For Immediate Release - May 23, 2010: Cleveland, OH - On May 20, 2010, Cleveland Stonewall Democrats, the voice of LGBT Democrats in greater Cleveland, voted to endorse Lee Fisher for U.S. Senate and Betty Sutton for the U.S. House of Representatives, District 13. CSD is proud to stand with a long-time ally and friend of the LGBT Community, Lt. Governor Lee Fisher after his victory in the May Primary Election. Lt. Governor Fisher has a long record of fighting for equality, which stands in stark contrast to his Republican opponent, and he will provide Ohio yet another progressive voice in the U.S. Senate. Cleveland Stonewall Democrats is also proud to support these two pro-equality Democrats. Rep. Sutton has been a consistent voice for LGBT rights in Congress and CSD will work hard to re-elect her and ensure her progressive voice continues to represent the 13th District.
All prior endorsement from the May 4th Primary Election carry through to the November 2, 2010 General Election. For a complete list of endorsements and for the CSD calendar of events visit www.clevelandstonewalldemocrats.org
CSD will be considering endorsements for the Cuyahoga County Council and Executive at the July 22, 2010 meeting

• General Election Guide


• Candidate Website Links

Cleveland Stonewall Democrats endorse pro-equality Democrats for May 4, 2010 Primary Election.

For Immediate Release - March 22, 2010: Cleveland, OH - On March 18, 2010, members of Cleveland Stonewall Democrats, the voice of LGBT Democrats in greater Cleveland, voted to endorse several candidates running in federal, statewide executive and judicial, Ohio legislative and county judicial races for the May 4th, 2010 Primary Election. Cleveland Stonewall Democrats President Rob Rivera commented: "Cleveland Stonewall Democrats is proud of its open and fair endorsement process. We will work hard to elect all of our endorsed candidates, especially our statewide candidates who stand with us. We continue to welcome any pro-equality Democrat to engage the LGBT community and join the fight for more inclusive communities." Regarding the contested U.S. Senate race, Rivera stated: "After serious and thoughtful discussion and debate that reflected support for both candidates, the members of Cleveland Stonewall Democrats voted to support Jennifer Brunner, an advocate for full LGBT equality her entire political career, and work for her victory." The endorsements continue through to the November 2, 2010 General Election.

Cleveland Stonewall Democrats will work to elect the following endorsed candidates:

For United States Senate: Jennifer Brunner
For U.S. House of Representatives, 11th District: Marcia Fudge

For Ohio Governor/Lt. Governor: Ted Strickland & Yvette McGee Brown
For Ohio Attorney General: Richard Cordray
For Ohio Auditor: David Pepper
For Ohio Secretary of State: Mary Ellen O Shaughnessy
For Ohio Treasurer: Kevin Boyce
For the Ohio Supreme Court, Chief Justice: Eric Brown
For the Ohio Supreme Court: Mary Jane Trapp

For Ohio Senate, District 21: Shirley Smith
For Ohio State Senate, District 23: Michael Skindell*
For Ohio Senate, District 25: Nina Turner
For Ohio House of Representatives, District 7: Kenny Yuko
For Ohio House of Representatives, District 9: Barbara Boyd
For Ohio House of Representatives, District 10: Robin Belcher*
For Ohio House of Representatives, District 13: Nickie J. Antonio*
For Ohio House of Representatives, District 14: Mike Foley
For Ohio House of Representatives, District 16: Rosemary Palmer
For Ohio House of Representatives, District 17: Kelli Kay Perk

For Judge of the Court of Appeals, 8th Dist, FTC 1/2/2011: Melody J. Stewart
For Judge of the Court of Appeals, 8th Dist, FTC 1/3/2011: Kathleen Anne Keough
For Judge of the Court of Appeals, 8th Dist. FTC 2/9/2011: Eileen Gallagher
For Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, General Division FTC1/8/2011: Cullen Sweeney
For Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, General Division FTC1/11/2011: Bridget M. McCafferty
For Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, General Division FTC1/12/2011: Eileen T. Gallagher
For Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division FTC 1/18/2010: Diane M. Palos
For Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division FTC 1/1/2011: Peter M. Sikora
For Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division FTC 1/2/2011: Kristin W. Sweeney


Further endorsements will be considered for Cuyahoga County Executive and Cuyahoga County Council races at the July 22, 2010 general meeting, 7:00 P.M. at the LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland, 6600 Detroit Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44102.

About Cleveland Stonewall Democrats
Cleveland Stonewall Democrats is one of more than 90 national affiliates of the National Stonewall Democrats, a national organization of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Democrats and allies. Cleveland Stonewall Democrats is devoted to secure equal rights for all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Toward this mission, the organization is committed to implement the following action plan:
- Engage voters to elect Democratic candidates who support issues of importance to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community;
- Energize the LGBT community to provide financial and volunteer support for LGBT and LGBT-supportive Democratic candidates; and,
- Advocate for public policy that ensures equal rights and protections for all Americans.

For more information about these endorsement and to learn how you can be involved and helpful, contact Rob Rivera, President or Kate Kennedy, Vice President for Political Strategy. Also, be sure to visit our website (www.clevelandstonewalldemocrats.org) for more information about the candidates and election activities.

CSD's First Round of Endorsements for Election 2010

At the February 18, 2010 meeting the membership of CSD voted to endorse the following candidates for the May 4, 2010 Primary Election:

Ohio House District 10: Robin Belcher
Ohio House District 13: Nickie Antonio - www.nickieantonio.com
Ohio Senate District 23: Michael Skindell - www.michaelskindell.org

Our next endorsement meeting for federal offices, statewide offices, remaining Ohio House and Senate races and judicial races is Thursday, March 18th at 6pm at the LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland, 6600 Detroit Road, Cleveland.

For more information: www.clevelandstonewalldemocrats.org

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.