and is organizing an informal group of two-dozen volunteers in Atlanta. His group is working to register and motivate voters in places like Outwrite Bookstore & Coffeehouse, Ansley Mall, Blake’s on the Park and other gay establishments.
“I think Obama’s taken a very strong positions on behalf of the GLBT community,” Bailey said. “From the start, he was one of the candidates to support a complete repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act, not just the definition of marriage, but the part that keeps states from recognizing marriages from other states.”

SOVO also points out the tremendous voting power held by Georgia's sizable LGBT community.

Georgia is home to approximately 280,000 gay, lesbian or bisexual adults, according to a 2006 analysis of U.S. Census figures by UCLA’s Williams Institute on Sexual Orientation Law & Public Policy, and many activists think the true number is much higher.

While gay voter turnout is difficult to measure, any population of that size can play a role in a close election.

“If it’s close enough, than it can make a difference,” Bullock said. “An energized gay community could help [Obama] gain support in the white community, and going back as far as 2002, Democrats have not done well there.”

George and other gay Obama supporters were more optimistic.

“If 100 percent of the gay people in Georgia turn out to vote, Obama will win,” George said.

Would you like to join Obama Pride Atlanta? JOIN HERE.

Barack's LGBT Friends & Colleagues

Jamie Citron — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 13:11:49 EDT

The Advocate has spent the last month talking to personal friends and colleagues, all LGBT, of Barack's, as well as Illinois activists who know his work the best. The piece does a great job of reminding us of his great stances on our issues but also shines light on the important ways LGBT people have impacted Senator Obama's life. I strongly urge you to read the whole piece.

Barack Obama had just finished a long day of campaigning for the U.S. Senate in 2004 when he called his daughters on the cell phone to say good night. Then he sat back in the car, turned to an aide (who had also been a close friend for more than a decade), and asked, “So, Kevin—have you and Greg thought about having kids?”
The aide, Kevin Thompson (who no longer works for the candidate), says Obama often asked questions about his life as a gay man: wondering how he and his partner made various decisions, why they didn’t want to get married, why they weren’t planning to have kids. And after Obama marched in a Chicago pride parade for the first time, Thompson says, questions again poured forth: “He wanted to know the history of Pride—how is it that every city has one, what was the origin of it, what was the whole story about Stonewall.”
Obama had seen Thompson through ups and downs. They first met when Thompson worked with Michelle Obama in the Chicago mayor’s office in the early 1990s. At the time, Thompson was married to a woman, but in the difficult period when his marriage ended and he started coming out, he says, Michelle became one of his closest confidantes. “I knew that [my coming out] made a lot of people uncomfortable, no matter what they said. I never worried, never wondered for a second what Michelle and Barack thought of me. They were the kind of friends who I knew would always be with me.”

Please take a minute to read the entire article here.

Team Obama further empowered by LGBT Clinton supporters

Jamie Citron — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 12:25:09 EDT

Yesterday, the Washington Blade reported on the recent influx of prominent LGBT activists who have joined Team Obama who supported Senator Clinton in the Primary. It is an honor to have them join us and we look forward to working together towards November.

As the Democratic National Convention fast approaches, former supporters of Sen. Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign are joining Sen. Barack Obama’s gay steering and policy committee.

Among the most prominent new members of Obama’s campaign is U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), the only openly lesbian member of Congress. The Obama campaign recently invited Baldwin to join the committee as co-chair alongside sitting chair Tobias Wolff, a law professor at the University of Pennsylvania...
Other former Clinton supporters who have joined Obama’s gay policy committee include Mandy Carter, a lesbian North Carolina activist; Jesse Garcia, president of the Dallas Stonewall Democrats; and Peter Rosenstein, a gay D.C. activist.

Obama campaign spokesperson Ben LaBolt said Clinton attracted strong support from gay leaders during the primaries. The Obama campaign is “grateful that so many of those supporters have joined our efforts to bring the change to Washington that we desperately need,” LaBolt said.

Baldwin said Obama’s decision to bring so many Clinton supporters on board “is clear sign of unity in the party and momentum building behind Sen. Obama’s campaign.”

CLICK HERE to read the whole article.

Northalsted St. Wrap-up

Jamie Citron — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 16:27:57 EDT

Congratulations Obama Pride Chicago on registering and re-registering over 1,000 voters from all over the Midwest at Northalsted Market Days!

