Monthly Newsletter of the Alice B. Toklas Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Democratic Club
March 2004

Welcome to the new dawn
Reese Aaron Isbell, Alice Newsletter Editor (Acting)

‘Dawn’ sounds a bit strong for the beginning of my role as Alice Newsletter Editor, and I certainly do not mean to create a self-importance to myself as such, but I do mean ‘dawn’ in the sense that so much of life is historic and monumental right now.  And as I take new steps in my own life, and a new role with Alice, I recognize the overall changes also occurring throughout the City and the nation.

When I was first approached to take over editing of the newsletter, I immediately said ‘No.’  But I promised I’d think about it.  And I thought.  I realized that this is an amazing year to be doing so.  2004 is what I often refer to as the Fantastic ’04.  And so far it has not disappointed.  With same-sex couples being officially married at City Hall, what better way to start off a new year, and to begin the new Dawn in our struggle for equality and respect.

2004 also brings us incredibly important elections—a right-wing Republican to oust from the White House, a liberal Democrat to re-elect to the U.S. Senate, among many others.  What better year to write about politics?

So with these thoughts, I begin my new role with you, the Alice reader.  I’m going to create new pieces for the newsletter and look forward to hearing from you on how you feel about them.  I’m beginning a Letters to the Editor section for an open forum from fellow Alice members on issues of the day.  I’m also working to create a space for our elected officials to offer their thoughts directly to Alice via this newsletter.  Finally, I’ll be including the latest headlines from around the nation in each week’s newsletter for you to find articles of interest to us each month.  I hope you like the changes and look forward to reading the newsletter each month.

Now, quickly, and very briefly, a little about me.  I come to you from Kansas City, Missouri originally where I knew John Ashcroft as my own Governor and Senator before the rest of the world was paying attention to him.  I’ve seen evil and his name is Ashcroft.  I got my start in political activism by coming out and then getting my first job at my local Planned Parenthood.  After getting a Masters in Public Policy in New Jersey, I lived in Washington, DC for four years handling state legislation for the national group Americans United for Separation of Church and State.  Then, in 1999, I made my pilgrimage to San Francisco where I could L-I-V-E.  I had no friends, no job, no money, no structure.  But San Francisco was my new home, and I loved it.  I found Alice through my new boss and friend Robert Barnes, and the rest is history.  There ya go, enough about me.

Here we are, at the Dawn of a new year, the Dawn of a new place for our GLBT movement, the Dawn of a new Mayor for our City (and Alice should be oh-so-proud of its role in his election!), and the Dawn of a new national electoral season.  Are you ready for the light and heat and wonder of this new sun?  Get yourself ready for a rockin’ good time and an awesome year, and I’ll see you next month.  Welcome to the new Dawn.

Co-Chairs Report

Rich Kowalewski & Theresa Sparks

The past few weeks in San Francisco have been incredibly exciting and historically significant.  We're feeling very disobedient, in a civil sort of way, how about you?  Mayor Gavin Newsom stunned the world when he courageously ordered the issuance of marriage licenses to same-sex couples, ending past discriminatory practices.  Mayor Newsom received strong support in this effort from Assessor-Recorder Mabel Teng, County Clerk Nancy Alfaro, and City Attorney Dennis Herrera, among others. Alice can be proud that we have supported the election of all of these fine public officials.   Joe Caruso, the Mayor's Director of Neighborhood Services, and his staff, including Alice members Jimmer Cassiol and Robert Ortega, deserve recognition for the long hours that they committed to make the Valentine's Marriage Weekend so successful. Many employees in the offices of Mayor Newsom, Assessor Teng, City Attorney Herrera, and Sheriff Mike Hennessey worked long hours without pay that weekend and the following Monday holiday.  Joe Caruso reports that over 650 floral bouquets have arrived at City Hall from all over the country simply addressed to "The Happy Couples" or "Congratulations to the Newlyweds."  It is a proud time to be a San Franciscan.

