Stonewall Democrats of Dallas • August 2010

The Stonewall
Advocate
A monthly publication for members of the SDD

“The evidence shows Dallas County Democrats may pass

Proposition 8 does nothing
more than enshrine in the
California Constitution
the notion that opposite-
sex couples are superior to
same-sex couples.”
- Judge Vaughn Walker in his decision
striking down California’s Proposition 8
Stonewall Democrats
of Dallas
4209 Parry Avenue
Dallas, TX 75223
P.O. Box 192305
Dallas, TX 75219
214-506-DEMS
www.stonewalldemocratsofdallas.org
“midterms” by rallying around White
By Jesse Garcia
Another federal mid-term election is on its
way, and the Democratic Party is bracing for
a tough season at all levels of government.  In the last federal election in 2008, Dallas
Republicans are busy fund raising millions
for their political committees, but they are
also expecting a nice gift of $200 million
from special interest groups that want to
reverse the national gains made by the Obama
Administration and the Democratic Congress.
From the Patient Protection and Affordable
Care Act that will insure nearly all Americans
with healthcare within the decade, to the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
that helped the U.S. avoid a depression,
to the Wall Street Reform and Consumer
Protection Act that enacted financial reforms
that would prevent future banking meltdowns
and help consumers with predatory creditors,
Republicans have gained new friends that are
opposed to these policies.
The Center for Responsive Politics recently
reported that nearly 70 percent of all money
donated by Wall Street to national political
candidates went to Republicans in June.  This
is a trend that began in December 2009,
when regulatory reform was first proposed in
Congress.
A war chest to fund mudslinging ads
coupled with Tea Party hysteria and a
down economy lingering from the Bush
administration have given Democrats quite
a challenge.  The Democratic Party will
have to double its efforts to energize their
base, convince independents to stick with
progressives, reach out to new 18-year-old
voters and turnout minority communities who
are under attack by Republican xenophobic
and homophobic rhetoric.
Luckily, the Dallas County Democrats are
energized and well prepared to turn out the
vote. The local party has recently undertaken
a series of mega walks through neighborhoods
in both base and competitive districts.  Dallas
Democrats are not taking anything for granted,
even though changing demographics in the
county will continue to benefit the Democratic
Party.
County saw 742,890 voters (61.57 percent of
the county’s registered voters) turn out. Of
those 742,890 voters, nearly 39 percent voted
straight ticket for Democrats (compared to
only 25.19 percent who voted Republican
straight ticket).  Democratic straight-ticket
voting has increased and beat Republicans in
the last four federal election cycles.
The 2008 Democratic victors also enjoyed
support from non-straight ticket-voting
Democrats, Independents and cross-over
Republicans who handed them a 55 to 58
percent win.
In 2010, local Democrats will have to work
their precincts to achieve those 2008 numbers.
Many concede that non-presidential elections
tend to attract fewer voters.  But the drop off
varies.
In 2004, 691,407 showed up to vote in the
presidential election, but only 409,886 came
back for the 2006 midterm (a 41 percent
drop off). In 2000, 617,049 Dallas County
voters came out for Bush v. Gore, but 450,119
participated in the 2002 election (only a 28
percent drop off).
What worked for 2002 may work for
2010 – a well-funded Democrat in the Texas
Governor’s Race.
In 2002, we had a spirited governor’s
contest between Republican Rick Perry and
Democratic candidate Tony Sanchez, a Laredo
real estate and banking millionaire. It also
helped that former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk
was on the ballot as the Democratic candidate
for U.S. Senate. 
This year’s Democratic candidate for
governor, former Houston Mayor Bill White,
is spending major campaign dollars in North
Texas. Since the beginning of August, daily
television commercials featuring the Houston
continued, page 2
 Page 2
White Key to Midterm Success,
Living Room Discussion to feature Rep. Anchia
continued, from page 1
energy industry millionaire have run in the
DFW media market.
What’s different for gubernatorial
candidate White compared to gubernatorial
candidate Sanchez is that Dallas County is
a whole different place.  In 2002, Sanchez
lost to Perry in Dallas County. But in 2006,
Democrat Chris Bell beat Perry by four
points. That year, Dallas Democrats swept
nearly every race in the county.
What else is in candidate White’s favor?
- Increased Straight ticket voting:
Democrats are far outpacing Republicans. A
mass exodus of conservatives from Dallas
County is reflected on the straight-party
ticket voting: 2000 Election – Democrats
70,528 v. Republicans 89,984; 2002
Election - Democrats 138,656 v. Republicans