Would you like to get involved with an Obama Pride event near you? Click here for events in your city.

Meet NY States' LGBT Delegates

Jamie Citron — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 17:34:09 EDT

A record number of openly LGBT constituents will attend the Democratic National Convention in Denver this month, with participation up 27 percent from 2004.

New York State alone will have 30 LGBT participants at the convention as delegates, alternates and committee members, with participation up from 22 in 2004, according to state Democratic parties. The National Stonewall Democrats said that 358 LGBT Democrats from 48 states will participate in the convention, held Aug. 25–28.

To learn more about New York's LGBT Delegates, CLICK HERE.

LIVE from Northalsted St.

Jamie Citron — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 16:32:18 EDT

Obama Pride,

I am blogging to you from booth #333 at Northalsted Market Days, the largest street festival in the Midwest and Chicago's most famous LGBT event. We are registering voters from all over and have registered or re-registered 800 people and counting! Check back tomorrow for our grand total. Do you need to register? Have you moved since you last registered and you need to re-register? CLICK HERE.

Obama Pride DSM

Jamie Citron — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 19:15:10 EDT

Obama Pride launched a new chapter in Des Moines, Iowa on August 5th! One more city where LGBT Americans are making the difference and campaigning for change!

Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-WI): "Why I am backing Barack."

Jamie Citron — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 10:57:21 EDT

Yesterday, Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin wrote a compelling op-ed about why she is supporting Barack Obama for president. In it, Tammy cites the following reasons:

If elected President, Barack Obama will move us forward charting a new, hopeful, progressive course, while John McCain would keep us mir ed in the failed policies and divisive politics of the status quo.
Barack Obama will get our troops out of Iraq. John McCain is willing to leave them there indefinitely.
Barack Obama will work to ensure health care for all Americans. John McCain is willing to leave people behind while enriching insurance companies.
Barack Obama will make it a priority to protect and safeguard Roe v. Wade. John McCain has pledged to fill Supreme Court vacancies with justices who willoverturn Roe v. Wade.
Barack Obama wants to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and allow gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military. John McCain believes the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy has been ‘very effective’ and wants to leave it in place.
Barack Obama will support legislation expanding federal employment non-discrimination laws and federal hate crime laws to assure the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans. John McCain will not.

Congresswoman Baldwin continues by saying:

I am working to elect Barack Obama President, not because I’m toeing a party line, but because we share a commitment to equality for all Americans. We share core values – a commitment to the common good and an aversion to power being granted through friendship and favors. And we share a belief in the power of the individual to create change and the knowledge that in a democracy , “We, the People” decide what is possible.
I am working to elect Barack Obama President because he dares to believe in and work for ‘one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

To read the entire op-ed CLICK HERE.

Barack Responds to the New CDC Numbers on HIV/AIDS in the US

Jamie Citron — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 10:29:40 EDT

Senator Obama released the following statement on the Center for Disease Control's report about new cases of HIV/AIDS in the United States.

"We have now learned that 56,300 new HIV infections occurred in the United States in 2006, not 40,000 that had been previously cited. These new figures should bring new focus to our efforts to address AIDS and HIV here at home.
"As president, I am committed to developing a National AIDS Strategy to decrease new HIV infections and improve health outcomes for Americans living with HIV/AIDS. Across the nation, we also need to prevent the spread of HIV and get people into treatment by expanding access to testing and comprehensive education programs. This report also demonstrates the need for more timely data about HIV transmission so that we can effectively evaluate prevention efforts.
"Combating HIV/AIDS also demands closing the gaps in opportunity that exist in our society so that we can strengthen our public health. We must also overcome the stigma that surrounds HIV/AIDS – a stigma that is too often tied to homophobia. We need to encourage folks to get tested and accelerate HIV/AIDS research toward an effective cure because we have a moral obligation to join together to meet this challenge, and to do so with the urgency this epidemic demands."

To read Senator Obama's plan for fighting HIV/AIDS world wide and at home, click HERE

Estimated 27% Increase in LGBT Convention Participation

Jamie Citron — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 19:00:57 EDT

National Stonewall Democrats, the national voice of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and allied Democrats, announced today that a total of 360 LGBT delegates will participate in the Convention in December at the end of the month. The number represents a 27% increase from last year and breaks any previous record.