Alice is committed to standing firmly with Mayor Newsom as he is challenged by Republicans and, unfortunately, even by Democrats.  Gavin Newsom has demonstrated once again that he is a good friend of the LGBT community.  We know that Gavin Newsom ordered an end to discrimination in the issuance of marriage licenses because he believed in his heart that this was right thing to do, not because it was the politically smart thing to do.  We respect him all the more that his action was heartfelt and that he has demonstrated humility when we thank him for his act of courage.

We know that President Bush is horrified and that Laura Bush is shocked. As this column is finalized, we have learned that President Bush is officially supporting a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage as part of his 2004 campaign strategy to appease right-wing religious fundamentalists.  In announcing his support for a constitutional amendment, Bush referenced recent developments in San Francisco, Massachusetts, and "a county in New Mexico."  Mayor Newsom's response to Bush was swift: "Americans should be deeply saddened by President Bush's decision to support enshrining discrimination in our Constitution. Throughout our history, the United States Constitution has been used to expand freedom and fight discrimination.  Today President Bush has chosen a path that runs counter to our nations' most cherished values of freedom and justice."  Our Congresswoman, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, issued this response: "I strongly oppose this amendment and will work to defeat it.  The United States Constitution is not a place for political wedge issues.  The Constitution is about freedom, not about limiting freedoms.  Never before has a Constitutional amendment been used to discriminate against a group of people, and we must not start now."

Even Governor Schwarzenegger has hallucinated that: "When I was in San Francisco (Burlingame) for the Republican convention, all of a sudden, we see riots, we see protests, we see people clashing.  The next thing we know is there is injured or there is dead people.  We don't want to get to that extent."  The Governor went on "Meet the Press" and created a false impression about what is happening in San Francisco.  As Mark Leno said in his response to the Governor: "His comments were inappropriate and shameful.  There were no riots in the street.  There was peace, love and commitment."  The San Francisco Chronicle editorialized: "There is no need to panic or stir hate.  The governor should calm down."

But unfortunately, the attacks on Mayor Newsom's actions even come from within the Democratic Party.  U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer shocked many of us when she recently said: "The mayor has decided to challenge state law.  My opinion is that state law is fair and appropriate because it gives equal rights and responsibilities to all citizens."  Ouch!  A Boxer spokesman added that "she also agrees with the law's definition that marriage is between a man and a woman."  We never thought that we would see the day that Barbara Boxer would advocate for discrimination against the LGBT community and for heterosexual privilege.  U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein told the San Francisco Chronicle:  "...  I believe this makes the national situation much more complicated and gives ammunition to those who are pushing for a constitutional amendment. ... If the mayor believes that law is unconstitutional, the place to go is the court."  Board of Equalization chair Carole Migden summed up many of our feelings when she noted that the gay weddings in San Francisco are exciting many in America and "any Democrat that doesn't recognize it should step back and get out of the way."

Where do John Kerry and John Edwards stand?  We'll know soon enough. They both oppose a federal constitutional amendment to prohibit gay marriage.  That's a good start.  Hopefully, John Kerry will also oppose a Massachusetts state constitutional amendment outlawing gay marriage. At a minimum, both candidates should, for the time being, say that each state should able to decide for itself when gay marriage will be legal. Eventually the U.S. Supreme Court will rule that same-sex marriages in one state must be recognized in other states and by the federal government under the "full faith and credit" clause of the U.S. Constitution.

Presidential Delegate Selection Caucuses:   Alice was very involved in the Presidential delegate selection caucuses in Congressional District 8.  Former Alice Co-Chair Paul Hogan chaired the Howard Dean Caucus.  Former Alice Co-Chair Matthew Rothschild was the top vote-getter among men at the John Edwards Caucus.  Rich Kowalewski chaired the John Kerry Caucus where Assemblyman Mark Leno, Treasurer Susan Leal, Alice Finance Co-Chair Jeff Anderson, and his partner, Jeff Soukup were elected as delegates to the Democratic National Convention to be held in Boston this July.