134,937; 2004 Election - Democrats 228,549
v. Republicans 215,618; 2006 Election -
Democrats 124,136 v. Republicans 108,000;
2008 Elections Democrats 289,551 v.
Republicans 187,190.
- Incumbent fatigue: National media
buzzes around the anti-incumbent sentiment
Stonewall a “Friday Night Lights” Sponsor
Stonewall Democrats of Dallas is a proud sponsor
of the upcoming “Friday Night Lights” block party
in Irving on August 20th.Please join us and other
Democrats for a fun evening.
The Dallas County Democratic Party
Continues a Series of Neighborhood Block Parties
with FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
Friday, August 20, 2010
6:00-8:00pm
West Irving Improvement Assoc. Building
3901 Jackson St. Irving, Texas
RSVP to win2010@dallasdemocrats.org
•Grilled Burgers & Dogs, Beverages
•Free Living Wills & Medical Power of
Attorney Legal Clinic
•Indoors/Air-Conditioned
The Stonewall Advocate
across the country. Texas Democrats embrace
this buzz and hope it resonates with voters.
Republican Perry has been in the governor’s
office for the last 10 years.  Declines in
education, health, employment and personal
freedoms have all occurred on his watch.
This discontent is underscored by those who
voted against Perry in the Republican Primary. 
Some of Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison’s
supporters have pledged support for White.
-Social networking: Historians have
credited social networking as one of the
successful tools used by candidate Barack
Obama during his primary and general
election for getting out the vote and leading to
a historic win.  A silent majority of observers
who are progressive process information on
a candidate via blogs, comment postings and
web videos. No longer do we have to wait for
a newspaper’s endorsement of a candidate.
Instant access to like-minded individuals on
the web who lend their support to a candidate
may play a major part in influencing a whole
new generation of voters.
White’s aggressive courting of Dallas
County voters, along with 2008 Democrats
who are willing to back up a president who
has had only two years to undo eight years of
mismanagement, may be the winning strategy
for countywide Democrats up and down
the ballot, along with those in competitive
districts.
To learn more about the Bill White
Campaign, you are invited to a Living
Room Discussion featuring State Rep.
Rafael Anchia, on Thursday, Aug. 19, from
7 to 9 p.m., at the home of Ruben Ramirez,
located at 3121 Trevolle Place, Dallas,
TX 75204. Please RSVP for this event at
jessegarciadallas@gmail.com.
Sponsored by:
The Dallas County Democratic Party
Dr. Elba Garcia for County Commissioner
Loretta Haldenwang for State Representative
Stretch Rideaux for Justice of the Peace
Katy Hubener for Justice of the Peace
Roy Williams for Constable
Stonewall Democrats
Irving Democrats
North Texas Asian Democrats
August 2010
News Briefs
The Dallas County Democratic Party
Coordinated Campaign has on-going
mega walks in various parts of the
county. Recent ones have been in
Duncanville, Irving and North Dallas.
www.dallasdemocrats.org for more info.
• Stonewall meets on :
The August General Meeting takes
place Tuesday, August 17th, at 6:30
p.m., at Ojeda's Restaurant, located at
4617 Maple Avenue in Dallas. With
scheduled guest(s), Dist. Attorney
Craig Watkins, Rep. Allen Vaught
• Monday Night Madness
The Dallas County Democratic Party
with Organizing for America Present
MONDAY NIGHT MADNESS
Democratic Phone Banks at Eight
Convenient Locations
This Monday August 16th is our First
Phone Bank
All Phone Banks Open 5-9 PM.
Please bring a cell phone if you are
able, and indicate if you can bring one
in your email RSVP.
Go to www.dallasdemocrats.org for
locations.
• Stonewall Summer Fundraiser
August 29th, 2-5pm
Havana’s, 4006 Cedar Springs, Dallas
Great Music, appetizers, casual
General Tickets are $25 per person.
Sponsorship levels:
Bronze $125, Silver $250, Gold $500
www.stonewalldemocratsofdallas.org/
events
• Same Place, New Face
Check out our newly
redesigned website.:
www.stonewalldemocratsofdalls.org
Thank you Kenneth!
August 2010
President’s Corner
Stonewall
President
Erin Moore
Prop 8 is down for the count.
On August 4, Judge Vaughn Walker ruled
that California’s Proposition 8, a vote taken
banning gay marriage, violated the state’s
Constitution.
What this means is that a conservative
judge, appointed by Reagan and confirmed
under George Bush, Sr., heard arguments from
a conservative lawyer, Ted Olsen and a liberal
lawyer, David Boies that the law should not
stand. Olsen formerly argued the Bush side of
Bush v. Gore. His opponent was Boies. They
came together in this case because both could
agree that the state, indeed government in gen-
eral should have no say in who marries who..
only that they can marry.
Even Arnold Schwarzenegger, who was
vehemently opposed to gay marriage is now
saying “let them marry.” “Doing so is consis-
tent with California’s long history of treating
all people and their relationships with equal
