Read the message from National Stonewall Democrats Jerame Davis below and then sign the petition!

-Brad
====

No candidate should get the support of any gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender organization if they have pledged to deny equality to our community.Some gay conservatives seem to think otherwise and they need to hear from us loud and clear: no anti-LGBT candidates allowed!

Three of the four leading Republican candidates have staked out decidedly anti-LGBT positions. Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, and Rick Santorum have each signed a pledge authored by a certified hate group promising to:

1. Support an amendment to the US Constitution banning marriage equality for same-sex couples.
2. Nominate federal judges who oppose equality for LGBT Americans.
3. Return to defending the unconstitutional Defense of Marriage Act in court.
4. Establish a presidential commission to initiate McCarthy-style investigations into the LGBT community with the pretext of protecting “religious liberty”.
5. Meddle with the home rule of District of Columbia residents to attempt to overturn marriage equality in our nation’s capitol.

In 2004, Log Cabin Republicans took a principled stand and refused to endorse George W. Bush for his support of a federal marriage amendment alone. These candidates have pledged to go farther than President Bush ever considered.

Will Log Cabin Republicans follow its own precedent and refuse to endorse anti-equality politicians?

Recent stories in the media suggest they may actually be willing to overlook the anti-LGBT pledges GOP candidates have taken against our community.

Sign the petition and tell Log Cabin Republicans they should never endorse anti-LGBT candidates who pledge to deny us equality.

Don’t forget – once you’ve signed the pledge to share it on Facebook and encourage your friends and family to sign as well – we have to send a message that anti-LGBT rhetoric is not acceptable on either side of the aisle.

In solidarity,

Jerame Davis

Media Contact:
Brad Pritchett
Vice President of Political Affairs, HSYD
vp.political@houstonstonewallyd.org

Houston Stonewall Young Democrats Endorse David Rosen, Erica Lee
and Lane Lewis

HOUSTON, TX – This evening the Houston Stonewall Young Democrats (HSYD) issued the first in a series of endorsements heading into the Democratic Primary.

The membership of HSYD voted unanimously to endorse David Rosen in his race for the Harris County Department of Education, At-Large Position 3, Erica Lee in her race for the Harris County Department of Education, Position 6, Precinct 1, and Lane Lewis in his race for Harris County Democratic Party Chair.

Vice President of Political Affairs, Brad Pritchett said, “In the HCDE races we faced some tough decisions.  Each of the candidates we sat down with in both races was well-qualified and good on LGBT issues, so our decisions in both races came down to nuances.  Our membership voted to endorse David Rosen because his passion for making change, combined with his compelling personal story and commitment to engaging young people really made him a stand-out candidate.”  He added, “Erica Lee’s commitment to education and her experience dealing with large education-related budgets made her the clear choice for our members.”

On the race for Harris County Democratic Party Chair Pritchett said, “There was no doubt that Lane Lewis is the best choice to lead the Harris County Democratic Party.  His vision for Party politics, his innovative approaches to engaging voters and his long-standing and proven commitment to the Democratic Party made Lane Lewis the obvious choice to receive the endorsement of the Houston Stonewall Young Democrats.”

The Houston Stonewall Young Democrats will continue its 2012 endorsement cycle throughout February and a second endorsement meeting is planned for March 19, 2012.  All races unaffected by the ongoing redistricting process will be decided at the March membership meeting.

The Houston Stonewall Young Democrats is a group of Houston-area young progressives, aged 14 to 40, whose focus is to educate the GLBT community about the issues affecting them, to mobilize the community to get out to vote on Election Day for fair-minded Democrats, and to fight for GLBT civil rights while leading the Democratic party to continue improving its record on issues important to the GLBT community. 

This weekend we interviewed candidates running for the Harris County Department of Education and Harris County Democratic Party Chair.  The three races we focused on are particularly important to young voters since HCDE helps provide vital funding and services to programs in school districts all over the county.  And the new Chair of the Harris County Democratic Party will play an important role in engaging young voters and creating a new generation of Democrats.

