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Anthony Woods Raises More Than $100K in Q1 of CA-10 Campaign

Fabulous news to report on Anthony Woods. In the first two months of his first campaign, the West Point graduate who earned the Bronze Star serving in Iraq and discharged under the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy has raised more than $100,000 for the recently scheduled Special Election in California’s 10th Congressional District.

Woods is running to replace the outgoing Rep. Ellen Tauscher in the East Bay. For the fundraising quarter that ended June 30th, the two tour Iraq War Veteran also recruited more than 800 donors, more than "more than twice the number of donors as Lt. Governor John Garamendi", according to numbers released by the Garamendi.

Key to Woods fundraising success: The Facebook and Twitter generation. Woods has organized more than 4,700 supporters on Facebook, described as "more than every other CD 10 candidate combined."

If you have never heard Anthony Woods speak, he is incredible. AFTER THE JUMP, Woods talks to AMERICAblog's Joe Sudbay. If you can, please donate to Anthony Woods' campaign or his ACTBlue page. Join Anthony Woods on Facebook or follow him on Twitter (@Woods4Congress). Wouldn't it be great to have a member of Congress who is black, gay, a veteran and knew what it was like to grow up without health care?

Thanks LANE HUDSON (@TlaneHudson)

Anthony Woods in WaPo: Speaks Out Against DADT, Prop 8 Racism

The latest on Anthony Woods, the West Point graduate who earned the Bronze Star serving two tours in Iraq and was discharged under the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. Woods is running in a special election to replace the outgoing Rep. Ellen Tauscher in CA-10 and is profiled in the Washington Post where he says DADT is the least of President Obama's problems.

Woods tells WaPo: "Of all the huge problems that he's confronting, I actually think this one is the easiest. Look, we're a country at war fighting in two different places and trying to combat terrorism all around the world. We need every able-bodied American who wants to serve their country to be allowed."

Woods also shared his frustration on the ongoing race-baiting in the aftermath of Proposition 8a—such as these comments earlier in a post on Lt. Dan Choi, also discharged under DADT. "It's going to be defeated in the future when we build a coalition of African Americans and Hispanics and folks from every swath of life in California. ... It's not at all helpful for the LGBT community, right or wrong, to scapegoat the African American community. That's the exact group of people who you need to speak to immediately and get them on board. What I hope I can do in the future is be a bridge for that. I'm a member of both of those communities and that's how we're going to be able to start speaking to each other in a language we both understand."

Last night was the end of the fundraising quarter for congressional candidates. There's going to be considerable focus on Woods' numbers, so, if you can, please donate to Anthony Woods' campaign or his ACTBlue page.

If you have never heard Anthony Woods speak, he is incredible. AFTER THE JUMP, Woods talks to AMERICAblog's Joe Sudbay. If you can, please donate to Anthony Woods' campaign.

 

Minnesota Supreme Court Certifies Franken Winner in Senate Race

Some eight months after the November 2008 election, the Minnesota Supreme Court declares Democrat Al Franken the winner of the state’s fiercely contested U.S. Senate election. The unanimous decision clears the way for Franken to be seated.

Politico notes Republican challenger Norm Coleman still has the option to "seek a review from the U.S. Supreme Court or file a whole new case in U.S. District Court." Coleman apparently "accepted the loss in a press conference shortly after the decision was announced", the Huffington Post reports.

Franken becomes  the 60th Democrat in the U.S. Senate. With Franken and the usual support of two independents, Democrats should have enough votes to overcome Republican filibusters.

Since the Democrats have their "60 votes" now, will we get movement on hate crimes, ENDA and some other gay rights legislation? Or will still afraid that "Democrats" like Nelson, Lincoln, and Bayh will support GOP filibusters? UPDATE: Coleman Concedes: "We have a new United States Senator."

Michelle Obama in "Manner Aktuell"

Achtung, baby! First Lady Michelle Obama is profiled in the Pride issue of Männer Aktuell, the glossy German homostyle magazine. The pdf (en Deutsch) is here.

As best as we can determine, the article discusses her style, the new German translation of Liza Mundy's Michelle Obama, A Life, and the first lady's efforts on gay rights. There's also discussion on M. Obama's much-applauded "From Selma to Stonewall" speech at last year's DNC's Gay & Lesbian Leadership Council Gala where she was the keynote speaker.

In related news: San Francisco-based activist Michael Petrelis reports a conversation during the First Lady's recent trip to the Bay Area. Mrs. Obama assured a married gay couple the Defense of Marriage Act "will" be repealed soon. The Justice Department's recent highly offensive motion to dismiss a DOMA challenge has served as a lightning rod for recent activism. Numerous high profile gays—and now former party chairman Howard Dean—have announced they will not attend this year's benefit.

