Happy New Year from
Cleveland Stonewall Democrats

HELP ENSURE 2010 IS AS SUCCESSFUL AS 2009!

2009 was a great year in creating a more welcoming NE Ohio for the LGBT Community, including:

* The domestic partner registry opened in Cleveland
* Cleveland was awarded the 2014 Gay Games
* Cleveland, Akron and Summit County all enacted transgender inclusive antidiscrimination ordinances
* 24 of 25 CSD endorsed candidates were elected or re-elected in Election 2009 in places like Cleveland, Lakewood, East Cleveland, Shaker Heights, Cleveland Heights.
* Help CSD Celebrate 10 Years of LGBT Activism in 2010 and Help Keep the Momentum Going!
* In 2010 Cleveland Stonewall Dems will celebrate its 10th Anniversary and while we will celebrate our past we must work in 2010 to keep the momentum going.
* In 2010 help CSD work to ensure we elect and re-elect those who stand for LGBT equality!
* What is at stake in 2010 in NE Ohio and across the state?
* Ohio will hold statewide elections for U.S. Senator, Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Treasurer and Auditor
* We will elect our entire delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives, the entire Ohio House of Representatives as well as some Ohio Senate seats.
* In Cuyahoga County the first ever election of a County Executive and County Council will take place

HOW CAN YOU HELP THROUGHOUT 2010?

* Attend the Annual Meeting on January 21 @ 7pm @ The Center
* We will elect our 2010 Board and start to map out Election 2010 (more information will be sent)
* Join or renew your membership with CSD
* Get involved in committees, leadership and volunteer opportunities throughout 2010
* Run to be the precinct committee person for your neighborhood and be a progressive voice in the Democratic Party
* Help us with the endorsement process by participating in endorsement interviews, discussions and votes
* Get involved in the campaigns of candidates who stand for LGBT equality -
* CSD will be working to get volunteers plugged into the campaigns of all of our endorsed candidates
* Contribute to the CSD Freedom Fund to support endorsed candidates

FOR MORE INFORMATION: strategy@clevelandstonewalldemocrats.org

FOR MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION, THE CSD CALENDAR AND MORE INFO:
* WWW.CLEVELANDSTONEWALLDEMOCRATS.ORG
* Also find us on FACEBOOK

Cleveland Stonewall Democrats Congratulates Cleveland City Council for its Unanimous Passage of Transgender Protection

Cleveland - At 7:44 this evening the Cleveland City Council approved an ordinance protecting the employment, housing and public accommodation rights of transgendered individuals in the City. The unanimous vote was met by enthusiastic applause within Council Chambers.

Cleveland Stonewall Democrats Vice President for Political Strategy, Robert Rivera commented, "This is an historic and proud moment for the City of Cleveland and for Stonewall Democrats. Every one of our endorsed candidates not only voted for the ordinance, but took it upon themselves to play significant leadership roles in driving the ordinance toward passage."

Foremost among those Councilmen were Jay Westbrook [D-18] and Joe Cimperman [D-13], both of whom spoke in favor of passage before the vote was taken. Councilman Westbrook pointed out that "when the Mayor signs this into law tomorrow, the full weight of the City of Cleveland will be standing with . . . those who have experienced the hard hand of discrimination." Councilman Cimperman then rose and declared that this is a "fundamental issue of human rights" and although the legislation may be imperfect, it is a big step toward full equality. "We will continue to make this a city that welcomes everyone."

John Farina, Stonewall Democrats Vice President for Fundraising was asked about the unanimity of the vote and responded that "we ve worked hard to elect candidates who support equality and this past election proved to them that voting in favor of the Domestic Partner Registry had no effect on their re-election bids."

Cleveland Stonewall Democrats is particularly proud of the relationships that have been forged over the years with our endorsed candidates and look forward to building on this great moment with the other members of Cleveland City Council, as well.

Stonewall Democrats is also grateful for having the opportunity to work together with the following organizations for the successful passage of this historic legislation: TransFamily of Cleveland, the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Community Service Center of Greater Cleveland, Ask Cleveland, Equality Ohio, and the Cleveland Chapter of the ACLU.

The ordinance to protect transgendered people was introduced a year ago. Since that time 98 transgendered people lost their lives because of their gender identity. Cleveland Stonewall Democrats is proud to have enthusiastically supported the legislators who, tonight, made good on their campaign promises to do all within their elected powers to bring equality to the City of Cleveland.

THE CLEVELAND STONEWALL DEMOCRATS CONGRATULATE THE ENDORSED CANDIDATES
WHO WON ON ELECTION DAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2009:

CSD celebrates success in Election 2009 as 24 of the 25 candidates endorsed by the Cleveland Stonewall Democrats won yesterday. Additionally, the endorsed Cuyahoga County Issue 4 supporting Tri-C passed.

