Central Valley Stonewall Democratic Club

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Endorsement Cycle Begins!

Campaign season for the 2012 elections is upon us which can mean only one thing: it's time for the Central Valley Stonewall Democratic Club endorsement cycle to begin!

We've been raising money so that we can endorse openly LGBT and LGBT friendly candidates who support us in our mission to advance equal rights for all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Be a part of this exciting process by attending our regularly scheduled business meeting on November 20th.  It is then that we will begin discussing the State Senate District 5, the 10^th Congressional District, and the U.S. Senate.

Leadership Awards Luncheon a Success!

CV Stonewall would like to thank everyone who joined us for our 3rd Annual Leadership Awards Luncheon last Sunday.  The event was a lot of fun and a great success!

Attendees enjoyed live entertainment from Jesse Hendricks, inspiring speech's from our awards winners, beautiful weather, and an open bar.  If you missed the event, you can still view the photos and watch Zoe Dunning's impressive and entertaining address!

 

 

We would like to give a special thanks to the Fundraising Committee for making this event happen, especially our co-chairs, Kathy Ingram and Sid Barraza.  Thanks to you, not only did we enjoy a night of fun, food, and inspiration, but we raised a lot of money to support our mission of advancing equality for all, regardless of sexual orientation.

(The fundraising committee with Zoe Dunning)

Next on the agenda: putting our fund raising dollars to work!  Our endorsement cycle begins next month at our regularly scheduled business meeting.  Don't miss it!

Dyane Burgos and Gustavo Medina win CV Stonewall scholarships

Last month the Central Valley Stonewall Democratic Club charged the Political Action Committee (PAC) with selecting two members out of a pool of applicants to receive scholarships to attend the Victory Fund Candidate and Campaign Training.  PAC is pleased to announce that they have made a decision and that Dyane Burgos and Gustavo Medina will be representing CV Stonewall at the training this year!

The Victory Fund Candidate and Campaign Training provides comprehensive, non-partisan training to present and future LGBT candidates, campaign staff, and community leaders.  Attendees learn necessary skills and strategies by engaging in tough, realistic campaign situations.  The Victory Fund has trained hundreds of openly LGBT candidates and campaign workers how to build winning campaigns.

Learn more about the Victory Fund Candidate and Campaign Training.

Dyane Burgos and Gustavo Medina will be attending the training in Houston, TX this November.   The scholarship includes the cost of registration, hotel, and airfare.  After the training, Dyane and Gustavo have committed to volunteer forty hours on a state or local campaign for a candidate endorsed by CV Stonewall.  They will also present a synopsis of the training at the next club meeting.

A place where everybody knows you're gay

A feel good story about Progress.

By Rebecca Borlik

Inspired by true local events.

 

Carla identified herself as a lesbian during her 6^th grade year after three girls swung open the bathroom door to find her kissing another girl.  This was, by the way, her first kiss.  Up until her 6^th grade year, Carla, a tomboy, was always popular with the boys. She was on a boy’s basketball team, and she always was first picked for football at recess. These feelings she had for girls however, were new.  The feelings scared her, but Carla was a girl who didn’t let fear stand in the way.

Carla grew up in a rough neighborhood, and had a tough history of hardship and loss.  She attended school at Newberry Elementary, a school that prided itself on rising test scores and academic excellence.  Newberry had its problems though.  With so much focus on test scores, there wasn’t a lot of time to teach life skills. Socially, kids bullied other kids on the playground.  Not a day went by without hearing “That’s so gay” or “Faggot” at recess or passing periods.  After those three girls opened the door on Carla’s kissing incident, Newberry’s world changed forever.

You see, once Carla admitted to herself that she was a lesbian, she didn’t care if the world knew.  She figured that kids were already gossiping about her, so why not squash the gossip by just admitting that it was true.  And she did.  She wasn’t blunt about it though.  She mostly just led by example and was kind to anyone she talked to, even if she was asking them for respect.  And so, Newberry learned to stand behind her.  If boy and girl couples were aloud to hold hands in passing periods, then Carla and her girlfriend could as well.  If boy and girl couples got in trouble for PDA, then so did Carla.  When Carla asked, against district tradition, whether she can wear a pantsuit to her 8^th grade promotion, Newberry changed their rules to accommodate for her.

Newberry’s students changed too.  After a while, kids stopped gawking at Carla walking by with her girlfriends.  Gay slurs and bullying declined slowly but steadily.  When asked why they thought that was, one leadership student said it was because “Kids didn’t want to offend Carla.”  Always a leader academically, now Carla was proving to be a quiet leader socially by advocating for equal acceptance. 

The change at Newberry is noticeable.  It is a better place to attend school, and a better place to work, all because Carla existed with such a presence.  She is a prime example of the quote,

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” ― Margaret Mead

Today, Carla is in ROTC in high school, and has plans to enlist in the army, or to go to officer school.  It is a good thing the army has overturned “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,”  because now Carla can walk into a world of acceptance, when before, she had to be the trailblazer.

