Stonewall
The
Advocate
DISD trustee elections also top
“Our troops come from
every corner of this country -
– they’re black, white, Latino,
Asian, Native American.
They are Christian and
Hindu, Jewish and Muslim.
And, yes, we know that some
Stonewall’s Spring 2011 agenda
of them are gay. Starting
this year, no American will be Group to hold special general
forbidden from serving the
country they love because of meeting after endorsement
who they love.”
screening to ratify choices
- President Barack Obama
State of the Union By Jesse Garcia
January 25, 2011
City Council elections are not the only races
the Stonewall Democrats of Dallas will focus its
endorsement screenings on this spring, Dallas
Independent School District trustee candidates
also will be invited to screen before the LGBT
community.
Dallas ISD Elections
Three seats are up for election: District 2 (which
represents North and East Dallas – including
the Oak Lawn area north of Cedar Springs
Road), District 6 (which represents Southwest
Dallas) and District 8 (which represents Love
Field, Northwest Dallas and Central Dallas
– including the Oak Lawn area south of Cedar
Springs Road).
Dallas citizens who reside in those districts and
are interested in running may pick up candi-
dates packets at DISD’s Board Services office,
3700 Ross Ave. The filing period begins Feb.
12. Each term lasts for three years. There are
no term limits. Board trustees serve on a volun-
tary basis.
Incumbents Hon. Jack Lowe of District 2, Hon.
Carla Ranger of District 6 and Hon. Adam Me-
drano of District 8 are eligible to seek re-elec-
tion. All three voted in favor of the DISD anti-bul-
lying policy last fall, which added protections for
students on the basis of sexual orientation and
gender identity.
Stonewall Democrats “Stonewall Democrats of Dallas hopes to keep
the DISD trustee board LGBT-friendly,” said
of Dallas
Omar Narvaez, SDD president. “Favorable re-
PO Box 192305
sults in these school board races are paramount
Dallas, TX 75219 in keeping our schools safe for our LGBT kids.”
(214) 506-DEMS
stonewalldemocratsofdallas.org DISD is the 14th largest school district in the
nation with a diverse population of more than
February 2011
158,000 students, according to the district’s
website. Almost 70 different languages are
spoken in the homes of DISD students. More
than 20,000 people are employed by the district,
making DISD one of the largest employers in the
city. The district runs a budget of $1.4 billion.
Saturday, May 14, is Election Day. Early voting
takes place May 2 to 10.
Endorsement Screening
Stonewall Democrats of Dallas will make
candidate recommendations at its Endorse-
ment Screening from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Satur-
day, March 19, at the Resource Center Dallas,
Rainbow Room, 2701 Reagan St. Stonewall
members current with their membership dues as
of Feb. 17, 2011, can participate per bylaws in
the screening.
Annual memberships are $35. You can mail
your membership check to Stonewall Democrats
of Dallas, PO Box 192305, Dallas, TX 75219.
Special General Meeting
March 14 is the candidate filing deadline for City
Council and School Board Trustee races. Since
Stonewall Democrats of Dallas meets the next
day on March 15, there is not enough time to
hold an endorsement screening and ratify those
choices at the general membership meeting.
In order to avoid having to wait until April 19,
Stonewall’s Board of Directors and president
have called for a special general membership
meeting at 4 p.m., Saturday, March 19, at the
Resource Center Dallas’ Rainbow Room, imme-
diately after the endorsement screening.
“By holding the endorsement screening and a
special general meeting to ratify those choices
on March 19, endorsed candidates may use
Stonewall’s endorsement on their campaign
literature and our club can quickly start promot-
ing our choices to the public,” Narvaez said. “We
want to help our candidates by starting early.”
Bylaws allowing the board and/or president to
call a special general meeting were amended in
2010.u
Page 2
On Jan. 25, nearly 100 Stonewall Democrats of Dallas members and friends attended Stone-
wall’s State of the Union watch party held at The Brick. Members of Dallas Stonewall Young
Democrats and Organizing for America were also in attendance.