On Saturday we interviewed candidates running for HCDE Position 6, Precinct 1.  We sat down with Reagan Flowers and Erica Lee.  A third candidate running for this position was invited to participate, but did not return our questionnaire or make any attempts to return correspondence by the due date.  On Sunday we sat down with candidates running for HCDE At-Large Position 3.  We interviewed David Rosen and Diane Trautman.  And finally we sat down with Lane Lewis, the current chair of the Harris County Democratic Party who was elected by the CEC  and is now running in the Democratic Primary to seek re-election.  Lane’s opponent was contacted and invited to participate in our screening process but did not return our questionnaire or respond to attempts to contact her or a representative of her campaign.

The screening committee will be making recommendations for endorsements at our February General meeting, Monday, February 13th at Stag’s Head Pub, located at 2128 Portsmouth.  The meeting is set to start at 6:30pm for networking with the business meeting beginning at 7pm.

To find out who was recommended for endorsement and hear directly from the members of the screening committee, be sure to attend.  To cast a vote, you must be a current member of HSYD.  Remember voting privileges do not go into effect for 30-days, so if you are joining for the first time, you will not be able to vote.  If you are renewing within 60 days of membership expiration, you will have voting rights.

Thanks to our screening committee, A.J. Mistretta, Dan Cato, and Paul Gonzales and to the candidates for taking the time to complete our questionnaire and participate in our process.

There is a lot to be thankful for this year.  The majority of our municipal candidates won election after a hard-fought election season.  We have to be thankful for the winning spirit of every candidate we endorsed, and those candidates who did not receive our endorsement but who we still consider friends and allies.

While full equality is still in the distance, we must be thankful for the work of committed individuals, elected officials and organizations who stand shoulder-to-shoulder with us at every turn.

Take time this Thanksgiving to appreciate your time with family and friends and take joy in the victories we have achieved over the last year.

From the Houston Stonewall Young Democrats we wish you a very happy holiday!

Out of 9 endorsed candidates, 6 won their races outright, and 1 has moved onto a December 10th runoff.  In District B and At-Large Position 2, neither of our endorsed candidates moved onto run-offs; however, we have the ability to reconsider the At-Large Position 2 endorsement based on the results of our screening committee earlier this year.

Mayor Annise Parker won reelected and avoided a run-off with  50.86% of the vote coming to her.  It was a tough year for many incumbents,  and Mayor Parker campaigned hard despite not having any real competition among her opponents.

In District C, Ellen Cohen won her race without the run-off that many considered a distinct possibility.  Councilmember-elect Cohen came in at more than 53% of the vote.  It was a hard fought for victory for one of the greatest allies the LGBT community could hope to have.

We helped make history again this election by working for endorsed candidate Mike Laster, the Councilmember-elect for the newly created District J.  Mike will be the first openly gay man on Houston City Council.  Mike won his race in a landslide victory (67.27%) after running an extremely professional race that focused on his vast knowledge of the district.

In District K, Larry Green won in a landslide victory, besting any opponents by a huge margin (65.08%).  Councilmember-elect Green worked diligently to get his message out to voters and had huge amounts of grassroots and community support which helped him come out victorious last night.

Incumbents Melissa Noriega and James Rodriguez sailed to victory over their opponents.

And Councilmember Jolanda Jones was forced into a run-off against a Republican opponent which will be held on December 10th.  One of the greatest allies we have on City Council, HSYD is committed to working as hard as possible to make sure Councilmember Jones returns to City Hall to keep fighting for the people of Houston!

Sadly our endorsed candidate for At-Large, Position 2, Jenifer Rene Pool, did not make a run-off.  Jenifer campaigned like a champion, visiting neighborhoods all across the city.  The At-Large Position 2 race had several wonderful candidates in it this election cycle, and Jenifer’s long-standing commitment to the fight for equality made her a stand-out candidate.  We look forward to her next run for office.

Join us for our November Meeting, November 14th starting at 6:30pm, when we will discuss the At-Large 2 race and how we move forward into the December 10th run-offs!

The City Council District C race is widely recognized as being one to watch during this year’s elections.  And for relatively recent transplants to Houston such as myself, hearing talking points and reading mail pieces is hardly sufficient to make the best choice in such a competitive race.  Thankfully,  the Houston Stonewall Young Democrats offered me the opportunity to meet with candidates face-to-face through the endorsement screening process, not to mention the treasure trove of information I’ve found while searching among credible sources online.  The result?  What at first seemed to be a difficult choice is now absolutely clear: given her background of leadership and community service, her seasoned political skills, and the values and issues she fights hardest for, I believe Ellen Cohen stands out as the best candidate for District C.

