By Karen Ocamb

Congressmember Maxine Waters and Stonewall Democrats Executive Director Eric Stern

If the energy level at the 2005 Stonewall National Convention in San Diego Aug. 26-28 was any indication, the LGBT Democrats and their allies are prepped and ready to do battle in next year's Congressional races.

But upon returning home, their attention turned not to upcoming political battles but to the mounting devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina.

"We're not thinking of it as a political issue," Stonewall Communications Director John Marble told IN by phone Sept. 2. "We have reached out to our Stonewall members in the area and have encouraged members in surrounding states not only to donate, but to open their homes to victims of the hurricane. Now that we have resources and can do rapid responses by geographic districts, as Americans we have started to use our resources to help. Additionally, some of our members have a problem with donating to the Red Cross because of their ban on accepting blood from gay men, so we're suggesting different ways of contributing -- whether through AmericCares or the Rainbow World Fund which takes LGBT resources and applies them directly to tragedies."

A Take Action alert entitled "Texas is Big Enough for our Neighbors" encouraged members to participate in MoveOn.org's Hurricane Housing project (www.hurricanehousing.org).

"As you may know, the nation is looking to Texas to help care for those among us who need help. We have always known Stonewall Democrats in the Lone Star State for their big hearts and welcome arms," wrote Executive Director Eric Stern. "Tens of thousands of hurricane victims are being sent to shelters in Texas that are already beginning to be overwhelmed. The Astrodome is at capacity. We are asking you -- or your local Stonewall chapter -- to consider housing our fellow Americans in this time of need. Please join us in a partnership with MoveOn.org to help house those displaced. Do you have a spare bed, couch, or room to offer those who are in need? If you do, this is an opportunity to display the patriotism of the LGBT community and the Stonewall Democrats." Marble said a similar e-mail would be sent to members in Arkansas, Oklahoma, northern Alabama, and Mississippi.

Ironically, one of the strongest themes to resound throughout the Stonewall convention was the organization's ability to turn out grassroots foot soldiers in local races.

"We will not apologize for standing up for our civil rights," openly gay San Diego Acting Mayor Toni Atkins said at the convention's opening night reception honoring Congressmembers Maxine Waters and Bob Filner. "You are the grassroots...and we are part of the American fabric in history."

Filner, who has a long history of fighting for civil rights, said he would face opposition in the Democratic primary from termed out conservative California Assemblymember Juan Vargas who voted "no" on AB 19, the first marriage equality bill. He said he expects Vargas to try to use Filner's LGBT support as a wedge issue in the campaign. "This is a struggle for the soul of the Democratic Party."

"I'm inspired to be in an atmosphere of such activism," Waters said. "I've been in politics long enough to really appreciate what I see here tonight."

Waters also pledged to make personal visits on behalf of openly gay Native American Jack C. Jackson Jr., who is a candidate for Arizona's 1st Congressional District in 2006 (www.backjackon.com). Jackson said he was recruited for the race by Congressmember Rahm Emanuel, former political director in the Clinton administration.

Other hits of the convention were openly gay state Sen. Christine Kehoe, state Senator Liz Figueroa, a candidate for lieutenant governor, and Donna Frye, the "surfer" environmentalist candidate for San Diego mayor. "One of the most important things I've learned from the governor is that I'm taller than him," said Kehoe who spoke at a luncheon. Figueroa, who will face State Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi, talked about her support for marriage equality and promised to "go up and down the state, speaking in Spanish, speaking to other grandmothers, speaking to Católicos, speaking to anybody about marriage equality, human dignity, human compassion and love."

Frye, known for being outspoken, prompted hoots of laughter when she scolded San Diego gays for their curious reaction to her support. "We don't know if Donna Frye can win because she supports our issues," Frye recalled them saying. "What's a girl to do?"

Openly gay Palm Springs Mayor Ron Oden struck a hard note. "People think that because we're all gay, we're all alike. Guess what. We ain't," Oden told the lunch crowd. "I did better than the racist the party endorsed."

LGBT allies also looked for support. The Alliance for a Better California (www.betterca.com), an alliance of teachers, firefighters, health-care workers, and labor organizations, asked for help in defeating Prop. 75 and Prop 76, initiatives placed on the costly Nov. 8 special election ballot by GOP Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

"We will be standing arm and arm with you to beat down the anti-gay marriage amendment next year," said Mary Grillo, executive director of SEIU Local 2028. "But this year labor needs your support."

Evan Wolfson conducted an important briefing on marriage, an issue that has divided the community and many in the Democratic Party, arguing that the LGBT community must stand for marriage

equality. (Marble told IN that a transcription of Wolfson's briefing will eventually be posted on their Web site

www.stonewalldemocrats.org.) "We need to strengthen our relationships with our allies," Stern said. "But the in-fighting has to stop. We're all in this together, if we want to win."

Immediately following the convention, the Stonewall Young Democrats of Los secured a resolution from the conservative Democratic Party of San Fernando Valley in support of marriage equality. The resolution was initiated by the L.A. chapter of Parents, Friends and Families of Lesbians and Gays.

If there is a prize upon which Stonewall Democrats have focused, it is the defeat of anti-gay Pennsylvania. Republican Sen. Rick Santorum. For more on that effort, visit www.libertypa.org.