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Table of Contents
Can you only be represented by someone who shares a central characteristic with you? My grandmother’s simple answer to this question was expressed in a saying that she would repeat over and over again: “Looks can be deceiving.” My takeaway from this was that those who are like you are not necessarily your friends. Still, what remains is whether those who are different from you can understand your viewpoint. People constantly intimate that I am voting for Barack Obama simply because he is Black. There is no attempt to recognize that perhaps we share a common philosophy, beliefs or hope for the future. Too often, people ascribe allegiances based on the characteristics they can most easily identify. But, doesn’t such an approach sell us short and avoid an examination of issues? Much has been said of late about the California 3rd District Senate race. One candidate has been repeatedly labeled as the “women’s” candidate because she is a woman. I am keenly aware of the need to have women at all levels of government because of the important perspective they bring. However, does being a woman make one the “women’s” candidate? Recently, I attended a women’s fundraising event for Mark Leno. It was packed with women whose voices had strongly influenced the government of the State of California and the City and County of San Francisco, all united in favor of Mark Leno – a man. Women such as Kamala Harris, Susan Leal, Fiona Ma, and others who had made significant contributions to government were on hand to support Mark’s candidacy. Their presence was a recognition that, even though Mark is a man, he has helped to advance the careers and opportunities for women, especially those dedicated to public service. 
The women’s event was also a vital and public recognition that Mark hears and understands the issues and concerns of women. Indeed, as a Supervisor and an Assemblymember, Mark Leno has been a champion for equal pay, anti-discrimination provisions, the right to choose, health care, and other issues important to women and those who care about equality. It is Mark’s unique ability to relate to and understand the issues of others that has gained him the confidence and support of many women and women’s groups. Please join us on May 5 at the Leno Campaign headquarters (2344 Market Street in the Castro) from 7 to 9 p.m. in support of Mark’s candidacy. (See the PDF invitation here.) I have never voted for any candidate just because of their race or gender, but these issues have always been factors that I have considered in expanding the voices around the table. We are all lucky in the sense that men and women of different races and ethnicities and backgrounds are also blessed with the experience and knowledge to bring superior service to the offices they seek. As we approach the June 3 Senate primary election, I am glad to support a candidate who supports all of us, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, faith, age or sexual orientation. Although, if Mark wins, we cannot say that a woman was elected, we can be sure that women, their rights and their goals will continue to be advanced. I am proud to be a part of the broad coalition that recognizes that, though Mark Leno may not belong to their particular group, he has worked hard to ensure protections and rights for us all. Julius Turman and Susan Christian Alice B. Toklas Co-Chairs
The Alice membership has endorsed the following candidates and issues on the June 3rd ballot.
Reese's World: Perspectives from the Editor
Editor Alice Field Update, Part 1: Help Get Out The Alice Vote Alice now has its full slate of endorsements for the June election and is ready to roll! We will continue our tradition of aggressively supporting our endorsed candidates and positions with a strong Field Campaign led by our fabulous Field Co-Chairs Rodney Clara and LaMonte' Bishop and Member extraordinaire Larry Handerhan. Contact the Field Committee by emailing fieldcomm@gmail.com and get involved in this exciting political season!The Field Team wants to hear from you, and to know what interests you have in joining Alice in the field this spring. Volunteer field activities will include: ...among many other opportunities to register voters and support Alice's endorsements. 
