Howard Dean elminates GLBT Outreach Position at DNC

[IndianaGreen]

Subject: Howard Dean elminates GLBT Outreach Position at DNC
Date: Friday, February 03, 2006 5:23:52 PM

As most of you know, Eric Stern resigned as Director of GLBT Outreach at the DNC
back in February 2005, when he became Executive Director of the Stonewall
Democrats. Unforunately, his old position has remained vacant.

The Gay and Lesbian Americans Caucus of the Democratic National Committee made
it clear that they would like to see a new GLBT Outreach Director selected. In
their statement they asked that the DNC's pledge to maintain and fund at least
one full-time senior-level position of Director of GLBT Outreach at the DNC,
whose primary responsibility will be policy and organizing.

Well today we have our answer. Having been a strong supporter of Howard Dean,
I'm greatly saddened by this decision. If you are as mad about this as I am,
there will be an excellent opportunity to protest this decision next week.
Howard Dean will be appearing at HALO (1435 P Street, NW) from 6:30 to 8:00 PM
on Tuesday February 7th . If your are interested in gathering outside HALO to
protest this decision, please let me know.

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Dems abolish gay outreach post
Gay Democrat resigns in protest over Dean's restructuring moves

By LOU CHIBBARO JR
Friday, February 03, 2006


Democratic National Committee Chair Howard Dean has abolished the Democratic
Party's constituent outreach desks, including the post of director of lesbian
and gay outreach.

A DNC spokesperson said Dean replaced the outreach director positions with a new
program called the American Majority Partnership, which integrates efforts to
address the concerns of minorities into all of the DNC's departments and
offices. The little noticed move took place last year.

"It's an expansion of what we had before," said Damien LaVera, the DNC
spokesperson assigned to discuss gay rights issues.

But the former chair of the DNC's Gay & Lesbian Americans Caucus doesn't see
it that way. Gay Democratic Party activist and fundraiser Jeff Soref of New York
City said he resigned from the DNC and from his position as chair of the gay
caucus in August largely because of Dean's decision to eliminate the gay
outreach desk.

"It took us many years to win that position, have it funded and make it
effective," Soref said.

http://www.washblade.com/2006/2-3/news/national/dems.cfm

[Teaser]

1. Dean's earned my trust

so I'd like to see his side of things before I make any decisions.

[IndianaGreen]

3. Me too!

I'll wait until I find out more about this. Is there anyone that can shed additional light on this?

[joeybee12]

5. I feel the same way...

...sometimes this is just beaureaucratic infighting.

[sui generis]

11. it seems like a reasonable strategy

by grouping us with other minorities he's heading off this rush to only recognize "legal" minorities in anti-discrimination laws. The only reservation I would have is if he has a "black caucus" outreach position or some other specific minority outreach that he is keeping.

I am sure he will address it in one forum or another.

ON EDIT: my point was that if he kept a minority outreach position of any kind then putting us together under a new global minority initiative would be less effective and hypocritical.

[libnnc]

2. I don't like this.

Not one bit.

[Larkspur]

4. I checked the DNC web site and haven't found a press release about this

so I'll wait to hear from the DNC about this before drawing conclusions.

[IndianaGreen]

6. The term "National Partnership Plan" was used last September

in this intriguing conference:

9:30 - 10:30 a.m.

The National Partnership Plan with Tom McMahon, DNC Executive Director; Pam Womack, DNC Political Director; and Cornell Belcher, DNC Pollster

http://www.democrats.org/a/2005/08/wlf_12th_annual.php

[TechBear_Seattle]

7. Once again, we are tossed aside like rotting garbage

I expect the official excuse will be the usual "we must appeal to the middle-of-the-road voter" cant.

Color me unsurprised.

[kittynboi]

9. Precisely.

As long as the Democrats are so obsessed with "moderate" voters, nothing will ever get done.

[dsc]

8. I am willing to wait and see with this

Dean has a ton of credibility on LGBT issues and thus I am more than willing to wait and see. I also can see this somewhat as a sign of maturity for our issues. They are becoming in some senses more mainstream and thus may well be less in need of a special desk.

[mitchtv]

10. I will wait and see

But I will be watching. The Tim Kane choice last week to answer the SOTU,was a bad signal also.