dignity and respect.” Pity he couldn’t have
summoned that opinion earlier for the sake
of the thousands of married couples in limbo
since Prop 8 initially passed.
What this may mean for Texas: Surely the
case will be appealed to the Supreme Court.
Because Judge Walker’s decision was far
reaching and even quoted decisions made by
the Supreme Court it is highly unlikely it will
be overruled. The Court could issue a narrow
decision only applying to California. OR it
could say that no civil rights should be put up
to a vote. I’m not suggestion we would get
marriage in Texas but it could put an end to the
use of our civil rights as a political issue used
to stir up the Religious Right.
Lastly, what we need to all do now is push
for marriage on a national basis. We need
to repeal the Federal DOMA and allow two
consenting adults to marry. Otherwise, we’ll
be fighting this same fight in the remaining 40
states, 40 times for years to come. It’s time for
our government to protect us with the same
rights and privileges that heterosexual couples
have. Banning gay marriage is unconstitutional
after all.
Talk to you later,
Erin
The Stonewall Advocate
National Stonewall Convention Report
By Jay Narey
I was privileged to represent Stonewall
Democrats of Dallas at the National Stonewall
Democrats 2010 Convention in Washington
D.C. July 30th – August 1st. On Friday, Jen-
nifer O’Malley Dillon, the Executive Director
of the Democratic National Committee kicked
off our Convention.
The host city co-hosts were Tiffany Joslyn
of the Virginia Partisans Club and Jeffrey Rich-
ardson of the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club,
both Stonewall affiliates. There were numer-
ous plenary sessions and workshops scheduled
throughout the weekend with topics like “Run-
ning for office as an Out Candidate”
“ENDA: Where we are at and Where we
are going.” There was also a joint session with
Labor representatives entitled “From EFCA to
ENDA” which dealt with how important the
historic relationship between organized labor
and GLBT rights are – and that Labor is assist-
ing us in our efforts to get ENDA passed and
we as grassroots Democrats need to work with
Labor to get EFCA passed.
EFCA is the Employee Free Choice Act
which will make it easier for the working
people of this country to form a Union. I was
proud to participate in this session as an Officer
of Stonewall Democrats and as a member of a
Labor Union.
Friday evening there was a nice reception
and dinner and several members of Congress
joined us including, Congressman Paul Hodes
from New Hampshire who is running for a U.S.
Senate seat in the Granite State. Congressman
Jared Polis of Colorado and Congresswoman
Dina Titus of Nevada.
Additionally, we had several Congressional
Candidates attend including: Anthony Woods
running in California’s 10th District. Woods
served in the Iraq War on two tours of duty;
A graduate of West Point, and the Kennedy
School at Harvard, he is a proud member of our
community and would represent us well in the
U.S. Congress. Woods was introduced to us by
the man who is single-handedly spearheading
the repeal of Don’t Ask –Don’t Tell, Congress-
man Patrick Murphy of Pennsylvania.
Additionally Scott Galvin attended who is
running in the Florida primary to represent the
Congressional District in North Miami. The
results of that should be known very soon after
this newsletter goes to press. Congressional
Candidate Ed Potosnak is running for Congress
in the 7th District of New Jersey. Ed is a sci-
ence teacher and would make a great addition
to our community’s congressional delega-
tion. I urge you to financially support each of
these fine representatives and congressional
candidates, you won’t find stronger friends and
proponents of equality.
Peggy Shorey, the Executive Director of
Pride at Work was also in attendance and
conducted some of the plenary sessions. Martin
Garcia, the political associate of the Victory
Funds’ Gay and Lesbian Leadership Institute
Page 3
was in attendance and presented good informa-
tion on what should be done and what should
definitely be avoided when running for office
or working on a campaign.
Diego Miguel Sanchez who is the Legisla-
tive Aide to Congressman Barney Frank was
in attendance throughout the conference. He
is listed as one of the Top 100 most power-
ful Latinos in corporate America by Hispanic
Business magazine.
He is also the first transgender person ap-
pointed to a DNC Standing Committee by a
Party Chair.
Early on Saturday morning, National
Stonewall arranged for us to go on a tour of
the White House which was quite exciting.
After which, the White House’s Director for
Outreach, Brian Bond addressed the Conven-
tion delegates.
He stressed that while we aren’t getting
everything that we as a community want
immediately, that this is the most pro-GLBT
administration in history.
The Clinton Administration had 19 openly
GLBT appointments, the Obama Administra-
tion has more than 100, and 2 dozen of those