If you would like to help volunteer for these efforts, please contact our Field Committee team by emailing fieldcomm@gmail.com to let them know of your interests (as mentioned above) and for more information. The Field Committee has already been out every weekend this April and is planning weekend actions every weekend in May and that very first weekend in June before the June 3rd election. Let the Field Committee know your availability by emailing fieldcomm@gmail.com for the following Saturdays and Sundays for tabling and flyering specifically: 
The Field Committee also is working with our endorsed candidates and campaigns to solidify a coordinated list of further volunteer activities and would love to contact you specifically as these details are finalized about how you can help Alice. As part of that additional commitment to our endorsed candidates, the Field Committee is working with the Mark Leno for Senate campaign to host a phone bank each Wednesday night through May from 5:30-8:30pm at Leno's new Castro campaign office at 2234 Market Street:
Alice will be walking many precincts this May as well. We'll be giving out slate cards for distribution and would like to get your help in the program. Please let us know your specific interests in signing up for any of the above dates and field activities by emailing fieldcomm@gmail.com. Alice is strong because of you! Optimism amid Anti-Marriage Signature Submission
March 24, 2008 Fellow Alice Members, 
Thank you so much for the kind attention I recently received when addressing the Club. Your interest in our LGBT campaign to build a united presence against the tobacco industry is most gratifying. If we are to have any chance to improve LGBT Health while facing a formidable tobacco industry, we have to work together. Did you know that according to the CDC, tobacco causes more deaths in the United States each year than HIV, illegal drugs, alcohol, motor vehicle injuries, suicides and murders combined? Were you aware that tobacco industry interests made contributions to 44% of the members of the California Legislature in 2007? Happily, our Legislative LGBT Caucus is standing strong, looking out for the health of our community, not giving in to the tobacco interests.
California's LGBT community faces some frightening news when it comes to tobacco use: California lesbians smoking at a rate that is nearly triple compared to all women over 18. Gay men smoking at a rate that is 50% higher than all adult California men. And absolutely alarming, that 44% of California 18-24 year olds who identify as LGBT smoke are smoking as compared to 18% of non-LGBT-specific 18-24 year olds. Also, although statistics for our Bisexual and Transgender communities are not yet verifiable, there is great concern for those in our community who are smoking while taking estrogen, which has been shown to lead to heart disease, lung disease and stroke. As one of many strategies to improve the public health and to save lives, we are looking to the leadership of our LGBT officials across the state. We are working in collaboration with California's LGBT political clubs to approach each elected official, asking him or her to stand as a community role model, asking each to sign on as an individual who will not accept or seek out political donations from tobacco interests. In addition to engaging questions from Alice members at the last meeting, my remarks came to a close with a nice surprise, when elected Democratic County Central Committee members Scott Wiener and Rafael Mandelman agreed that they will not accept tobacco industry donations as they run for office. Even though neither Scott nor Rafael have been approached by tobacco interests and don't expect to be, I'm proud to have them on the side of health, joining our growing list of LGBT state senators, state assembly members, county supervisors, city councilors, school board members, mayors and other elected officials who are taking a stand. To see the list of those who have taken a written stand, and to learn more about the California LGBT Tobacco Education Partnership, please go to www.lgbtpartnership.org. Please feel free to contact me at any time at 415-436-9182 or at bob@lgbtpartnership.org. One last thing... if you or any of your friends are looking for free quit-smoking classes for the LGBT Community, please consider The Last Drag. For more information, go to www.lastdrag.org or call 415-339-STOP. Best wishes, Bob Gordon, Project Director, California LGBT Tobacco Education Partnership The deadline for registering to vote for the June 3rd election is May 19th. If you need to re-register due to moving, or know people who need to register, please contact us at info@alicebtoklas.org or go to the secretary of state's website to register online. Alice B Toklas LGBT Democratic Club
Month of May: Membership Meeting, May 12 You can now join online www.alicebtoklas.org/abt/joinonline.asp, or fill out the application below Membership Application Yes, I want to join the Alice B. Toklas Democratic Club! __$35 Regular __I am renewing my membership __I will be a new member __I am a registered Democrat Name ______________________________________________________________ Address _____________________________________________________________ City ____________________________________State: ______Zip: _____________ Phone: Day __________________________Eve: _____________________________ Email: _________________________________________ Please send checks payable to “Alice B. Toklas
LGBT Democratic Club” and mail to: |
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Anyone who has ever worked on a campaign knows there comes a time when it no longer matters trying to convince voters about an issue on the ballot. The real struggle of any campaign at that time is about getting those who you've already identified as supporters of your cause out on election day to vote. There are reminder calls, door hangers, pick ups to take people to the polls, and all that good, last-minute stuff that campaign people do when the time is almost over.
In advance of the April 21st signature deadline for California's proposed anti-marriage ballot initiative, I joined 3 other Alice members in an early morning drive up I-80 to participate in Equality for All's "Decline to Sign" Campaign in Sacramento. The experience reinforced my optimism that even if the initiative receives enough signatures, we have the resources and community support to beat it in November.