PDF (en Deutsch) here.

Howard Dean Will Not Attend Thursday's DNC's LGBT Fundraiser

Ben Smith at Politico reports former Democratic National Committee Chairman Gov. Howard Dean has a last-minute "family commitment" that will prevent him from appearing at tomorrow's high-profile gay DNC fundraiser hosted by Vice President Joe Biden.

Dean was one of the four announced co-hosts at the event. It's safe to assume the event has been on his schedule for months.

Prominent gays are pulling out of the $1,000 a plate fundraiser in response to the Justice Department's highly offensive motion to dismiss a challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act. AFTER THE JUMP, watch Dean on Rachel Maddow last week when he called the DOJ a "huge mistake" and warned you "cannot talk about gay Americans the way they were talked about in this brief."

Marriage Equality on the Agenda in Paterson's Special Senate Session?

After a two-week paralysis in the New York Senate where Democrats and Republicans have fought over control, Gov. David Paterson orders a special session and says "the People's business will resume at 3 o'clock" today. But it is unclear if a vote on same-sex marriage will happen anytime soon.

Gay City News reports: "The governor stepped up to quell the chaos in the Senate two days after news surfaced that Senator Thomas K. Duane, the out gay Chelsea Democrat leading the fight for marriage equality, sent a letter to his Democratic colleagues complaining that the issue had fallen off the radar of his conference’s leadership ever since the June 8 Republican coup. Four of Duane's colleagues told Gay City News that it is now up to the governor to insist that the issue be restored to the front burner, while Brooklyn Senator John Sampson, newly installed as the Democratic conference leader, voiced uncertainly as to whether marriage equality would in fact make it to the floor for a vote."

The governor adds the special session will be called "every day until the people's business is discharged and we will be moving on to issues of reform, fiscal discipline and also civil rights." The Daily News adds Paterson "did not specifically say 'gay marriage,' but he has been couching the legalization of same-sex marriage as a civil right since he first unveiled his program bill in April."

The conventional wisdom is that Paterson trying to "buy some time" for Senate Democrats to prevent Ruben Diaz Sr.—the arch-conservative anti-gay Pentecostal minister and Bronx senator—from "going nuclear."

Confirmed: White House Will Host LGBT Stonewall "Celebration"

Few details are released and the guest list is not announced, but the White House confirms earlier reports the Administration will host an end-of-month reception for power gays, described to the New York Times as a "celebration akin ... to St. Patrick’s Day or Cinco de Mayo."

As advocates for gays and lesbians intensify their criticism of the White House, President Obama has invited some of their leaders to an East Room reception next Monday to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion, the 1969 Greenwich Village demonstrations that gave birth to the modern gay rights movement.

The White House has not publicized the reception, and officials did not respond to e-mail requests for comment. But gay leaders from here and around the country said they had received either telephone calls from the White House or written invitations to the event, and were told Mr. Obama is expected to speak.

Some said it would take more than a reception to change their view that Mr. Obama has not been aggressive enough in pursuing gay rights. ... Whether Mr. Obama will address the complaints at Monday’s reception is unclear. One person who received the invitation said the White House was billing the event as a celebration, akin to the festive affairs the administration holds on St. Patrick’s Day or Cinco de Mayo. Another said the invitation included an offer to bring a guest. “They want people to understand that their partners are welcome,’’ said this person.

White House spokesman Shin Inouye says the event has been "long planned" and is an opportunity "to recognize the accomplishments of LGBT Americans."

In related news: John Aravosis at AMERICAblog reports the White House Deputy Chief of Staff and political director held a conference call earlier today with the "dozen or so" members of the Democratic National Committee's gay caucus. "Judging by the report I got from someone who was on the call, things went pretty much how the White House wanted them to go. 'What a waste of time. They took 3 questions, two of which were uncritical.'

The conference call was scheduled to respond to the growing unrest over the Justice Department's incendiary motion to dismiss a challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act, and, a highly-publicized boycott of this week's gay Democratic fundraiser.

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Los Angeles Mayor Villaraigosa Will Not Run for Governor

Very unexpected political developments in California. Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa reveals he will not run for governor to replace the outgoing and term-limited Arnold Schwarzenegger.  

The mayor tells CNN's Wolf Blitzer that he wants to devote his full attention to Los Angeles, which is facing its worst fiscal crisis in decades. Villaraigosa says: "Cities are on the frontlines of the challenges facing us in terms of the economic crisis. Here in the City of LA, 12.5% unemployment rate, 21,000 people have lost their home over the last 2 years, we're facing a unprecedented and historical budget deficit of $530 million dollars. I feel compelled to complete what I started out to do."

