Vital VOICE dedicates this issue to our Non-profit of the month
Stonewall Democrats of Eastern Missouri
By popular demand, a new Stonewall Democrats affiliate started forming in summer 2010, following the demise of a previous chapter a couple of years ago. The new affiliate is called Stonewall Democrats of Eastern Missouri (SDEMs for short), and our website (http://www.stonewalldemocratsofeasternmissouri. org/) and Facebook page keep members and friends updated on our activities and news important to political active members of the LGBT community. (And shouldn’t we all be active?! It’s a matter of life, liberty, and justice.) SDEMs is dedicated to advancing equal rights for all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. SDEMs supports the Democratic Party and Democratic candidates who are committed to fairness, equality, and social justice for all LGBT persons. In the November 2010 elections, SDEMs endorsed 25 candidates, and 20 were victorious. We are forming a Legislative Affairs Committee that will keep members posted on important political issues as well as setting up an endorsement process for future elections, and we welcome your participation. In February 2011 we hosted a forum on local control of the St. Louis Police and were addressed by St. Louis City Mayor Francis Slay, Sen. Joe Keaveny, Rep. Tishaura Jones, and Alderman Shane Cohn (Ward 25). Mayor Slay also briefed our membership on the vote regarding the City earnings tax and asked for our help in defeating its elimination, since the earnings tax provides almost 40% of the city’s revenue. In March our topic was the Obama Administration’s change around the Defense of Marriage Act (recognizing it as unconstitutional and ceasing to defend it in court), as well as updating members on the Missouri Senate hearing on the Safe Schools Act. We believe there are important differences between the Democratic and Republican parties and other parties, and we seek to educate the LGBT community about what progressive Democrats are doing to promote social justice and end heterosexism and transgenderism. At the same time, we hold Democrats accountable when they let our community down, visiting with these elected officials to make sure they know we were watching and demanding improved performance. We look for ways to collaborate with allies to make an important difference on the broad array of human liberation issues, standing against racism, sexism, transgenderism, and oppression 42 | April, 2011
in any form. We will stand in solidarity with local, state, or national organizations and Democratic clubs, including the National Stonewall Democrats, that share this mission. As our name, Stonewall Democrats of Eastern Missouri, implies, we are trying to build a strong regional presence. We presently have members and friends from St. Louis City, St. Louis County, and St. Charles County, but we believe we will find partners as well in Jefferson, Franklin, and Lincoln counties as our organizing continues. We welcome contact from those even farther out, acknowledging that distance will pose challenges. Still with commitment and creativity, there is much we could do together. Locations for our meetings revolve so that no one county is consistently advantaged or disadvantaged. It is important to those forming the new affiliate that no person feel unable to participate due to lack of income. Dues have been set at three levels - $10 for a basic membership; $35 for a general membership; and $100 for a sustaining membership. All dues levels may be paid in installments, and a member has standing to vote at a meeting as soon as a membership application has been submitted and all or part of the annual dues have been paid. Members have 12 months to complete paying the annual dues, if paying in installments. Our legislative priorities for 2011 include: • Gaining additional support for the Missouri Non-Discrimination Act to end legal discrimination in employment, housing, and public accomodation. • Fighting for passage of the Safe Schools Act to end school bullying, whether based on real or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, or other characteristics (religion, appearance, ethnicity, etc.). • Advancing toward an anti-discrimination policy related to sexual orientation and gender identity in St. Louis County. • Thinking strategically about other municipalities where nondiscrimination policies may be won with good organizing. Volunteers are needed for a variety of committees, including making plans for activities in connection with the June and August Pride Festivals. To join SDEMs, see the membership tab at www.stonewalldemocratsofeasternmissouri.org or call 314.771.8882.