..::Nebraska Democratic GLBT Caucus - News and Announcements::..

November 16, 2004

Dear Lancaster County Democrats:

November 2nd was a difficult day for all Democrats. Within our state, we faced the defeat of Matt Connealy, a well qualified, balanced candidate, and Nancy Thompson, another fine candidate. The most disappointing loss was Senator John Kerry for president.

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered (LGBT) community grieves over these Democratic losses probably more than any other constituency because we were, once again, used by the Christian right-wing for manipulative, political purposes. We have worked side by side in the campaign trenches with other Democrats to advance our shared vision of what America was intended to be and, we believe, can be: A nation that holds every citizen equal before the law, not the theocratic state where the wealthy 1% hold sway over the majority of taxpaying, unrepresented working people, as Republicans envision.

The Nebraska Democratic Party LGBT Caucus wishes to remind Democrats that it was not our community who initiated the constitutional amendment to forever ban marriage equity throughout the country. This was done by self-righteous Republicans for the very clear purpose of enraging the Christian right-wing into coming out in force to the polls on election day. This strategy was obviously quite successful.

The LGBT community continues to endure an onslaught of misinformation based on fear and ignorance and a desire to silence our voice within any and all democratic processes whether they be local ordinances in select urban areas, statewide initiatives barring our right to access basic human rights that all Americans regardless of ethnicity take for granted, or nationally through a Federal amendment essentially disenfranchising LGBT families from constitutional protections afforded to every other American citizen.

During this time of increased polarization of America, it would be easy to embrace the idea that the Democratic Party's support of the LGBT community and other minorities is detrimental to the Party. Many pundits have tossed the idea around that the Democratic Party is somehow limited by "special interest" groups. This letter is written to communicate that the LGBT community, women, Native Americans, African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, the differently abled, Labor, and others are NOT "special interest" groups. We are a part of the fabric of America. In fact, when taken together, we are the majority of Americans and certainly, the majority of Democrats.

When reviewing the campaign of our opposition, the road to their success can be reduced to one strategy. That strategy was the consistent, vocal embracing of the Republican Party base. That base is the Christian right-wing. Because that base's access to the ballot box was ensured from every Christian fundamentalist pulpit and never called into question, because the issues that the Christian right-wing care about were never forgotten, and because that base was organized and supported by the GOP corporate financiers, President Bush won a second term. Considering this, we suggest that the Democratic Party seriously reevaluate its position regarding its inconsistent support of its base.

Many minorities, particularly, in Ohio and Florida, never got to exercise their right to vote due to insufficient organizing, lack of attention to ensuring access to the ballot box on November 2nd, and most importantly, a general lack of embracing the issues that minorities, women, and the LGBT community care about. In Florida, many African Americans were inappropriately purged from the voter rolls. In Ohio, long lines caused working people to be forced to return to their employment unable to vote. Generally, LGBT voters received little in the way of organizational support. Women's issues seem to have been forgotten. This, combined with the false perception that minorities, women and the LGBT community are single issue voters, caused the Democratic Party to continue to court Republican voters that are unlikely to ever cross party lines and vote Democratic. Hence, the majority in this country lost their voice and, as a result, the Democratic Party lost.

Ultimately, all politics are local. Thus, we encourage the Nebraska Democratic Party to embrace its base, and to continue the important work of rebuilding our party. Steve Achelpohl, Barry Rubin and the entire staff and volunteers of the Nebraska Democratic Party are to be commended for their dedicated work in rebuilding the Party in this state. In spite of the bad news on November 2nd, we did gain seats in the Unicameral.

Lancaster County Democrats are particularly to be commended for their untiring organizing and campaigning. Locally, we have a re-energized party led by young people who are on a mission to modernize our party, allowing all of us to discuss and support the issues that impact our daily lives. This rebirth gives us much hope that the future will indeed be better. At the same time, we must pay attention to huge voting blocs that essentially remain untapped in our state and community. This includes not only the LGBT community, but Hispanics, Asians, African Americans, Native Americans, the differently abled, women, SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, SMALL FARMERS, and others.

The LGBT Caucus is looking forward to the development of more caucuses addressing the needs of these constituencies. In fact, we offer our experience to help mentor any of these constituencies in the development of their own caucuses. As these caucuses grow, increase their networks of communication and support, raise funds, and develop a voice, you will find that none of us are single issue groups. In fact as we have commenced the work of organizing the LGBT Caucus, among the issues we have found to be priorities are the No Child Left Behind Act (we have a lot of mothers and teachers in our caucus), the war in Iraq (we have a lot of Vietnam vets and currently serving military personnel in our caucus), and the economy (we work, too.) Though it is important that we as the LGBT community address the attack upon our families from the right-wing, we do see the larger picture.

Many, if not most LGBT people, have consistently placed the interests of others before ourselves for many, many years. Least we forget, it was Bayard Rustin, a gay man, who was among the primary organizers of the March on Washington in 1963 that helped win civil rights for African Americans. Least we forget, it was Del Martin, a lesbian woman, who is the mother of the domestic violence movement saving women of all backgrounds from abuse. Ms. Martin published "Battered Wives" in 1977, among the first books exposing pervasive spousal abuse in the United States. (She and her partner of more than 50 years, Phyllis Lyon, were the first couple to be married in San Francisco earlier this year.) As you get to know the LGBT community, you will find we have put everyone before us. Please remember this as the present attacks upon LGBT community reach the depths of the McCarthy/Wherry era (and it will.) The LGBT community will always be there for freedom and democracy. Do not be persuaded by this recent loss to abandon us. In the final analysis, anyone can be accused of being gay. If the rights of the LGBT community are considered expendable, then the rights of everyone will be placed in jeopardy.

In closing, I want to once again express the LGBT Caucus' commitment to advancing Democratic principles, candidates and goals in the state of Nebraska and Lancaster County so that we all may truly share and participate in "the good life."

Sincerely,

Lin Quenzer
LGBT Caucus Chair

Barbara A. Baier
LGBT Caucus Secretary