The Los Angeles Times notes that Villaraigosa’s decision adds "a dash of clarity to the race for the 2010 Democratic gubernatorial nomination" which appears will be between state Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. Brown has yet to say if he will run. Newsom aggressively launched his campaign on Twitter, YouTube and Facebook in April.

National Black Justice Coalition Pulls Out of DNC's LGBT Fundraiser

The Democratic National Committee's LGBT Leadership Gala promises to be not-so-gala and a lonely affair. The number of prominent gays on the guest list continues to shrink in response to the Justice Department's incendiary motion to dismiss a challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act. The National Black Justice Coalition, the nation's only advocacy organization for black LGBTs, will not attend, Deputy Director Jason Bartlett tells On Top Magazine.

"A leaked email of GLBT dignitaries confirmed for the DNC event includes the name of Alexander Robinson, the NBJC's former executive director who stepped down on June 1. Barlett, who is also a Connecticut state representative, confirmed no NBJC board member would attend the controversial event, but added that was not a formal endorsement of a DNC boycott. 'I don't know of any board members that are intending on going,' Barlett said."

Jason Bartlett became the first openly gay black state legislator in the nation in February 2008.

On Thursday evening, openly gay Reps. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Barney Frank (D-MA) keynoted a fundraiser for NBJC. Baldwin, Frank and Jared Polis, the openly gay Colorado congressman, will co-host the gay Democratic fundraiser next week in Washington.  Vice President Joe Biden is the keynote speaker. Stampp Corbin, a San Diego City Commissioner and former Co-Chair of the Obama LGBT Leadership Council during the presidential campaign, announced on Thursday he will not attend the event. National Gay & Lesbian Task Force Executive Director Rea Carey and Attorney Mary Bonauto of Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders both announced Friday they will also not attend.

UPDATE: Openly gay DNC Treasurer Andrew Tobias now tells donors "to expect protesters at the posh $1,000 a head gay fundraiser" and is trying to "spin the protests as something fun that the donors can join."

H/T: Pam's House Blend

Baldwin, Frank to Address Gay Group Tonight [OTM]

Former Obama LGBT Leadership Council Co-Chair Stampp Corbin Drops Out of DNC Fundraiser

This is major. Stampp Corbin, one of the leading gay supporters of President Barack Obama and the former Co-Chair of the Obama LGBT Leadership Council during the presidential campaign, announces he will not attend the Democratic Party's LGBT fundraiser scheduled next week. Corbin, who is a San Diego City Commissioner and one of the most prominent black gay elected officials in the country, is only the latest high-profile gay not to support the event due to the Justice Department's inflammatory motion to dismiss a challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act.

Corbin explains his reasons in an eloquent op-ed entitled "The DOMA Brief Ruined Everything." It reads in part:

The president says he is a “fierce advocate” for LGBT rights. Really? I don’t think comparing a marriage to my partner, to marrying my niece or sister, is being my fierce advocate. I expect the president will try to distance himself from the brief and even the press statement, but it is too late. If how I feel, as one of the president’s most ardent supporters, is any indication, Obama is in for a world of trouble over the next year with the LGBT community.... Unfortunately, I will see everything that the Obama administration does for LGBT Americans through the lens of the DOMA brief. Meaning, I will be waiting for the other proverbial shoe to drop, while praying President Obama delivers on his promises.

Next week, I am boycotting the Gay and Lesbian Leadership Council Democratic National Committee event honoring Vice President Biden to drive home my discontent. Many other prominent LGBT donors have also joined in the boycott. Is the announcement of benefits for LGBT federal employees to squash the boycott and the general uproar? Hmm…In politics, money talks. It is unlikely that Obama just put together this announcement in the last week to throw a bone to my community; it has been in the works for many weeks. I would have celebrated loudly had this been announced before the DOMA debacle, but now I will only give polite, muted applause. That pesky DOMA brief has ruined everything.

Mr. President, your DOMA mistake awakened a sleeping giant. He is mad as hell and is not going to take it anymore. You better get LGBT affirming legislation moving quickly or the coffers of the LGBT community will be slammed shut on the fingers of your administration and the DNC.

This will be a significant blow to the DNC and the White House. Corbin created the first-ever LGBT specific advertising for a presidential campaign, those full-page adverts that debuted in LGBT newspapers during the primaries. He has also been one the Administration's most reliable and fiercest gay defenders.

AFTER THE JUMP, watch Stampp Corbin on CNN last Friday. Corbin debated Dan Savage—who incited a race riot in the aftermath of Proposition 8—and defended the Obama Administration's inaction on LGBT rights and tried his best not to discuss the DOMA brief. "We were discussing 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'," Corbin tells Savage. "Not DOMA or that brief!" My, what a difference a week makes.