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The GLBT Democratic Voice in Western New York
Stonewall Democrats of Western New York is the GLBT Democratic voice in WNY. Our mission is to advocate for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) community within the Democratic Party and to encourage GLBT participation within the Democratic Party. Our membership includes representatives from State, County, and City government, and several Democratic committee members amongst the various County Committees in WNY.
Stonewall Democrats is affiliated with NYS Stonewall Democrats (aka New York State Federation of Gay & Lesbian Democratic Clubs) and the National Stonewall Democrats, and works in association with the Empire State Pride Agenda.
Stonewall Democrats: A History of Accomplishment
Stonewall Democrats of WNY was founded in the mid-1990's in a response to the desire of gay and lesbian community members to participate in the local Democratic Party politics. While previous political activitists from earlier times, including Bill Eaton and Carol Speser, helped set the stage for the GLBT Democratic political club, Stonewall Democrats of WNY most notably began in 1994 with members of the gay and lesbian community that supported former New York Governor Mario Cuomo's reelection campaign, as "Gays and Lesbians for Cuomo". The first meetings organized by Stonewall Democrats founder Carol Speser and Sheila Healy, Governor Cuomo's Director of the Office of Gay & Lesbian Concerns, led to the official start of the Stonewall Democratic Club of WNY and the election of its founding officers of Willam "Bill" Goodman, Don Kreger, Connie Burns and Jeffrey Tooke.
Several events in 1995 put Stonewall Democrats on the local political map. The appointment of Larry Adamzcyk as Democratic Commissioner of the Erie County Board of Elections, the appointment of then-Stonewall chair William Goodman to the Executive Committee of the Erie County Democratic Committee, and the election of Barbra Kavanaugh as Buffalo City Councilmember-at-Large gave Stonewall Democrats credibility as the identified political group of the local gay and lesbian constituency.
In 1996, local politicians began to solicit the endorsement of Stonewall Democrats making an endorsement by Stonewall Democrats a mantle of support from the local gay and lesbian community.
Stonewall Democrats Breaks on the Statewide Scene
In 1998, Stonewall Democrats' chair JeffreyTooke cofounded the New York State Federation of Gay & Lesbian Democratic Clubs (now called NYS Stonewall Democrats) with state committee vice-chair Emily Giske. He currently continues to chair this statewide organization. Along with the other member organizations in the statewide Federation, Stonewall Democrats sponsored the Federation's first-ever reception at the NYS Democratic Committee's convention in Westchester County.
Also in 1998, Stonewall Democrats worked with Barbra Kavanaugh, who campaigned with the support of Erie County Democratic Chairman Steve Pigeon, in trying to secure the Democratic nomination for Lieutenant Governor. Stonewall Democrats worked as well for the successful victories of Senator Chuck Schumer and State Attorney General Elliot Spitzer through their efforts in coalition with the NYS Federation and the newly formed National Stonewall Democratic Federation. Jeffrey Tooke was quoted in numerous publications and newpapers about the various 1998 elections, including the New York Magazine and the NY Blade. Over the past several years, Stonewall Democrats of WNY have: increased in its membership and activities, increased the number of county committeemembers, elected its first GLBT zone chair, David Granville, and increased the number of candidates seeing its endorsement.
Our Previous Stonewall Democrats of WNY Chairs - Bill Goodman
- Jeffrey Tooke
- David Granville
- Doug Ping
- Gail Wojtowicz
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