Ellen has a strong history of promoting tolerance, understanding, and outreach while in leadership positions within both the religious and business communities: (ref 1-3)
* After being diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 30, Ellen founded Reach to Recovery of Canada, a program designed to support women who have had been through mastectomy surgery that quickly expanded to all Montreal hospitals.
* Ellen has held seats on the Boards of several prominent and respected organizations in the over 30 years since first moving to Houston, including (but not limited to) the American Jewish Committee, the Houston Area Adult Protective Services, and the National Violence Against Women Advisory Task Force.
* As President and CEO of the Houston Area Women’s Center for 18 years, Ellen oversaw its growth into a 120-person organization serving over 6,000 men, women, and children in its mission to combat domestic and sexual violence.  This eventually included managing a budget of $6.2 million.

Ellen’s political experience has been defined by both a broad base of support and a steady series of accolades – indications that she knows how to roll up her sleeves and effectively fight for her beliefs while mastering the diplomacy necessary to make real progress on the issues at hand.
* Ellen was elected State Representative of District 134 in 2006, unseating the incumbent by the widest margin on record at the time. [Note: District 134 consists of Bellaire, West University, River Oaks with sections of Meyerland, Montrose, Rice University, and the Medical Center thrown in for good measure]. (3)
* She served on the Appropriations Committee, helping put together a $182 billion budget bill that passed the House by unanimous vote.  Ellen also served on the Higher Education Committee where she advocated for the creation of more “Tier 1” research universities in the state of Texas. (4)
* The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission honored her as an outstanding contributor to civil and human rights in Houston, 2005. (3)  She was also named by Houston Woman Magazine as one of Houston’s 50 Most Influential Women in 2008. (5)  Other awards include Texas Academy of Family Physicians 2008 Patient Advocacy Award, The Shattered Glass Award (Harris County Women’s Political Caucus), NAACP Outstanding Service Award, Vivian Miles Lifetime Achievement Award (Texas Association Against Sexual Assault), and several more (see 1-3).

There are a number of key issues Ellen has consistently fought for through the years, always with enthusiasm and a tenacity she promises to bring to the City Council.
* Ellen sponsored and voted for the creation of the Cancer Prevention Institute of Texas, bringing in hundreds of millions of dollars to fund research on the causes and cures of cancer. (1,3)
* Concern for the safety of children in particular prompted Ellen to coauthor a bill to end bullying in schools. (pers. comm. HSYD screening)
* Other actions as a State Representative show Ellen’s commitment to improving public education, securing health insurance for children, expanding same-sex partner benefits, as well as fighting the creeping influence of government on women’s health and family decisions. (3, pers. comm. HSYD screening)
* On a more local scale, Ellen has called for an increase in the number of police cadet classes to maintain the safety and security of city residents as Houston continues its relentless growth (4).
* Ellen has even taken time recently to consider the smallest members of the District C community (or at least lowest to the ground), resulting in a personal thank-you from Paws on Patios for her support of their campaign to allow pet owners to dine with their dogs at approved restaurant locations. (6)

But don’t just take my word for it. The strength of Ellen as a candidate shines through in the sheer number and diversity of personal and professional endorsements that continue to roll in (7).  A small but noteworthy sampling:
* The Houston Chronicle
* Greater Houston Builders Association PAC
* Houston Police Officers’ Union
* Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association – Local 341
* Harris County AFL-CIO
* Houston Federation of Teachers
* Houston Stonewall Young Democrats
* Houston GLBT Political Caucus
* Seafarers International Union
* Houston Association of REALTORS®
* Houston 80-20 Asian American PAC
* Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce PAC
* Greater Houston Restaurant Association
* Houston Police Retired Officers Association

In last month’s endorsement editorial printed in Houston Chronicle, the author noted, “Cohen’s ability to cut to the chase is a good fit for straight-talking, git-’er-done Houston…  In a strong field, Cohen is an exceptionally strong candidate.” (4)

I couldn’t agree more.

