Table of Contents
Dates
With Alice
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Alice ENDORSEMENT VOTE and Membership Meeting
Monday, September 8, 2008
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
LGBT Community Center
1800 Market Street @ Octavia
ENDORSEMENT VOTE for November election
Alice Phone Bank with No on Prop 8
Every Wednesday
6:30 PM - 9:00 PM
September 3
September 10
September 17
September 24
(with Assemblyman-to-be Tom Ammiano!)
Alice will host more special Wednesday nights with other guests as they develop and will keep you posted. Please do your part.
Contact the Field Committee by emailing fieldcomm@gmail.com and help Alice support the imporant work of the No on Prop 8 campaign!
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September Co-Chairs' Report
The Content of Their Characters
Forty-five years to the day after Martin Luther King voiced the dream that we would all, one day, be judged only by the content of our characters, an exceptional American, an African-American named Barack Obama, accepted the Democratic nomination for president of the United States.
Has any other presidential hopeful ever paused to embrace the LGBT community in such a public way? When Senator Obama said “I know there are differences on same-sex marriage, but surely we can agree that our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters deserve to visit the person they love in the hospital and to live lives free of discrimination,” it gave focus and attention to a community long-ignored by even the Democratic party. There are those who will rightfully point out that his comments did not mention the entirety of the LGBT community. Others will note that his words did not advocate for same-sex marriage. These omissions do exist and remain disappointing in a very personal and heartfelt manner. But, we ask Alice and its friends not to only see the limitations of his words, but look to the vision for inclusion they inspire.
Senator Obama is on a journey toward education and acceptance that McCain/Palin will never understand. They not only “don’t get it;” but they never will. Obama, however, has demonstrated that with time and attention, his view of the plight and the need of our community will become fuller to include our needs around marriage, health care, employment discrimination and other limitations placed on our existence. His leadership is clearly not one of the Republican dictate of “do as I say and not as I do,” but one that is organic in nature and willing to grow from experience.
They day before Barack’s acceptance speech, we lost Del Martin, a native San Franciscan who, along with the woman she had loved for 55 years, had the character to reject conformity and live her life in a way that showed that homosexuality was neither a sickness nor a sin. Just hours before he accepted our party’s nomination, Obama sent a message to Phyllis Lyon, San Francisco and the LGBT community by honoring the passage of Del Martin and embracing her 50 years of marriage (just solemnized in June ’08) to Phyllis.
In less than three months, we will be called to the polls to choose among candidates ranging from those running for the local board of supervisors to the presidency of the country. As Californians, we will vote whether to amend our state constitution to discriminate against lesbian and gay people who wish to marry. In a few days, Alice will decide what candidates to endorse and what ballot measures to support.
From the willful erosion of our Constitutional rights, to a war justified by false pretenses, to the abandonment of government’s most basic functions in favor of the creation of greater wealth for the most economically privileged among us, the last eight years have been a national nightmare. Locally, we have made insufficient headway against the violence and lack of opportunity that robs San Francisco’s youth of their childhoods, their educations and, far too often, their lives. Through application of character by those who have been willing to fight for change, both publicly and quietly, our country has come a very long way in the 88 years since women gained the right to vote, and the 45 years since Dr. King spoke his dreams. Yet obstacles remain.
This November, we have a great deal riding on the candidates and policies that we choose to support. As Reese Isbell writes in his Editor’s column, the character of the candidates will define the ways in which, if elected, they will confront the challenges of governing and work to solve the problems that face our city.
Julius Turman and Susan Christian
Alice B. Toklas Co-Chairs
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Reese's World: Perspectives from the Editor
"On Endorsements: An Open Letter to Alice Members"
by Reese Aaron Isbell, M.P.P.
As mentioned previously, I will be stepping down as Newsletter Editor at the end of this year. Over the years I have attempted to speak only on matters of general perspective to our community, and rarely touched on local campaigns or issues. However, as I wind down my term, I will be speaking out a bit more on issues in my forthcoming monthly columns to express a few personal opinions with you. These are personal opinions only.
As it is that I will be out of the country during our endorsement process this September-the first time I have missed this extraordinary event since getting involved with our wonderful club-I want to take this columnated opportunity to express a few important thoughts on the endorsement process currently before Alice.
Much has been discussed in our club and political community about the recent Chair vote at the DCCC and I want to stress a few very important concepts from my perspective.
First: the vote for Chair was not about Scott Wiener. As much we love and support him as a club and individually, and as much as we want LGBT leadership, this was not a vote the club worked on for him solely out of personal allegiance or LGBT loyalty.
Second: the vote for Chair was not about the Mayor or Peskin or Daly or any member on the DCCC. We have supported, and can in the future support, everyone directly or tangentially involved in that DCCC vote. We have many of the same goals in this City, our differences are often minute in comparison to our similarities, and we can move forward together on many issues.
Third: the vote was not even about Alice. Alice took a position and worked on it. We have had stands we have taken before, and have won or lost. And we know that sometimes politicians cannot always be fully with each and every position we hold each and every time. But we have always moved forward respectfully and we should continue to do so. That's the Alice way.
So what was the vote about then?
From my perspective, it was about character and integrity. And that, my Alice friends, is what our work as a club must assess and discuss during this year's endorsement process, next year's endorsement process, and beyond. Did the individual show good character and integrity throughout this DCCC Chair process? Or for that matter, any and all political processes?