CSD congratulates all of the candidates who won on November 3, 2009 and we look forward to working with them and all progressive elected officials as we continue to build more inclusive and welcoming communities in Northeast Ohio.

Thank you to all who contributed to the success of these candidates with your time and financial support.

FRANK L. JACKSON - Mayor, City of Cleveland
JOE CIMPERMAN - Cleveland City Council - Ward 3
MAMIE MITCHELL - Cleveland City Council - Ward 6
JEFFREY JOHNSON - Cleveland City Council - Ward 8
MICHAEL POLENSEK - Cleveland City Council - Ward 11
ANTHONY BRANCATELLI - Cleveland City Council - Ward 12
KEVIN KELLEY - Cleveland City Council - Ward 13
BRIAN CUMMINS - Cleveland City Council - Ward 14
MATT ZONE - Cleveland City Council - Ward 15
JAY WESTBROOK - Cleveland City Council - Ward 16
DONA BRADY - Cleveland City Council - Ward 17
MARTIN J. SWEENEY - Cleveland City Council - Ward 18
BONNIE CAPLAN, ED KELLEY, CHERYL STEPHENS & MARK TUMEO - Cleveland Heights City Council
NICKIE ANTONIO & MONIQUE SMITH - Lakewood City Council At-Large
GARY NORTON - Mayor of East Cleveland
JOY JORDAN & NATHANIEL MARTIN - East Cleveland City Council
LYNN RUFFNER & ROB ZIMMERMAN - Shaker Heights City Council
MICHELLE DENISE EARLEY - Cleveland Municipal Court
CUYAHOGA COUNTY ISSUE 4 - TRI-C TAX LEVY

The LGBT Community is Hosting a Fundraiser Supporting

JOE CIMPERMAN'S RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN
for Cleveland City Council in the New Ward 3
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
5:30 - 7:30 pm
$100 Contribution
Speakeasy
(below the Bier Markt)
1948 West 25th Street
Cleveland, OH 44113

Please RSVP to Erin McIntyre at reelectjoe@gmail.com
or (216) 374-0799

Checks can be made payable to: The People for Joe Cimperman

Please note, corporate donations cannot be accepted.
Maximum contribution is $1,000 per individual and $2,000 per P.A.C.

Cleveland Stonewall Democrats announces second round of endorsements for local pro-equality Democrats for November 3, 2009 general election.
For Immediate Release - Cleveland, OH - September 18, 2009

On September 18, 2009, members of the Cleveland Stonewall Democrats voted to endorse several candidates running in local elections in communities including Cleveland, Cleveland Heights, East Cleveland, Shaker Heights and University Heights. The Cleveland Stonewall Democrats endorses the following candidates for the November 3, 2009, general election:

Cleveland City Council Ward 12 - Anthony Brancatelli
Cleveland City Council Ward 13 - Kevin Kelley
Cleveland Heights City Council - Bonnie Caplan, Ed Kelley, Cheryl Stephens, Mark Tumeo
East Cleveland Mayor - Gary Norton
East Cleveland City Council At-Large - Joy Jordan & Nathaniel Martin
Shaker Heights City Council - Lynn Ruffner & Rob Zimmerman
University Heights City Council At-Large - Phillip Robinson

The above candidates join those who were previously endorsed in July 2009 for the November 3, 2009, general election:

Cleveland Mayor - Frank Jackson
Cleveland City Council, Ward 3 - Joe Cimperman
Cleveland City Council, Ward 6 - Mamie Mitchell
Cleveland City Council, Ward 8 - Jeffrey Johnson
Cleveland City Council, Ward 11 - Michael D. Polensek
Cleveland City Council, Ward 14 - Brian Cummins
Cleveland City Council, Ward 15 - Matt Zone
Cleveland City Council, Ward 16 - Jay Westbrook
Cleveland City Council, Ward 17 - Dona Brady
Cleveland City Council, Ward 18 - Martin J. Sweeney
For Lakewood City Council, At-Large: Nickie J. Antonio and Monique Smith

About Cleveland Stonewall Democrats

The Cleveland Stonewall Democrats' club is one of more than 120 national affiliates of the National Stonewall Democrats, a national organization of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Democrats and allies. The Cleveland Stonewall Democrats are devoted to secure equal rights for all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Toward this mission, we are committed to implement the following action plan: 1) Engage voters to elect Democratic candidates who support issues of importance to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community; 2) Energize the LGBT community to provide financial and volunteer support for LGBT and LGBT-supportive Democratic candidates; and, 3)Advocate for public policy that ensures equal rights and protections for all Americans.

For more information about these endorsements and to learn how you can be involved and helpful, contact Rob Rivera, Vice President for Political Strategy at strategy@clevelandstonewalldemocrats.org or 216-374-2964.