"The Democratic Party is being positively shaped by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender advocates who believe in Democratic principles of fair play, hard work, security at home and equal opportunity for all," said Jon Hoadley, Executive Director. "The Democratic National Convention is an avenue for our community to participate in civic life and advance the values that the majority of Americans share. Many of our brightest elected officials, chapter leaders and party officers began their participation in Democratic politics as delegates to past conventions and by increasing the number of LGBT participants, we are growing the ranks of future Democratic leaders."
Stonewall Democrats announced their unofficial count based on numbers reported by state Democratic parties to the Secretary's office of the Democratic National Committee. 324 LGBT participants were reported by state parties to the Secretary's office. Additionally, Stonewall Democrats was able to identify for the Secretary's office 34 more openly-LGBT participants than were first reported. As with previous years, as the convention nears, it is expected that more LGBT delegates will self-identify as openly-LGBT.

Click HERE to read the full release.

Obama's letter to the Family Equality Council

Jamie Citron — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 14:59:45 EDT

In light of Senator McCain's recent mixed comments on LGBT adoption Jennifer Chrisler, Executive Director of the Family Equality Council, wrote a letter to Senator Obama asking for an answer to the following question.

As a lesbian mother and the executive director of Family Equality Council, the national organization working to ensure equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender families by building community, changing hearts and minds and advancing social justice for all families, I know how hard parents work to raise happy, healthy children. Regardless of their sexual orientations and gender identities, regardless of how many parents or caregivers are present in a family, all parents begin each day with their children at the forefront of their thoughts. On behalf of diverse families, I ask for your plan to recognize, respect, protect and celebrate all of the loving families you seek to represent... These families want to know how your administration will address their needs. What policies and positions will you take to make sure that all loving families are recognized, respected, protected and celebrated? How will you lead all families to a brighter future?

We wanted to share Senator Obama's response with you. He started by sharing his own experience being raised in a unique family.

While we live in a nation that is enriched by a vast array of diverse traditions, cultures and histories, it is our commonality that most defines us. The desire to build a life with a loved one, to provide for a family and to have children who will grow and thrive -- these are desires that all people share, regardless of race, sex, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity. My own experience has taught me this lesson well. I was born to a single mother, my devoted grandparents helped raise me, and then I married the woman of my dreams and had two beautiful daughters.

Senator Obama then went on to discuss his plan to help ease the burdens currently felt by all families, including LGBT families.

We know that the cost of the American dream must never come at the expense of the American family. For decades we’ve had politicians in Washington who talk about family values, but we haven’t had policies that value families. Instead, it’s harder for working parents to make a living while raising their kids. It's even harder to get a break.
That's why I'll double spending on quality after-school programs - so that you can know your kids are safe and secure. And that's why I'll expand the Family Medical Leave Act to include more businesses and millions more workers; to let parents participate in school activities with their kids; and to cover elderly care. And we'll finally put federal support behind state efforts to provide paid family and medical leave. We'll require employers to provide seven paid sick days each year. We'll enforce laws that prohibit caregiver discrimination. And we'll encourage flexible work schedules to better balance work and parenting for mothers and fathers. That's the change that working families need.

Finally, Barack reiterated his commitment to and respect for LGBT families.

We have to do more to support and strengthen LGBT families. Because equality in relationship, family, and adoption rights is not some abstract principle; it's about whether millions of LGBT Americans can finally live lives marked by dignity and freedom. That’s why we have to repeal laws like the Defense of Marriage Act. That’s why we have to eliminate discrimination against LGBT families. And that’s why we have to extend equal treatment in our family and adoption laws.
I’ll be a president that stands up for American families – all of them.

Thank you to Jennifer Chrisler and the Family Equality Council for asking the important questions and for helping build a stronger American family.

Obama Pride @ Comic-Con

Jamie Citron — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 18:51:36 EDT

Over the weekend, Obama Pride San Diego joined other supporters to register voters at Comic-Con, the largest comic book and popular arts convention in the world! Are you registered to vote? Have you moved since you last registered? If so, you need to re-register if you want to be eligible to vote in November.

You can register or re-register by clicking HERE!

