What's New



AD5 and AD9 Candidate Forum Takes Place Monday March 8th

Remember our next Candidate Forum is coming up on Monday, March 8, 2010, at 6:00 p.m.  Since we expect a large turnout, we will be holding the Forum in a large room at the Radisson on Leisure Lane in Sacramento with plenty of space for everyone. 

The first highlighted race will be California State Assembly District 5.  Candidates Larry Miles and Dr. Richard Pan will participate, and Cathy Schwamberger will be the Moderator. 

The second highlighted race will be California State Assembly District 9.  Candidates Roger Dickinson, Kevin McCarty, Lauren Hammond, and Chris Garland will take part, with Mitch Cabrera as the Moderator.

Shortly after the Candidate Forum, the General Membership Meeting will take place.  During the General Membership Meeting, endorsement votes will take place in the races highlighted during the Candidate Forum.  Balloting will not begin until the General Membership Meeting - you will not be able to cast ballots while the Candidate Forum is taking place.

Current Stonewall members who were paid members as of February 11, 2010, will be eligible to take part in the endorsement votes at next week's General Membership Meeting.  If you missed that deadline, remember you still have until March 18, 2010, to become a current paid member in order to be eligible to vote for endorsements at the April General Membership Meeting.

Once again, we look forward to seeing you at our Candidate Forum on Monday, March 8, 2010, starting at 6:00 p.m. at the Radisson, followed by our General Membership Meeting.  See you there!

February Candidate Forum Videos Now Online

Our February Candidate Forum is now available to view online, thanks to Kelli Meador and Laughing Sheep Productions.
The February Candidate Forum highlighted races in Sacramento City Council District 7 and Sacramento County Board of Supervisors District 1. At the General Membership Meeting following the Forum, the club voted to endorse Ryan Chin for City Council, and Phil Serna for Supervisor.
Here are the videos:
http://vimeo.com/9515544

Stonewall Candidate Forum Series: Sacramento City Council District 7 from Laughing Sheep on Vimeo.


http://vimeo.com/9515875

Stonewall Candidate Forum Series: Sacramento County Supervisor District 1 from Laughing Sheep on Vimeo.



"Strong Mayor Initiative" Forum Now Available Online

The successful kickoff to the 2010 Forum Series is now available to view online at the following web link or in the video embedded below.

http://vimeo.com/8774101. 

We had 120 people in attendance at the Radisson Hotel last week for the "Strong Mayor Initiative" Forum, which was covered by local news outlets including KCRA 3, FOX 40, and the Sacramento Bee.

Here's a link to the Bee's coverage:
http://www.sacbee.com/topstories/story/2455120.html

 

 

Strong Mayor Initiative - 2010 Forum Series from Laughing Sheep on Vimeo.



Sign the Petition! Stop Andrew Pugno!

Stop Proposition 8 author Andrew Pugno in his bid for California State Assembly!

Click Here to Sign the Petition

Andrew Pugno was the principal drafter, spokesperson, and instigator in the drive to strip equal marriage rights from gay and lesbian Californians. His success came when his long-time efforts concluded in the passage of Proposition 8.

Now he is the Republican front-runner for Assembly District 5. If elected, who knows how much damage he could do to LGBT people and their families across the entire state!

Sign the Petition to Keep "Mr. Proposition 8" from being elected!



Press Release: Sacramento Stonewall Democrats Early-Endorses Mary Hernandez for Sacramento City Unified School District Board of Education, Area 2

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 11, 2009
CONTACT: Christopher Moore, Club President
530.713.0914 | president@sacstonewall.org

SACRAMENTO - The Stonewall Democratic Club of Greater Sacramento voted to early-endorse Mary Hernandez for Sacramento City Unified School District Board of Education, Area 2 at its General Membership Meeting Monday November 9, 2009.

"We feel so fortunate, as a club, to have this opportunity to back such an outstanding candidate," said Club President Christopher Moore. "We are extremely confident that her campaign will be a success and we are dedicated to working vigorously to ensure she is elected."

"Hernandez's campaign speaks to the very core of the mission of Sacramento Stonewall" said Mike Mendez, Chair of the Political Action Committee. "Her election to office as an openly gay woman will provide a shining example that highly qualified LGBT individuals can proudly serve the public. Furthermore, Mary's history as a tireless advocate makes us confident that she will be an extremely effective Board Member."

Following the vote to endorse Mary Hernandez, the club also voted to make a $10,000 contribution to her campaign. Sacramento City Unified School District Board of Education, Area 2 covers the communities of Midtown, East Sacramento, River Park, College Greens, and Tahoe Park.

The Stonewall Democratic Club of Greater Sacramento is one of the largest Democratic clubs in the region and is one of the largest LGBT Democratic clubs in the United States. Sacramento Stonewall works toward Democratic values for all.

mike mary chris small.JPGFrom Left to Right: Mike Mendez, Mary Hernandez, and Chris Moore


Press Release: Sacramento Stonewall Extremely Disappointed by Maine's Passage of Question 1

October 29, 2009

Sacramento Stonewall Extremely Disappointed by Maine's Passage of Question 1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 29, 2009
CONTACT: Christopher Moore, Club President
530.713.0914 | president@sacstonewall.org

SACRAMENTO - Sacramento Stonewall is extremely disappointed in the decision by Maine voters to repeal that state's law that would have extended equal marriage rights to same-sex couples.

