Stonewall Young Democrats

RSVP before March 27, 2010

The Office of Assemblymember Bob Blumenfield is seeking college level, community oriented and proactive interns, both full and part-time, for a variety of projects. The position will be based in the Van Nuys district office.

Duties:
· Assist the district office staff with written communication
· Serve as a constituent liaison with other government offices
· Respond to constituent concerns and questions
· Coordinate various community activities
Requirements:
· Basic knowledge of state government, constituent groups, and local issues
· Strong writing and research skills
· Basic computer and Internet knowledge
· Bilingual abilities are a plus.
· Capable of working independently

Although unpaid, these internships provide individuals with a great opportunity to learn
about State government and the legislative process. Also, develop useful job skills, build
resumes, and network with professionals who work in government, politics, non-profit
organizations, and community groups.

To apply for an internship:
Please e-mail (karen.calderon@asm.ca.gov) or fax (818-902-0764) cover letter & resume.

The Los Angeles Police Department will be hosting a GLBT forum on Wednesday January 27, 2010 at 6pm over at the LA Gay and Lesbian Center’s The Village at Ed Gould Plaza. For more information, please contact Patricia Luevanos of the Community Relations Division at 213-486-6019.

Dear Stonewall Young Democrats,

We would like to take a moment to wish you a Happy New Year! As you may already know the hurtful and divisive Proposition 8 will be heard on a Federal Court by Judge Vaughn Walker. We know that our community has been hurt and our rights have been mocked by those who think its ok to discriminate based solely on our sexual orientation. At this moment the court is deciding whether or not to allow for the hearing to be televised.

Stonewall Young Democrats encourages the court to allow the American public hear and see the hearing. The American people deserve to see and hear the conversation that stripped some Americans of their basic right to marry. Please take a moment to ask the Court to transmit this historic hearing by clicking here.

Thank you for all you do,

Stonewall Young Democrats of Los Angeles

“Representing and mobilizing LGBTQA youth within the Democratic Party”

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
December 3, 2009

Contact: Ari Ruiz, Political Vice-President
Email: Ari.Ruiz@stonewallyoungdems.org

Response to: Log Cabin Republicans of New York
RE: Statement on Marriage Equality Vote

Los Angeles, California – Stonewall Young Democrats of Los Angeles applauds the leadership of New York Governor David Patterson and New York State Legislators for their leadership in their efforts of bringing justice and equality for all New Yorker’s regardless of their sexual orientation.

Stonewall Young Democrats of Los Angeles denounces the claim that New York Democrats were at fault for today’s defeat of the marriage equality bill. When the last vote was counted and the tally was counted; 75% of New York State Senate Democrats voted in favor of the bill while 100% of Republicans voted against the bill. This reveals that if anyone should be at fault for Wednesday’s defeat— it’s the Republicans.

Marriage Equality should not be a political issue but a simple freedom that should be granted to all Americans regardless of their sexual orientation.

###

Original Response from Log Cabin Republicans of New York:

LOG CABIN REPUBLICANS OF NEW YORK STATEMENT ON MARRIAGE EQUALITY VOTE

ALBANY, NEW YORK–In response to today’s marriage equality vote in the New York State Legislature, Log Cabin Republicans Legislative Advisor Jeff Cook made the following statement:

“Today we share in the frustration and disappointment that the Senate did not pass the marriage equality bill. We are deeply saddened that the Democratic Conference failed to secure the votes they promised, undermining the possibility of a credible bipartisan vote of conscience on the merits of marriage equality. Winning marriage equality in New York requires the Democrats to keep their promises, and Log Cabin will continue to work to ensure that Republicans vote their conscience when that finally happens.”

We need your help for 2-3 hours this weekend to elect the candidate endorsed by Stonewall Young Democrats!

Paul has always been a strong ally of the LGBT community and has a record of leadership on LGBT issues. His commitment to equality goes back long before he was ever a candidate; for example, as a trustee on the board of the County Law Library in the 1990s, Paul initiated an expansion of the bereavement policy for the library’s employees that would have included domestic partners and the domestic partners of family members.

