National Stonewall Democrats

National Stonewall Democrats national headquarters in the Logan Circle neighborhood of Washington, D.C.

The National Stonewall Democrats is an LGBT-rights group based in Washington, D.C. with a political affiliation to the Democratic Party. The word "Stonewall" in its name refers to the 1969 Stonewall riots, a pivotal event in the history of gay rights.

History

The National Stonewall Democrats was founded in 1999 by Barney Frank,^[1] an openly gay Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives who represents Massachusetts's 4th Congressional District. The organization brought together LGBT Democratic clubs across the United States which were left unaffiliated after the 1987 dissolution of the National Association of Gay and Lesbian Democratic Clubs.^[2]

The group describes itself as "a grassroots force for social change within our movement and within our party." It has over 90 chapters throughout the United States which focus on a variety of equality issues. The national organization also operates a political action committee (PAC) which coordinates campaign contributions and support from local chapters to endorse pro-equality Democrats in federal elections.

Michael Mitchell, the current Executive Director, has previously served as the marriage campaign manager for the ACLU's LGBT Project, the advocacy and planning specialist for the Equality Federation, and was the first Executive Director for Equality Utah.^[3] Previous leaders of the organization include Jo Wyrick, Eric Stern, Michael Perez, Paul Yandura, Michael Colby, and Chad S. Johnson.

In 2003, the University of Michigan chapter of the Stonewall Democrats became the first of its kind on a college campus. It has worked towards open housing, lifting the ban on gay men who wish to donate blood, and statewide anti-bullying campaigns.^[4]

References

1. ^ "Organization information". Dept of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (Washington: District of Columbia). http://mblr.dc.gov/corp/lookup/status.asp?id=204115. Retrieved 2010-05-30. 
2. ^ "Organization information". Dept Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (Washington: District of Columbia). http://mblr.dc.gov/corp/lookup/status.asp?id=127509. Retrieved 2010-05-30. 
3. ^ "Our Staff" page, National Stonewall Democrats. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
4. ^ List of Committees, College Democrats at the University of Michigan. Retrieved April 7, 2011.

External links

• National Stonewall Democrats website
• Cleveland Stonewall Democrats
• Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club
• Washington State Stonewall Democrats
• Stonewall Club of Greater Sacramento
• Stonewall Democrats of Central Maryland
• Atlanta Stonewall Democrats