"It continues to disturb me that our systems of governance in individual states and our nation as a whole can allow a bare majority of voters being driven by a well-funded campaign of lies and deception to arbitrarily strip a historically-marginalized portion of our citizenry of their rights,"  said Sacramento Stonewall President Christopher Moore.

"Pro-equality Californians feel the same pain Mainers feel today, and perhaps the worst part about the whole thing is that the same nationwide homophobic forces were behind both ballot initiative crusades.  These groups are like a plague invading states one by one, spreading their awful rhetoric and enshrining homophobia into the law" said Moore.

Nearly 48 percent of Maine voters cast their vote in favor of marriage equality. Their commitment to equality is a testament to the hard work done by thousands of volunteers from states across the nation. While opponents of equality will claim victory in Maine, a Domestic Partnership law in Washington state is on its way to victory after approval by voters there.  In addition, the citizens of Kalamazoo, Michigan, voted to uphold a local ordinance that banned discrimination based on sexual orientation and throughout the country openly-gay candidates are celebrating successful runs for office.

"We have come so far, so fast," commented Moore, "The mere thought that ten years ago nearly 50 percent of voters in a state would cast a ballot in favor of equal marriage rights for same-sex couples was almost unthinkable.  Now we are so close.  We must remember that this is yet another opportunity for those of us who fight for equality to redouble our efforts and work harder than ever until our goal of full equality for all is a reality."

The Stonewall Democratic Club of Greater Sacramento is one of the largest Democratic clubs in the region and is one of the largest LGBT Democratic clubs in the United States. Sacramento Stonewall works toward Democratic values for all.


Camp Courage Sacramento

Sacramento Stonewall encourages you to attend Camp Courage!

 For more information visit:

http://www.couragecampaign.org/campsacramento

 




Press Release: Sacramento Stonewall Applauds President Obama and Congress for Passing Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Bill

October 29, 2009

Sacramento Stonewall Applauds President Obama and Congress for Passing Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Bill

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 29, 2009
CONTACT: Christopher Moore, Club President
530.713.0914 | president@sacstonewall.org

SACRAMENTO--
President of the Stonewall Democratic Club of Sacramento, Christopher Moore, issued the following statement today regarding President Obama's signing of the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Bill which extends federal hate crimes protections to include sexual orientation:
 
"We applaud President Barack Obama and Congress for taking this historic step toward full equality for LGBT Americans. This policy not only provides justice to LGBT victims of hate crimes, it honors Matthew Shepard, whose horrifying murder awakened Americans to the violent and terrible atmosphere in which many LGBT Americans live."
 
"While this legislation marks a time to celebrate progress toward LGBT equality, it also marks a time to reflect on our own community. The Sacramento LGBT community has profoundly felt the effects of hate-motivated crimes against LGBT people, which have seemingly been on the rise the past few years. The 2007 murder of Satendar Singh, who was killed by individuals taunting him with homophobic remarks, stunned our community. Further, the unresolved mystery of the death of a transgender woman, Ruby Molina, who was found dead in the American River, continues to leave our community wondering how safe our neighborhoods are for LGBT people."
 
"This legislation will hopefully act as a deterrent and send a message that crimes committed toward individuals because of their sexual orientation represent acts so offensive to our society that they deserve greater punishment. It is Stonewall's hope that through continued activism and the examples of courageous LGBT leaders and allies that the underlying hatred behind these crimes will become a thing of the past."
 
The Stonewall Democratic Club of Greater Sacramento is one of the largest Democratic clubs in the region and is one of the largest LGBT Democratic clubs in the United States. Sacramento Stonewall works toward Democratic values for all.


Press Release: Sacramento Stonewall Endorses Anthony Woods for Congress, District 10

SACRAMENTO - Sacramento Stonewall voted to endorse Anthony Woods for Congressional District 10 at its General Membership Meeting on Monday, August 10, 2009.

"We are excited to have this opportunity to back such an outstanding candidate," said Christopher Moore, President of the Club. "Mr. Woods' commitment to serve his country is evident in his understanding of issues facing Americans and in his impressive history of military and community service. The fact that Mr. Woods is openly gay is icing on the cake for Stonewall."

Mike Mendez, Political Action Committee Chair for the Club commented:

"Woods' election to Congress will serve as an example to LGBT youth that openly-LGBT people can follow their dreams in a very public and proud way. His service in Congress would be unique in that he would be the only Member directly affected by the military's discriminatory 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy."

Anthony Woods is one of four Democrats running in the September 1st special primary election to fill the CA 10th Congressional seat. The seat was recently vacated when former Rep. Ellen Tauscher was appointed Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security by the Obama Administration. The district includes portions of Alameda, Contra Costa, Sacramento and Solano Counties.


anothony_woods_endorsement_mtg.jpg

Left to Right: Mike Mendez, Alan LoFaso, Anthony Woods, and Chris Moore



2009-2010 Stonewall Board Officers Sworn In

Monday, July 13, 2009 -- Assemblymember Dave Jones swore in Stonewall's new Executive Board this evening at our General Membership meeting.

 Assemblymember Dave Jones swearing in our 2009-2010 Board

 

From left to right the new Boardmembers are as follows:

Cynthia Dela Cruz, Secretary

Abbi Novotny, Fundraising Chair

Christopher Guerrero, Membership Chair

Christopher Welton, Treasurer

Patrick Holstine, Communications Chair

Michael Mendez, Political Action Committee Chair

Christopher Moore, President

Alan LoFaso, Vice President