Texas Stonewall Democratic Caucus
confirms speakers for convention
Lobby Day at the Capitol
to follow convention of
Texas LGBT Democrats
By Jesse Garcia
The Texas Stonewall Democratic Caucus
confirmed two national LGBT leaders who
will speak at its upcoming convention.
Arizona state Sen. Kyrsten Sinema will
be the keynote speaker at the Welcom-
ing Luncheon on Saturday, March 5, at
the Hilton Garden Inn Downtown Austin.
The following day Mara Keisling, execu-
tive director of the National Center for
Transgender Equality, will be the keynote
speaker at the Awards Brunch.
“We’re looking forward to a truly inclusive
conference line up,” said Omar Narvaez,
Stonewall Democrats of Dallas president.
“Sen. Sinema, an openly bisexual Ameri-
can, is one of our movement’s most pow-
erful voices. Transgender leader Mara
Keisling has fought for years to make sure
the ‘T” in our community is not left behind.
Diverse points of view will make this a
great convention.”
The convention is being held at the Hilton
Garden Inn, 500 N. IH 35 in Austin.
TSDC has secured a block of rooms from
March 4 to 7. The special group rate is
$109/night (not including taxes) for a
queen size double bed room or king size
The Stonewall Advocate
Hon. Kyrsten Sinema
Arizona State Senator
bed room. Deadline to reserve this rate
is Monday, Feb. 14. To reserve, call
1-800-684-7250 and ask for the “TSDC
Caucus” rate. For the convention
schedule, visit www.texasstonewall-
democrats.org. Conference registration
fee is $75.
A “Lobby Day” is being organized by
statewide LGBT-rights organization,
Equality Texas, and is set for Monday,
March 7. Equality Texas encourages
every LGBT person to come and meet
their state representative and state
senator to advocate for pro-equality
bills. You may register to lobby at www.
equalitytexas.org. Free breakfast and
lunch will be provided.u
February 2011
News
Briefs
General Meeting
The February Meeting of the Stonewall
Democrats of Dallas will take place 6:30
p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 15, at Ojeda’s Res-
taurant, 4617 Maple Ave. Please arrive at
6 p.m. for social time. Meeting begins at
6:30 p.m. Guest speaker is Dallas Mayoral
Candidate David Kunkle.
DSYD Fundraiser
The Dallas Stonewall Young Democrats will
hold a fundraiser Saturday, Feb. 12, featur-
ing state Rep. Jessica Farrar of Houston.
VIP reception starts at 6:30 p.m., and doors
open at 7:30 p.m. There will be an open
bar, hors d’oeuvres and a live DJ. For
tickets, sponsorship opportunities and loca-
tion of private residence, visit http://www.
dallassyd.org/2011fundraiser.html.
Progressive Center Fundraiser
The Progressive Center will hold a fund-
raiser at 7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 24, at
South Side at Lamar, 1409 S. Lamar, Ste.
1021 in Dallas. Suggested donation is $50.
For more information, email Bill Amos at
bamos99@yahoo.com.
March On & GetEQUAL Fundraiser
Local director Laura McFerrin’s “March
On” documents the 2009 National Equal-
ity March through the lives of five families
who put aside their daily routine, packed up
their hopes and went to Washington, D.C.,
to demonstrate. Interviews and power-
ful speakers including Lt. Dan Choi, Lady
Gaga, Cleve Jones and Cynthia Nixon
are featured. The Dallas debut of the film
takes place at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb.
24, at Studio Movie Grill, 11170 N. Central
Expressway. Donations for entry into the
movie benefit GetEQUAL.
Membership
Last month, 15 folks either joined or
renewed with the Stonewall Democrats of
Dallas: David Bradley, L.D. Carter, Tracy
Clinton, Grady Coyle, Hon. Elizabeth
Crowder, Donald Davidson, Neil Emmons,
Phyllis Guest, Randy Johnson, Gillian
Parrillo, Jim Rogers, Richard Shampain,
Jesse Tafalla, Jr., Jesse Vallejo and James
Westbrook. Membership is only $35,
which includes memberships for the Texas
Stonewall Democratic Caucus and National
Stonewall Democrats. To join, visit www.
stonewalldemocratsofdallas.org.u
February 2011
President’s An Army of One:
Corner
by Omar Narvaez, President
Stonewall Democrats of Dallas
2011 is the year that I hope everyone
is ready to keep moving forward toward
achieving social justice for the LGBT
community. There are several ways
to get involved. We officially kicked off
our voter registration campaign. So
far we have registered 36 people and
are working toward our 2011 goal of
500 voters. If you want to get involved,
contact Voter Registration Chair Patrick
McCoy at prmccoy@gmail.com
The Endorsement Committee has
begun to meet and is preparing for the
March 19 Endorsement Screening.