(1) http://www.ellencohen.org/about
(2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellen_Cohen
(3) http://web.archive.org/web/20100820061407/http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist134/bio/cohen.htm
(4) http://www.chron.com/opinion/editorials/article/Editorial-Ellen-Cohen-for-City-Council-District-C-2206664.php
(5) http://www.houstonwomanmagazine.com/index.php/50-women
(6) http://www.facebook.com/pages/Paws-on-Patios/137704789609902
(7) http://www.ellencohen.org/supporters ]]> http://houstonstonewallyd.com/2011/11/candidate-support-statement-ellen-cohen-for-district-c/feed/ 0 http://houstonstonewallyd.com/2011/10/candidate-support-statement-%e2%80%93-mike-laster-for-district-j/ http://houstonstonewallyd.com/2011/10/candidate-support-statement-%e2%80%93-mike-laster-for-district-j/#comments Thu, 27 Oct 2011 15:28:42 +0000 admin http://houstonstonewallyd.com/?p=417 more]]> Thank you Brad Pritchett for providing a way for HSYD members to express their support for their candidates. I wanted to take a moment to tell you why I am behind Mike Laster for City Council District J.

As someone who grew up and went to high school in the new District J, I am aware of the unique challenges facing the community. District J is a diverse neighborhood, full of many cultures and spoken languages.  District J needs a leader who will fight every day for what’s fair for its unique diversity. District J needs Mike Laster.

Mike Laster was born in San Pablo, California and relocated to Bangs, Texas shortly after. Mike was educated in Brown County public schools. He earned his undergraduate from the University of Texas and his JD from the University of Houston. (Go Coogs!)

Mike went on to serve his community as Senior Assistant Attorney in the Real Estate Division of the City Attorney’s Office.

As a board member of the Sharpstown Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone and Redevelopment Authority, he worked to provide over $90 million in infrastructure development for his community

Currently, as Secretary and founding Board Member of the Greater Sharpstown Management District, Mike has helped to implement a Constables on Patrol Program, which has added an additional eight constables to his community. The management district has also been crucial in cleaning up graffiti and revitalizing the neighborhood with new street signs and esplanade beautification.

As a graduate of Strake Jesuit, Class of 2006, it is very important to me that my fellow “Jebbies” and the Strake Jesuit community continue to have a place to call home. I trust Mike Laster to ensure that the community remains safe and that the Jesuit community will be able to call the corner of Gessner and Bellaire home for generations to come.

There is no doubt in my mind that Mike Laster has what it takes to represent District J. He has proven himself time and again as someone who can make

District J a great place to live, work, go to school and raise a family.

It is time now that we vote to send Mike Laster to City Hall on November 8^th.  Please join me in supporting Mike Laster for District J.

Encourage your friends, family, neighbors and co-workers to go out and vote!

Thank you,

Bradley O’Conner
Director of Communications
Houston Stonewall Young Democrats

As many of you know, today was the first day of early voting here in Houston for the 2011 Municipal Election and with that in mind, I wanted to try something new on HSYD’s website: Candidate Support Statements.

These are written by members and explaining why we, as individuals and members of HSYD, are supporting various HSYD-endorsed candidates who are asking for your vote.

I chose to write my statement about candidate for At-Large Position 2, and my friend, Jenifer Rene Pool.

Jenifer is certainly no stranger to the world of politics.

As a former President of the Houston GLBT Political Caucus and a tireless volunteer in the fight for equality, Jenifer has proven herself as a true fighter in our community – taking on issues and individuals that might otherwise negatively affect the lives of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.

Jenifer is a leader and a role model in the transgender community, an important part of our GLBT family that is often times overlooked when dealing with issues of equality and fairness. Even this year as we celebrated the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” nationally, we had to remind ourselves that our transgender brothers and sisters are still not allowed to serve their country in the United States military. Having Jenifer as a candidate for a citywide office serves as an example to any and all transgender individuals that they are a valuable part of the community as a whole.

I greatly respect Jenifer’s time as an activist in Houston because it has produced tangible results. When young people like me were out knocking on doors for President Obama, Jenifer Rene Pool was conducting phone interviews with him and then-Senator Hillary Clinton, both of whom were seeking the endorsement of the Caucus.

Just this year, the Houston Independent School District finally passed a nondiscrimination ordinance that includes gender identity and expression and protects both students and facility.