As an elected official, Paul has been one of the LGBT communities staunchest allies. Paul has a lifetime 100% voting scorecard from Equality California. He was a coauthor of Mark Leno’s marriage equality legislation, and was one of the legislators who filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court supporting marriage equality. Paul also vocally opposed Prop 8 (including sending mail in his district at his own expense).

Now we need to stand with Paul. We are asking all Democratic activists to join us at the campaign headquarters beginning this Saturday, November 28. Start time is 11:00 am and we’ll be calling and walking precincts all day to identify supporters. This is the crucial stretch before GOTV weekend and E-Day.

What: Campaign for Paul Krekorian

Where: Campaign HQ – 13063 Victory Blvd., North Hollywood, CA 91606

When: Saturday, November 28; Start time: 11 AM

Plan now to join us during GOTV (Dec. 5-8) as we get out the vote of Paul’s supporters.

Join Stonewall Young Democrats for our annual holiday party on Saturday December 12th at 9pm. Let’s end 2009 with holiday cheer, celebrate our successes, and also as a way to help those who are less fortunate as we are also holding a canned food drive.

The top 5 persons who bring in the most canned food items will receive $10 iTunes gift cards.

Please RSVP to the event through our Facebook event page or through Michael.Colorge@stonewallyoungdems.org so we know how much food to get.

Location:
The Skyline Building
600 W. 9th Street #1106
Los Angeles, CA 90015

For more info, please contact Michael Colorge at Michael.Colorge@stonewallyoungdems.org.

Stonewall Young Democrats congratulates Political Vice President Ari Ruiz for being our Outstanding Volunteer of the Year at the Democratic Party of the San Fernando Valley Truman Awards!

This past year has been an eventful one indeed, the culmination perhaps of an epic decades in the making.

Some of us were there to witness history being made as Barack Obama was sworn in as our Nation’s 44th President. Others of us took part in the National Equality March.

Some events this year were symbolic of how far we have come in the LGBT movement. We watched as Iowa legalized same-sex marriage, as West Point Officer and Iraq War Veteran, Lt. Dan Choi came out on national TV and as Iceland named Johanna Sigurdardottir as its first lesbian prime minister and as the world’s first openly-gay leader.

It’s a pretty safe bet that the Christopher Street bar patrons, and their straight allies, fighting to reclaim a little dignity on a late June night over 40 years ago would never have envisioned that, on another June night, not all that many years later, they and others like them would be honored by the illumination of the Empire State Building in lavender, for the world to see – an example of how just a few can change the hearts of many.

But perhaps just as significant, during the parade commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, were the openly gay and lesbian NYPD officers holding hands with their partners as they marched right past the spot where their predecessors had once been the very face of LGBT oppression.

Decades before Stonewall, right here in Los Angeles, our predecessors were busy leading the fight in the streets of Silver Lake, and tirelessly working to unify us through pioneer gay activism organizations like the Mattachine Society and underground publications like ONE.

The gay rights movement owes so much of its progress to courageous Angelinos, just as our generation owes so much to the generations who have come before us. I think they would be very proud of modern day events like Meet in the Middle, Day of Decision and Lavender Los Angeles.

And just as we can learn from our long and storied past, so too will future activists learn from our struggles. History may indeed reveal that Prop 8′s passage last fall was the best thing to happen to us in 20 years, awakening a new generation of LGBT activists. Off the couch and into the streets!

Indeed, this is an exciting time to be in the movement. The recent signing of the Matthew Shepard Act reminds us that we are indeed gaining ground. We are currently at the very cusp of a whole new era for our community. Marriage Equality, Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and a whole host of other causes are reaching a critical mass and it’s only a matter of time before the scale tips toward full acceptance and equality.

Now, more than ever, we have an opportunity to take the driver’s seat in our own collective destiny and in that of our community.

Although the time has come for me to embark on the next chapter of my life, I can honestly say that my involvement in the Stonewall Young Democrats is perhaps the thing in my life which has been both the most exhilarating and the most rewarding.

We have accomplished much together and we should all be very proud of the progress we have made.

The coming years hold a lot of promise for our movement and for this club. I am excited for the new executive committee and I will continue to watch SYD’s progress with much pride and enthusiasm.

Best of luck to all of you, and best wishes to the new leaders of SYD!

Shawn