For more information, contact Political
Affairs Director Tony McMullin at ad-
mmcmu@gmail.com or me at Omar@
stonewalldemocratsofdallas.org.
Nearly 100 people attended the State
of the Union watch party on Jan. 25.
Thank you to the Brick for hosting us,
and thank you Special Events Chair
Travis Gasper for putting together a
fantastic event. More events are in the
works, and Travis would love to hear
from you: travisgasper@gmail.com
Achieving social justice does not just
stop at voter registration, endorse-
ments and watch parties. We also must
promote equality by helping our youth.
Stonewall was approached by Wood-
row Wilson High School Gay/Straight
Alliance President Luis Veloz to assist
with a youth Valentine’s Day Dance.
The Stonewall Board jumped at the
request. Together with LULAC 4871,
Youth First Texas and the GSA, the
first-ever Valentine’s Day Dance for
LGBT teens and allies will be held Feb.
12 at Youth First Texas, 3918 Harry
Hines Blvd. For information regarding
volunteer opportunities or donations,
contact Jesse Garcia: Jessegarciadal-
las@gmail.com. SDD is a $50 sponsor
for the “Love Conquers All” ball.
Again, I hope you will get involved in
SDD by volunteering, participating and/
or making a donation. Everything we do
together achieves our ultimate goal of
full EQUALITY!
The Stonewall Advocate Page 3
to passing the repeal have not received
word that their discharges have been
Dallas gay man helps take stopped. Admiral Mullen and others have
given the same advice.”
down discriminatory law
By Jesse Garcia Stonewall Advocate: Walk us through
about how you were discharged.
Pepe Johnson is going back to the profes- Johnson: “According to my Army training,
sion he loves: military service. This spring you could be discharged for a statement,
will be the end of an eight-year journey an act or anything resembling a marriage
this Dallas resident undertook after being - the acronym SAM. In my case I gave a
kicked out of the Army for being gay. On statement to my commander. In my battery
the morning of Dec. 22, 2010, President - it’s like a company - our First Sergeant
Barack Obama signed into law the Don’t was looking very closely at my personal
Ask Don’t Tell Repeal Act (DADT) of 2010. life. In the civilian world it would have been
Johnson, who served as an Army Sergeant harassment. When he started asking my
E-5, stood among 500 friends questions about
former gay military, LGBT what they thought I did
leaders and congressional on my personal time,
members to witness the where I went on week-
historic moment in Wash- ends or who I might
ington, D.C. have been seeing,
crossed a line without
Johnson, a model solider asking THE question
who received “Soldier of and was harassing my
the Year” honors at Fort friends. Even under
Sill, Okla., in 2001, took DADT it was inappropri-
on the role of activist after ate. To preserve my
being discharged in 2003. personal integrity, the
In Dallas, he networked integrity of my friends
and spoke out about Former Army Sergeant and the integrity of the
the issue with local civil Pepe Johnson organization, I delivered
rights groups, including a coming out letter to
Stonewall Democrats of Dallas, to make my commander.”