Voices from the Field: Rebecca, Jeff & Laura from San Francisco

Jamie Citron — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 14:40:18 EDT

Though initially all split between Obama, Edwards and Clinton in the Primary, Rebecca Prozan, Jeff Soukup & Laura Spanjian came together to head up Obama Pride's efforts in Northern California. Together, they wrote the following op-ed for the Bay Area Reporter to coincide with San Francisco Pride. We wanted to share it with you on Obama Pride as well! Thank you to Rebecca, Jeff & Laura for their inspiring words and hard work!

January 20, 2009. Finally, after eight years of destructive, incompetent leadership the George W. Bush era will be over.
And we will have the chance to move into a new, progressive era with an inspiring Democratic leader as our president.
Imagine all the things that could happen with a Democratic president. Overturning "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and ending discrimination against LGBT Americans in uniform. Repealing the so-called Defense of Marriage Act and ending federal discrimination against LGBT families. Passing a fully inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act and ending discrimination against all LGBT Americans in the workplace.
To make these dreams a reality, we all need to work together to elect Barack Obama the next president of the United States.
Staying divided, or more importantly, staying home, only gives us one outcome: President John McCain and more of George Bush's failed policies.

To read the rest of the piece please CLICK HERE.

Adopted Son Speaks Out

Jamie Citron — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:56:57 EDT

Upset with John McCain's shifting stance on LGBT Adoption, High School Senior and adopted son of two Lesbian moms, Alan, decided to share his thoughts on the matter with The Bilerico Project.

As someone who was adopted by two lesbian moms, I was certainly disappointed to find out that John McCain, a candidate for President of the United States, doesn't "believe in gay adoption."
What's not to believe in? Many gays and lesbians adopt children and create wonderful, loving families. My moms adopted me out of foster care when I was eleven years old. I'm seventeen now. I love my family. My moms provide for me in all the ways that other parents provide for their children. We have our problems just like everybody else, but in the end we take care of each other. We believe in each other.

Alan continues by saying:

John McCain says he supports a quicker route to adoption so kids who need homes can get them faster, but he clearly has a bias against my kind of family and all the ones I listed above. If John McCain had his way, my family would not exist. I'm not giving up my family just because John McCain is confused about what really makes a family.

If you would like to read Alan's entire post, please visit The Bilerico Project by clicking HERE.

My two moms, my little brother and me, we're doing just fine. We could do a little better if we had the support of people like John McCain, who as President or even as a senator has so much power over how other people live their lives. Without his support, we'll keep doing what we've always done-love each other, care for each other, argue like all families, make up like all families, and continue to work for a country that really respects all of its people and families.
We'd rather have our next president support us. Wouldn't you?

46-point lead among LGBT voters!

Jamie Citron — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:39:45 EDT

On Monday, a new Harris poll reported the first major data on the views of LGBT Americans in the 2008 General Election Cycle.

Among LGBT adults, 60 percent favor Obama while 14 percent favor McCain. Three percent of LGBT adults favor Barr, while 1 percent choose Nader. Six percent choose "other," while 17 percent of all LGBT voters are not yet sure which candidate to support -- comparable to the general population.

The poll went on to say:

Barack Obama leads John McCain among registered voters 44 percent to 35 percent, while Bob Barr, the Libertarian candidate and Ralph Nader each receive 2 percent, a new Harris Interactive poll reported.

For more information on the polls findings, please click HERE.

To get involved click HERE!

LGBT Pride Events

Jamie Citron — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 14:16:00 EDT

Obama for America HQ in Chicago sent out the following email. Click the link to order a special limited edition Obama Pride 2008 T-shirt or to view a slideshow of the best photos from Prides around the country.

Dear Friend --

Thanks to supporters like you, we made a big impact during Pride month.

Volunteers all across the country helped grow this grassroots movement and bring more voices into the political process. You organized your communities to march in Pride parades, registered voters, and shared Barack's message of change by reaching out to friends and neighbors.

Check out some of the best photos from Pride events all over the country, and make a donation of $30 or more to receive a special edition Obama Pride T-shirt to show your pride in style:

Pride month may be over, but you can still show your pride and support this campaign through Obama Pride events.

On My.BarackObama, it's easy to find an Obama Pride event near you. You can also set up an event of your own, invite your friends, and post it online for others to find.

