An email alert issued several weeks ago by the National
Stonewall Democrats spurred Equality Herald readers and friends to action.
The letters and phone calls were apparently effective. The Executive
Committee of the Tennessee State Democratic Party (EC-TNDP) heard our
pleas and has altered their 2008 DNC Convention Delegate Selection Plan to
include a numeric goal for LGBTQ delegates to attend the 2008 Democratic
National Convention slated for Denver, Colorado. The plan calls for 85
Tennessee delegates.
The EC-TNDP had previously identified various population groups in need of
attention and encouragement to attend the 2008 convention. Those groups
included African-Americans, Hispanics, other ethnic minorities, women,
youth, lesbians and gay men, labor union members, and persons with
disabilities. However, specific goals and timetables were set only for
African Americans, Hispanics, other ethnic minorities, youth, and women.
The selection plan posted online does not include a numeric goal or
timetable for inclusion of LGBTQ delegates, but TNDP Executive Director
Kim Sasser Hayden reassures the community that two LGBTQ delegates will be
added to the list of delegates attending the convention representing
Tennessee.
“We [the Executive Committee of the TNDP] confirm that the 2008 DNC
Convention Delegate Selection Plan has been officially altered. We will
actively seek two delegates to attend the 2008 convention next year in
Denver,” assures Tennessee Democratic Party Executive Director Kim Sasser
Hayden.
The National Stonewall Democrats weigh in as their Communications
Director John Marble states, "The Tennessee Democratic Party has taken an
important step in engaging LGBT
Tennesseans. In the future, we would hope that the state party sets a numerical
goal that is accurately reflective of our population in
the
state. Still, this allows our community an avenue to engage Democrats on
issues that are important to the stability of our families. This new goal
is an opportunity to strengthen our party and communicate how important
Democratic values are."
While the actual target number is small, it is an historic step toward
full recognition by the Tennessee Democratic Party.
Minnesota’s Rick Stafford, chair of the DNC LGBT Americans Caucus and DNC member worked diligently and closely with the TNDP to bring about this
change.
“The outpouring by the LGBT Democratic Tennessee community was great in
their advocacy that it be included in the presidential nominating national
delegate selection process for their state Democratic Party. Under new
rules by the Democratic National Committee for LGBT inclusion, hundreds of
average LGBT Tennesseans asked the state party for a new direction and to
be true partners in the Tennessee Democratic community with numerical
goals for LGBT representation at the 2008 Denver conclave--something that
hasn't happened ever in past Tennessee delegations.
“While State Democratic Chair should be commended for his efforts to
establish a numerical goal for LGBT representation, it is disappointing
that the goal number falls short in reflecting the actual electoral
support the LGBT community in Tennessee provides to Democratic candidates.
“Be assured that during the final review process of state delegate plans
by the Democratic National Committee, it will be a priority of the LGBT
DNC Caucus to make sure that the goals are reviewed for fairness in
interpretation of the Rule that the level of participation ‘indicated by
their presence within the Democratic electorate’," says Stafford.
The EC-TNDP had previously identified various population groups in need of
attention and encouragement to attend the 2008 convention. Those groups
included African-Americans, Hispanics, other ethnic minorities, women,
youth, lesbians and gay men, labor union members, and persons with
disabilities. However, specific goals and timetables were set only for
African Americans, Hispanics, other ethnic minorities, youth, and women.
crats weigh in as their Communications
Director John Marble states, "The Tennessee Democratic Party has taken an
important step in engaging LGBT
Tennesseans. In the future, we would hope that the state party sets a numerical