CV Stonewall Leadership Award Recipients Announced!

Can you believe it’s finally fall and time for our Central Valley Stonewall Democratic Club 3rd Annual Leadership Awards Banquet!  Our theme this year is Celebrating Progress: Do Ask, Do Tell.  This year’s recipients each bring a unique quality and ability to keep the LGBT movement in motion.

Retired Navy Commander Zoe Dunning - National Leadership Award

Commander Dunning was the first and only openly gay person allowed to remain on active duty in the military prior to the end of Don't Ask/Don't Tell.

Van Ha To-Cowell, LUSD Board Trustee - Political Action

A member for many years, Van Ha works as a board member to make sure the LUSD children are supported with student alliance organizations and counseling services.  In response to the rash of suicides caused by bullying nationally , To-Cowell worked with Lincoln Unified to create a comprehensive anti-bullying program. As an ally she is magnificent at getting the point across that we are all equal.

Lela Nelson, Realtor/Activist – Community/Volunteer Effort

We applaud Lela for her years of service in the community as a past PFLAG member and continuing to work behind the scenes to enhance our community.

Shawn Crary, Big Monkey Group – Business Leader

Shawn Crary is making a big splash within the business world with his new and unique approach to marketing.  In addition to his growing new media endeavors, Shawn gives back to our community as a Board member of AIDSWalk SJ, Tidewater Art Gallery, the Miracle Mile Association and as an advisor to the newly formed San Joaquin Pride Center.

Brian Ratto – Youth Accomplishment

Brian is a student at Delta and involved in the Pride Alliance and the campus Democratic Club.  He is always a ready volunteer for our events and we think he’s on his way to creating something exciting for our LGBT youth!

Celebrating Progress: Do Ask, Do Tell will be held on Sunday, October 16, 20110 at 2:00 pm.  Click here for more details.

 

Celebrating Progress: Do Ask, Do Tell - Annual Leadership Award Luncheon

In two weeks, CV Stonewall will be holding their 3rd annual Central Valley Stonewall Leadership Award Luncheon & Fundraiser.  The theme of this year's fundraiser will be Celebrating Progress: Do Ask, Do Tell and will feature esteemed guest speaker, Commander Zoe Dunning, the first and only openly gay person allowed to remain on active duty in the military prior to the end of Don't Ask Don't Tell.  In addition to Commander Zoe Dunning, CV Stonewall is honored to host our invited guests; Stockton City Councilwoman and CA Assembly candidate Susan Eggman, Mayor Ann Johnston, CA Assemblymember Cathleen Galgiani, CA Senator Lois Wolk, and Congressman Jerry McNerney.

This event is a time to honor our national and local LGBT leaders for their service to our community.  As such, CV Stonewall will be awarding four of our community members for their outstanding achievements in the areas of political, business, community, and youth leadership.  Please consider attending in order to help celebrate the accomplishments of our award winners:

 

Shawn Crary

Business Leadership

 

Lela Nelson

Community Leadership

 

Van Ha To-Cowell

Political Leadership

 

Brian Ratto

Youth Leadership

 

The Leadership Award Luncheon will be held on Sunday, October 16th, 2:00-5:00pm at the Magnolia Mansion, University Park.  Food and beverages will be provided along with musical entertainment by Jesse C. Hendricks.  Tickets are on sale now for $45 and will be available at the door for $50.  You may purchase tickets online through ActBlue, or in person through a Stonewall member.  Sponsorships are also available, if you are interested in being a sponsor, please contact CV Stonewall for further information.

 

Zoe Dunning to be Guest Speaker at Leadership Award Luncheon

Commander Zoe Dunning will be Central Valley Stonewall’s honored guest speaker at the 3^rd annual Leadership Award Luncheon.

A decorated veteran, Zoe served 22 years in the U.S. Navy both on active duty and in the reserves. In 1993 she challenged the military’s policy prohibiting gay service and subsequently won her two year legal battle. She retired in 2007 as a Commander and holds the distinction of serving her country as an openly gay member of the U.S. military for 13 years.

Zoe has been a tireless advocate for repealing the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy and speaks across the country on the negative impacts of the law. She serves as the Governing Board Co-Chair for Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, a national non-profit dedicated to providing legal services to those impacted by the law and was instrumental in the successful repeal of the law. In recognition of her years of advocacy, Zoe was selected to stand next to President Obama as he signed the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal Act of 2010.

Commander Dunning also serves on the Victory Campaign Board, dedicated to electing openly LGBT candidates to public office, and on the board of Stanford Pride. She is a United States Naval Academy graduate, and received her MBA from Stanford University's Graduate School of Business. She resides in San Francisco with her wife, Pam.

 For more information about the event, click here.