To get started in your community, just log onto your My.BarackObama account and go to our Pride events page. (If you don't have a My.BarackObama account yet, creating one is simple and quick.)

http://my.barackobama.com/prideevents

We are proud to join with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender supporters in celebrating the accomplishments, the lives, and the families of the LGBT community.

Thank you for everything you're doing,

Obama for America

P.S. -- Please forward this email to others who may be interested in seeing the slide show and getting a T-shirt of their own.

Voices from the Field: Marti in Indiana

Jamie Citron — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 17:52:35 EDT

Enthusiastic Obama supporter and transgender advocate, Marti Abernathey, wrote the following piece for The Bilerico Project. The entire piece can be read HERE. Congrats on being elected a delegate and making history!

If you know me, you know how jazzed I am about Barack Obama. The first time I ever heard about Barack the “Indianapolis” Colts still hadn’t ever won a Super Bowl. It was October 17th 2006, which just so happened to be my 39th birthday. Barack had been to Indiana the previous day to attend a fundraiser for Baron Hill, Joe Donnelly, and Brad Ellsworth (who at the time were three Congressional candidate hopefuls). At the time Jim Shella said:

“He then pointed out that the Colts have been “eeking out victories” while the Bears have been winning blowouts. Ever the politician, he said he’s looking forward to a Bears/Colts Super Bowl matchup.” (At the time of that fundraiser the Colts were 5-0, and in fact did go on that year to face the Chicago Bears in the Super Bowl)
When Barack announced in January of 2007 he was running for president of the United States of America, I started to research him relentlessly. The more I learned about him, the more I liked him. My fire for Obama grew steadily over the months, but the turning point for me was the HRC/Logo Presidential Forum.
I knew I had to get involved with the campaign, I just wasn’t sure how. In November I wrote: Since that time I’ve brought together the people (that would eventually become) the members of the Obama transgender subcommittee, I’ve hosted an Obama dinner, and I was the Pride coordinator for Indiana. But on Saturday June 21st, 2008, one of the most historic events of my life took place. I was chosen as the first ever transgender delegate from the state of Indiana. This wasn’t a haphazard event. I had the support of the Indiana Stonewall Democrats, the Barack Obama campaign, and the Indiana Democratic Party.
During the Convention I was given a copy of the Indiana Democratic Party Platform. What I read inspired me to take this picture at the time:
This was taken from the platform section titled “Including Every Hoosier.” It says:
“The Indiana Democratic Party is proud of our long-standing commitment to and support for civil rights and equality. Our 2008 ticket makes history, creating the opportunity for the first African-American president and the first female governor. As the party of the people, we strongly oppose restriction of opportunity to Hoosiers based on their race, religion, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or economic background.”
I’ve never been prouder of the Indiana Democratic Party, the GLBT community, and the state. It’s a year of firsts for Indiana and for the country, and I feel blessed to take part in one of the most historic elections in my lifetime.

Michelle Obama: "Barack has made crystal clear his commitment to ensuring full equality for LGBT couples."

Jamie Citron — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:20:47 EDT

On June 26th, Michelle Obama joined several hundred LGBT activists to speak about her husband's record on LGBT rights and his vision for our shared future...

We have Barack Obama, who believes that we must fight for the world as it should be.

A world where together we work to reverse discriminatory laws like DOMA and Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

A world where LGBT Americans get a fair shake at working hard to get ahead without workplace discrimination.

A world where our federal government fully protects all of us - including LGBT Americans - from hate crimes.

And, a world where our federal laws don't discriminate against same-sex relationships, including equal treatment for any relationship recognized under state law.

A world that recognizes that equality in relationship, family, and adoption rights is not some abstract principle; it's about whether millions of LGBT Americans can finally live lives marked by dignity and freedom. Barack has made crystal clear his commitment to ensuring full equality for LGBT couples. That is why he supports robust civil unions. That is why he has said that the federal government should not stand in the way of states that want to decide for themselves how best to pursue equality for gay and lesbian couples -- whether that means a domestic partnership, a civil union, or a civil marriage. And that is why he opposes all divisive and discriminatory constitutional amendments - whether it's a proposed amendment to the California and Florida Constitutions or the U.S. Constitution. Because the world as it should be rejects discrimination.