Slate Mailer, Newspaper Ads, and Door Hangers for March Election:   Alice has mailed approximately 40,000 slate cards in Assembly District 12 and 13 for the March 2nd election.  On one side, the slate mailers feature Alice's support for state Props 56, 57, and 58 and local Props F, H, and J which provided the lion's share of funding for the slate mailer.  On the other side, a photo of Assemblyman Mark Leno is prominent with words from Mark in support of our endorsed DCCC candidates.  There are also photos of Alice's DCCC candidates in both the 12th and 13th Assembly Districts on the cards sent to the respective districts.  We want to thank Assemblyman Mark Leno for opening doors with the appropriate contacts in Sacramento that enabled Alice to raise $20,000 for its March slate mailer, door hangers, and newspaper ads from the committees supporting Props 56, 57, and 58.  Mark's ongoing commitment to Alice and his personal and political stature in Sacramento have helped to make Alice even more effective in recent years.

March 22nd Membership Meeting, Election of Co-Chairs and Board:   At the March 22nd meeting (not the usual 2nd Monday this month) at 7:00P, Alice members will elect 2004 Club Co-Chairs and the following board members: Treasurer, Recording Secretary, Political Action Co-Chairs, Issues Co-Chairs, Membership Co-Chairs, Public Relations Directors, Finance Co-Chairs.  We hope to see you there! 

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Philadelphia Inquirer

Boston Globe

Kentucky Herald Leader

Washington Post

New York Times

Omaha World-Herald

Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Tampa Tribune

Washington Times

Salt Lake City Tribune

Letters to the Editor 

Dear Editor and Members of Alice,

In March, the Alice B. Toklas Club will be having our election of officers.  I am proud to announce my candidacy for Co-Chair.  Many of you have been incredibly supportive of my decision and I thank you for voicing your vote of confidence in me.  

As a PAC Co-Chair for 4 years, current Board Member and member of Alice for over six years, I have had the privilege of learning from many members of the Alice family who care so much about Alice and what we stand for.

We have generated some of the best minds the LGBT community has to offer – Chairs like Rich Kowalewski, Theresa Sparks, Jim Foster, Beth Elliot, Barbara Cameron, Bob Cramer, Jo Daly, Roberto Esteves, Frank Fitch, Gary Miller, Connie O’Connor, Sal Rosseli, Steve Walters, Gary Schluter, Carole Cullum, Dennis Edelman, Fran Kipnis, Matthew Rothschild, Dean Goodwin, Paul Hogan, Kevin Piediscalzi, Robert Barnes, Ron Braithwaite, Tony Leone, and, of course my partner and new spouse, Esther Lee. 

I pay homage to our past chairs that have spent their lifetimes building Alice to be the largest and strongest voice in local politics today.  Some have passed on, some have moved on, but their legacy remains strong at Alice. 

Some of you may or may not recall these names and some may not even know who Jim Foster is.  Jim Foster was the first openly gay delegate to the Democratic National Convention to address the National Party on the need for a gay rights plank at the 1972 convention in Miami.  This same year, he and Beth Elliot, a transgender woman, founded the Alice B. Toklas Club along with activists Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin.  

As a leader at Alice, I am proud that the Democratic Party is the foundation on which Alice was built and believe it is here where our focus should be again in 2004.  Through our work with the Democratic Party, there are also great new faces at Alice I admire.  New people like Owen Stephens who will soon be joining our board.  Owen, at his DCCC fundraiser stated, “Civil rights are not negotiable. We need to remind Barbara Boxer that civil rights are not negotiable.”  I cannot wait to work with Owen on this goal.
 
In 2004, the Alice Club must be the LGBT voice in the Democratic Party to lead the fight against George Bush’s Constitutional amendment.  I am proud to take on this role and to join with Mayor Gavin Newsom on this civil rights platform for Democrats across the country. 

Though Club members have had differences during various campaigns, we have always been strong in our Democratic Party foundation where our belief for civil rights and coalition building are rooted.  This is the challenge facing Democrats in 2004.  Let’s continue the legacy of Alice B. Toklas as leader in the civil rights movement in 2004.

I would be honored to have your vote for Co-Chair of Alice March 22nd, 2004.

Dates with Alice

Alice B Toklas LGBT Democratic Club
1800 Market Street PMB#18
San Francisco, CA 94102
Tel: 415-707-2010
www.alicebtoklas.org
Alice Reports Editor (Acting): Reese Aaron Isbell, M.P.P.

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