required Senate confirmation involving high
level positions.
Bond went on to say how strong an ally the
new Health and Human Services Secretary
Kathleen Sebelius is to our community, as well
as Kathleen Martinez an Undersecretary of
Labor to Hilda Solis. Secretary Martinez, who
happens to be blind is the third secretary for
Disability Employment Policy and regularly
advises Secretary Solis and the Labor Depart-
ment. She is delightfully refreshing and candid
…just matter of fact and very “off the cuff.”
A new voter registration tool was announced
at the conference. RaiseYourVote.com will eas-
ily allow people to register to vote online.
Also be sure to visit UnitedENDA.org
On the Saturday evening tour of the National
Monuments I was perhaps most struck by
Thomas Jefferson’s inherent belief in The
People’s ability to govern themselves. Jefferson
described an ‘elastic’ government which is so
incredibly prescient today in the light of Prop 8
that I wanted to include it for you to appreciate.
It gave me a renewed faith in Democracy and
I hope you are as moved by it as I was when
reading it.
“I am not an advocate for frequent changes in
laws and constitutions, but laws and institutions
must go hand in hand with the progress of the
human mind. As that becomes more developed,
more enlightened, as new discoveries are made,
new truths discovered and manners and opin-
ions change, with the change of circumstances,
institutions must advance also to keep pace with
the times. We might as well require a man to
wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy
as civilized society to remain ever under the
regimen of their barbarous ancestors.”
—Thomas Jefferson
 Page 4
Prop 8 Ruling in a Nutshell
James Esseks, Director of the ACLU
LGBT & AIDS Project
Perry v. Schwarzenegger ...is an historic
ruling that strikes down Prop 8 because it vi-
olates the federal Constitution. The decision
makes some big contributions to the law, but
it’s the court’s factual findings that are likely
to be most important in terms of changing
the dialogue in America about marriage.
What sets this case apart is that the court
held a full trial, at which both sides got to
present evidence, and the judge could then
sort fact from fiction.
Three of Judge Walker’s factual findings
stand out:
• First, he rejected the assertion that kids
need a married mom and dad, and that
restricting marriage to different-sex couples
ensures that more kids are raised in that kind
of household. Instead, the evidence at trial
showed that “same-sex parents and opposite-
The Stonewall Advocate
sex parents are of equal quality,” and “Propo-
sition 8 does not make it more likely that
opposite-sex couples will marry and raise
offspring biologically related to both par-
ents.” State courts addressing challenges to
parenting restrictions have come to the same
conclusions (based on the same evidence),
but it’s great to have a federal court reinforce
these findings.
•Second, the judge held that there is no
material difference between same-sex and
different-sex relationships: “Same-sex
couples are identical to opposite-sex couples
in the characteristics relevant to the abil-
ity to form successful marital unions. Like
opposite-sex couples, same-sex couples have
happy, satisfying relationships and form deep
emotional bonds and strong commitments to
their partners. Standardized measures of rela-
tionship satisfaction, relationship adjustment
and love do not differ depending on whether
August 2010
a couple is same-sex or opposite-sex.”
•Third, Judge Walker held that the Prop 8
Proponents could not identify any factually
verifiable way in which allowing same-sex
couples to marry would harm different-sex
couples. Indeed, when the judge pressed the
lead lawyer for the Proponents about how
straight people would be harmed, he re-
sponded: “Your honor, my answer is: I don’t
know. I don’t know.”
Those questions - whether gay people are
bad for kids, whether our relationships are
the same or different from those of straight
people, and how exactly allowing us to marry
would harm heterosexual marriages - are key
touchstones of the marriage debate all across
the country. To have them not only answered,
but demolished on the facts after a full trial,
is a turning point in the national discussion of
this issue.

* Reminder: August General Meeting

Tuesday, August 17th at 6:30 p.m.
at Ojeda’s Restaurant

P.O. Box 192305

Dallas, TX 75219
214-506-DEMS
www.stonewalldemocratsofdallas.org
The Stonewall Advocate is a monthly pub-
lication of the Stonewall Democrats of
Dallas. To contact the editor, e-mail Ken-
neth Denson at kenneth.denson@stone-
walldemocratsofdallas.org. No portion of
this newsletter may be reproduced without
permission.
President Erin Moore
Vice President Jay Narey
Treasurer Mike McCue
Secretary Kenneth Denson
SDD Annual Memberships:
$35 General Membership
$120 Truman Level
$300 Jefferson Level
$600 Kennedy Level
$1,200 Roosevelt Level
To join or renew, visit
www.stonewalldemocratsofdallas.org