I believe the following questions need to be asked each and every time Alice goes through its endorsement process:
1) Has the candidate seeking Alice's endorsement shown good character and integrity in their personal community, with our LGBT community, and with Alice?
2) Has the candidate shown that they will stand for what they believe, regardless of what that is, and be trusted to continue to stand for it?
3) Has the candidate shown a solid moral compass that is unquestionable?
4) Has the candidate worked through various political situations with integrity?
5) Is the candidate worthy of receiving an Alice endorsement on their own merits, regardless of who they are connected to or political allegiances?
6) Is it appropriate for Alice to endorse or not despite my own personal interests?
7) Must Alice endorse?
That final question is one to truly consider. It is my perspective that Alice does not have to endorse. Alice's endorsement is coveted for a reason in this City, and it should not be given lightly simply for political expediency. Alice need not endorse just because it looks like someone is the winner of a race, or simply because someone is from our LGBT community, or because we've endorsed someone previously, or because they are the incumbent, or even because they are the only Democrat running. Alice should only give its endorsements to those who meet our club's criteria-and support the club respectfully. Otherwise, there is no reason to endorse.
The burden in every race, for candidate or issue, is not who or which, but whether.
As these members of the DCCC come before the club this year and in the following years, our discussions are not, and should not, only be about how they voted on one issue in July of 2008. There is no necessary retribution or automatic support based upon the vote itself.
However, their individual character, integrity, and the process by which each went about their vote, as well as how they handled themselves during the internal and external discussions around it, must always be part of Alice's assessment. Alice should take those into account each and every time. And in the end, the burden is on every one of them to make their own case before our club for their possible endorsement.
Beyond the members of the DCCC, these issues of character and integrity in our political process should always be the basis by which we make our endorsements for new candidates seeking office, as well as incumbents who have been in office for many years. No politician should get a pass just because they have always been around or just because we have always supported them. Each and every time a candidate comes before Alice, the burden is on the candidate to show Alice that they are deserving of an Alice endorsement, and on Alice to determine whether an endorsement is even necessary in said election.
We at Alice always manage our endorsement process thoughtfully and culminate with one of the most sought-after voter guides in town. There's a reason it is so well-received and recognized as influential-because our full community knows that we do our endorsement process with such care.
I know and trust that my fellow members will serve our club well in my absence this go-round and determine an Alice-worthy slate of endorsements for November. These are a few of my own personal perspectives on the recent community discussions and how they may relate to our upcoming endorsement process at Alice. And regardless of the outcome, I will be there once again on the corner of Noe and Market handing out our slate cards upon my return. I hope you'll plan to join me.
Reese Aaron Isbell, M.P.P.
Editor
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Alice Field Update
Alice has made a strong commitment to the No on Proposition 8 campaign by dedicating every Wednesday night until the November election as an Alice phone bank night with the campaign. Alice members have already been part of Wednesday phone banks with the campaign in August and we are looking to add Alice members to our upcoming Wednesdays in September and October.
Please sign up for one of the following Wednesday nights in September or October to show your dedication to the fight for marriage equality.
September 3
September 10
September 17
September 24 (with Assemblyman-to-be Tom Ammiano!)
October 1
October 8
October 15
October 22
October 29
We will be hosting more special Wednesday nights with other guests as they develop and will keep you posted. Please do your part.
Contact the Field Committee by emailing fieldcomm@gmail.com and get involved in this exciting political season!
Additionally, Alice will once again be walking, tabling, and flyering throughout September and October before the November election. Expect to hear from us about more details in the future. Please consider donating at least one Saturday in each month to working with Alice to promote our endorsements. The following Saturdays will include tabling in front of Cafe Flore from 10am-2pm. Contact the Field Committee to sign up for your date.
Tabling in October:
October 5 (Sunday, special all-day Castro Street Fair event 10am-6pm, 2 hour shifts)
October 11
October 18
October 25
November 1
The Field Committee will also be working with our endorsed candidates and campaigns following the September endorsement meeting to solidify a coordinated list of further volunteer activities. We would love to contact you specifically as these details are finalized about how you can help Alice. Please let us know your general interests by emailing fieldcomm@gmail.com. Alice is strong because of you!
LaMonte' Bishop and Larry Handerhan
Alice Field Committee Co-Chairs
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In Memoriam- Del Martin
From the Editor: This month's edition of Alice Reports is dedicated to the memory, work, life, and spirit of Del Martin.
from the B.A.R.: Lesbian pioneer Del Martin dies
from the Task Force: Task Force mourns death of pioneering community hero Del Martin
from Ms. Magazine: Pioneering Activist Del Martin Dies
from the New York Times: Del Martin, Lesbian Activist, Dies at 87
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Alice
Membership Form
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: Reese Aaron Isbell, M.P.P.
Month of August: Membership Meeting, September 8
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
__$100 Supporter
__$250 Sponsor
__$500 Champion
__$20 Special Needs
__Other
__I am renewing my membership __I
will be a new member
__I am a registered Democrat
Name ______________________________________________________________
Address _____________________________________________________________
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Phone: Day __________________________Eve: _____________________________
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Please send checks payable to “Alice B. Toklas
LGBT Democratic Club” and mail to:
Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club
1800 Market Street, PMB#18
San Francisco, CA 94102
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