But, it's not just about the positions you take, it's also about the leadership you provide.

(Photo copyright AP Images)

Continue reading for Michelle's full speech...

Obama Announces David Noble as LGBT Vote Director

Jamie Citron — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 19:40:50 EDT

Welcome Dave!

The Obama campaign announced Wednesday that David Noble, former executive director of the National Stonewall Democrats and current director of public policy and government affairs at the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, has been appointed as director of the LGBT vote for the campaign. Noble will be stepping down from his position at NGLTF and officially starting with the campaign on June 21.

CLICK HERE for full post.

Obama's Statement on Pride 2008!

Jamie Citron — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 14:24:31 EDT

Chicago, IL -- Senator Barack Obama today released the following statement commemorating Pride month.

“I am proud to join with our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered brothers and sisters in celebrating the accomplishments, the lives, and the families of all LGBT people during this Pride season. Too often, the issue of LGBT rights is exploited by those seeking to divide us. But at its core, this issue is about who we are as Americans.”

“It’s time to live up to our founding promise of equality by treating all our citizens with dignity and respect. Let’s enact federal civil rights legislation to outlaw hate crimes and protect workers against discrimination based upon sexual orientation and gender identity or expression. Let’s repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell and demonstrate that the most effective and professional military in the world is open to all Americans who are ready and willing to serve our country. Let’s treat the relationships and the families of LGBT Americans with full equality under the law.”

“We are ready to accomplish these goals because of the courage and persistence of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people who have are working every day to achieve equal rights. The gay couple who demand equal treatment in our family laws as they raise their children; the lesbian soldier who wants nothing more than to serve her country openly and honestly; the transgendered workers who asks for the simple dignity of being judged by the quality of their work. Generations of LGBT Americans, at once ordinary and extraordinary, have made possible this moment in our history. With leadership and hard work, we can fulfill the promise of equality for all.”

The Obama for America campaign is proud to be actively participating in over 60 local and state wide Pride events over the summer. To find the events nearest you please visit www.pride.barackobama.com/pridemonth; join us around the country as we show our Pride and support for Barack Obama!

Human Rights Campaign Endorses Barack Obama

Jamie Citron — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 14:13:57 EDT

PRESS RELEASE - Human Rights Campaign Endorses Sen. Barack Obama for President of the United States 6/6/2008

WASHINGTON–The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender civil rights group, today announced that the organization will endorse Senator Barack Obama (D-Ill.) for president of the United States. The decision was made by the HRC Board of Directors based on Senator Obama’s support for GLBT equality, his demonstrated leadership, and his unwavering commitment to civil rights.

Read Full Endorsement

Obama Supporters at Phoenix Pride

Jamie Citron — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 17:00:53 EDT

Supporters gathered this past weekend in Phoenix, Arizona to show loud and clear who they feel will best represent them in the White House. Thanks to the participants for showing Pride in who they are and Pride in supporting Obama!

Nice truck!

LGBT Latino/a and African American Leaders Endorse Barack Obama

Jamie Citron — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:05:50 EDT

Chicago, IL – The Obama for America campaign today announced the endorsement of key LGBT Latino and African American leaders.

“I’m proud to have the support of these leaders who fight everyday for LGBT equality,” said Senator Obama. “They will be partners in the coalition we are building to unite America to take on the great challenges we face.”

For the full list of Latino & African American LGBT Leaders, along with quotes about why they support Barack, click here!

Obama Talks All Things LGBT

Jamie Citron — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 10:11:08 EDT

Early this week Barack sat down with The Advocate's Kerry Eleveld and covered a lot of ground! From DADT to a different kind of campaign, Barack lays out why his actions match his message, and emphasizes his strong commitment to LGBT people across the nation.

For another perspective check out Ben Smith's Blog over at Politico.

To read the interview in its entirety, click here.

Up For Grabs

Jamie Citron — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 11:24:45 EDT

Pennsylvania is the next big Primary contest and LGBT folks across the state are making it clear they are taking their vote seriously!

Phila.'s gay Democrats emerge as a voting force

By Gail Shister - Inquirer Staff Writer

In Philadelphia, gays constitute an estimated 5 percent of voters, according to Malcolm Lazin, president of Equality Forum. That is not an inconsequential percentage in a race as tight as this one.