Jenifer Rene Pool was a champion of this policy, working behind-the-scenes to build relationships with HISD Trustees, establishing a coalition of trust and understanding and keeping the conversation going until such time as the vote could pass. This accomplishment now offers every vulnerable GLBT student in HISD protection and it safeguards the job of every teacher, faculty member and administrator that has ever worried about losing their job if they were outed.

When it comes to fighting for what is right, Jenifer Rene Pool is very much about where the rubber meets the road, putting in the time and the effort, building bridges and working to make real progress.

When dealing with issues that are day-to-day for a council member, Jenifer is ready to lead.

Her experience on the Police Advisory Committee and the Building and Standards Committee give her an insight into public safety and our city’s infrastructure, that is unmatched by her opponents. She will be an advocate for making our city a better, safer place to live and work.

As a small business owner Jenifer understands the importance of attracting jobs and that fiscal responsibility is vitally important to the economic well-being of Houston’s economy.

I could go on and on about all of the reasons that Jenifer Rene Pool is the best candidate for At-Large Position 2, but I will try to sum it up in just a few words.

Hard-working, experienced, visible, honest, knowledgeable. These are the qualities that Jenifer possesses in abundance.

Help us send her to City Hall where she can use those qualities to make our great city even greater.

Get out and early vote – Jenifer Rene Pool for At-Large Position 2.

For a full list of Early Voting Locations and hours of operation click HERE.

The morning started out at the office of the Caucus at Chelsea Market, where we divided up the turf for the various neighborhoods, distributed literature to our volunteers and went over the maps and talking points.

Special thanks to Victor Castillo, Democratic Precinct Chair for Precinct 39, for coming and taking on the task of working his home precinct on behalf of our candidates.

We couldn’t have asked for better weather for walking through these wonderful Houston neighborhoods.  And time after time, block after block, we found signs of strong support for several HSYD candidates and a severe lack of visibility for their opponents.  As we already knew, the voters of District C are highly intelligent and involved and know who the best candidate is to represent them (in case you didn’t know, that candidate is Ellen Cohen).

After a successful morning of blockwalking, representatives of HSYD moved over to the Montrose Counseling Center for Pride Houston’s 1st LGBT Volunteer Fair. Alongside other respected and important nonprofit organizations, we delivered our message of working to elect pro-equality candidates to those in attendance.  We were able to provide attendees our list of endorsed candidates, literature for some of our candidates like Ellen Cohen and Jenifer Rene Pool, and discuss in detail how our endorsement process works and why it’s important for young, LGBT people to get involved and stay involved.

Today’s blockwalk was a part of HSYD’s ‘Volunteer 2 Win’ contest.  If you attend 2 HSYD GOTV events between now and election day you may win one of two $25 gift cards to a local restaurant.  Get involved today!

Remember, your vote is your voice, make it heard!

On Wednesday, October 12th, HSYD members gathered together to make phone calls to voters on behalf of our endorsed candidates.  Every voter reached was another potential vote!  Great job and many thanks to everyone who turned out to lend a hand in the first GOTV event of our 2011 “Volunteer 2 Win” initiative.  

As you may, or may not, be aware, HSYD is making GOTV a little more fun this year.  By attending 2 of our upcoming volunteer events leading up to the November election, you get entered into a drawing to win 1 of 2 $25 gift cards.  All you have to do is show up, give a little time, and you could be a winner!

This evening we made phone calls for At-Large Position 2 candidate Jenifer Rene Pool and District J candidate Mike Laster.  I am pleased to report that not a single person encountered a negative reaction to our calls and most of the voters we spoke with seemed genuinely interested in hearing about our fantastic pro-equality candidates.

You still have an opportunity to get involved and get entered into the drawing.  On Saturday, October 15th we will be blockwalking in Montrose from 10am-12pm.  This blockwalk will focus on citywide candidates and our District C endorsed candidate Ellen Cohen.  Since our endorsements in those races line up, we are teaming up with the Houston GLBT Political Caucus and they have been gracious enough to offer their new offices as our staging location.  It is located in the heart of Montrose at Chelsea Market, (4617 Montrose Blvd, Suite C222).

Come out and help us spread the word about our slate of pro-equality progressives who, by the way, are also the best qualified and most prepared to lead!