DADT a priority in North Texas. Although
Congress and President Obama signed off Stonewall Advocate: What advice do
on the DADT repeal, as they say “the devil you have for those who will speak to
is in the details.” recruiters? Johnson: “Be courteous. Be
honest. Be prepared. Be patient. Don’t be
Stonewall Advocate: Although the confrontational. Recruiters are trying to do
repeal has been signed, what advice do their job and must learn and implement a
you have for lesbian, gay and bisexual new policy that is very different from what
soldiers? Johnson: “The repeal is not they have done for 17 years. If you are
complete, only the legislation allowing re- unhappy with the way you are treated by a
peal. According to the law that was passed recruiter, you can ask to talk to a differ-
by Congress, the Department of Defense ent recruiter possibly at a different station.
must develop new regulations, policies and Since the repeal has not been finalized,
training to fully implement repeal. Follow- they may not process you if you come out
ing that Congress has a 60-day review to them on your very first visit - they may
period and once those steps are complete, be obligated to tell you to come back once
so will the repeal. There isn’t a hard time- the repeal process is complete. If you were
line for this process, but President Obama, discharged because of DADT and hope to
Secretary of Defense Gates and Admiral get back into the military, remember that
Mullen have all signaled the process you must still be qualified in every other
should be ‘swift and efficient’ and they way and there aren’t any exceptions or
will not ‘dawdle.’ In the meantime service special rules because you were kicked
members should continue to respect the out. There may also be additional steps for
current law - that is, DADT - and should former service members that might take a
not come out. The Servicemembers Legal bit longer than the normal process.”
Defense Network (SLDN) continues to re-
ceive calls from service members. Individu- For the full interview, visit www.jessegar-
als in the process of being discharged prior cia.org/blog u
February 2011
Stonewall
Spotlight
featuring Pam Gerber
What are the biggest issues in America
in your opinion? The No. 1 issue in
America today is access to quality educa-
tion for all students. This would require
fundamental change in our educational
system, and the responsibility should be
shared by schools, our political leaders, tax
payers, parents and all people who want to
see America achieve its potential.
What do you do for a living? I have the
good fortune of working with the Entrepre-
neurs For North Texas, a fund of Commu-
nities Foundation of Texas that facilitates
community involvement and philanthropy
for small and mid-size companies who
have great intentions to be “good corporate
citizens” but are limited in the resources to
make it happen.
Tell us about EFNT. EFNT’s primary goal
is to make it easy for its Member Com-
panies to do good. Through organizing
PO Box 192305
Dallas, TX 75219
(214) 506-DEMS
stonewalldemocratsofdallas.org
The Stonewall Advocate is a monthly
publication of the Stonewall Democrats
of Dallas. To contact the publisher, e-
mail Jesse Garcia at jesse@jessegar-
cia.org. No portion of this newsletter
may be reproduced without permission.
President Omar Narvaez
Vice President Michael Wetter
Treasurer Mike McCue
Secretary Phyllis Guest
SDD Annual Memberships:
$35 General Level
$120 Truman Level
$300 Jefferson Level
$600 Kennedy Level
$1,200 Roosevelt Level
The Stonewall Advocate
Stonewall Member Pam Gerber serves as
executive director of Entreprenuers For North
Texas.
community service projects for its Member
Company employees and networking
events for their C-Level executives, EFNT
makes “giving back” time and cost-ef-
ficient, and frankly, good for business. We
have more than 100 Member Companies
Reminder: February General Meeting
Tuesday, Feb. 15
6 p.m. Social & 6:30 p.m. Meeting
at Ojeda’s Restaurant
Don’t forget to sign up for the Texas Stonewall Democratic Caucus Biennial Convention
taking place March 4 to 6, and Lobby Day on March 7!
Page 4
in our network and dozens of generous
sponsors who make our work possible.
How can one help with your agency? If
you know of a business leader who wants
to integrate an ethic of good corporate
citizenship into their business model and
they want to utilize their resources to make
North Texas the best place to live and
work, have them check out our website at
www.efnt.org and/or go to our Facebook
page at www.facebook.com/Entrepreneur-
sForNorthTexas to see if there is a good
fit. If there is, they can shoot me an email
at pgerber@efnt.org.
Who is the first Democrat you voted
for? Geraldine Ferraro. Oh, and that guy
who ran with her. I think his name was
Walter Mondale.
Why are you a Democrat? You may as
well ask why do I breathe air. I believe that
being a Democrat is a logical decision for
anyone who believes in an indivisible na-
tion that provides liberty and justice for all.
If you could tell President Obama one
thing, what would it be? Thank you. And
please give Michelle a hug for me.u