Obviously, the candidates know that, too.

"It's important for the coalition of people supporting [Obama] to be representative of America, and that proudly includes gays and lesbians," says Tobias Wolff, 38, chair of Obama's national gay policy committee and a law professor at the University of Pennsylvania.

The gay vote is equally significant to the Clinton campaign. "That's why we've been doing such a proactive outreach to the community," says Jin Chon, 30, a Clinton press secretary who focuses on gay issues. "She knows this is a very close election. Every vote matters."

Obama Holds LGBT Fund-raiser In New York City

Jamie Citron — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 18:15:23 EDT

“I’ve been to many events over the past 10 years of candidates running for office,” said Corey Johnson, one of the hosts, “This was the most forthright, eloquent, and detailed stuff I’ve heard from a politician [regarding gay issues].”

Molly Lenore, 43, compared Obama’s discussion of the LGBT community to the speech he gave about race in America last week. “During his race speech, everybody said afterward that he treated the American people like adults, and I felt like that’s what he did,” said Lenore, who is transgender and an Obama supporter. “I might not agree 100%, but I want to have an intelligent conversation with somebody.” (Kerry Eleveld, The Advocate)

Click here to read full article.

If he can make it there...

Jamie Citron — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 10:03:00 EDT

Obama gains support among LGBT New Yorkers

by Michael K. Lavers
EDGE Mid-Atlantic Regional Editor
Thursday Mar 27, 2008

As the Democrats continue to battle over who should become their party's presidential nominee, a growing number of LGBT New Yorkers have endorsed Barack Obama's campaign.

Click here to read the whole article.

Prominent LGBT supporters sit down with Queerty's Andrew Belonksy

Jamie Citron — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 18:31:48 EDT

"Obama's Gay Backers"

Long time supporters Stampp Corbin and Tobias Wolff, along with former Edwards supporter Eric Stern, sit down with Andrew Belonsky to discuss why Barack is the candidate for them!

Click here to read what Tobias has to say.

Click here to read what Stampp has to say.

Click here to read what Eric has to say.

Barack's Open Letter to LGBT America

Jamie Citron — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 11:52:45 EDT

I’m running for President to build an America that lives up to our founding

promise of equality for all – a promise that extends to our gay brothers and sisters. It’s

wrong to have millions of Americans living as second-class citizens in this nation. And I

ask for your support in this election so that together we can bring about real change for

all LGBT Americans.

Equality is a moral imperative. That’s why throughout my career, I have fought to

eliminate discrimination against LGBT Americans. In Illinois, I co-sponsored a fully

inclusive bill that prohibited discrimination on the basis of both sexual orientation and

gender identity, extending protection to the workplace, housing, and places of public

accommodation. In the U.S. Senate, I have co-sponsored bills that would equalize tax

treatment for same-sex couples and provide benefits to domestic partners of federal

employees. And as president, I will place the weight of my administration behind the

enactment of the Matthew Shepard Act to outlaw hate crimes and a fully inclusive

Employment Non-Discrimination Act to outlaw workplace discrimination on the basis of

sexual orientation and gender identity.

Click to read the full letter.

Barack's LGBT Ad

Jamie Citron — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 19:55:54 EDT

For those of you who have yet to see it:

The text reads as follows...

“While we have come a long way since the Stonewall riots in 1969, we still have a lot of work to do. Too often, the issue of LGBT rights is exploited by those seeking to divide us. But at its core, this issue is about who we are as Americans. It’s about whether this nation is going to live up to its founding promise of equality by treating all its citizens with dignity and respect.”

Forty New LGBT Leaders Sign On To Support Obama

Jamie Citron — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 18:49:42 EDT

As a part of his continuing dialogue with the LGBT community, Barack has released a list of 40 new national LGBT supporters who have joined up with the campaign!

Obama Rolls Out More LGBT Supporters

By Kerry Eleveld

Senator Barack Obama’s campaign rolled out a new swath of 40 national LGBT supporters, adding to the original list of about 60 queer supporters they announced last year. (The new list is available at the end of this article).

“This continues to show the momentum that the Obama camp is demonstrating in all different slices of the electorate,” said Eric Stern, who has been actively courting gays and lesbians to join the Obama team.

For the list of new supporters, read full post.