Welcome to Stonewall Democrats of Central Ohio!

Join Stonewall Democrats of Central Ohio for PRIDE 2009 beginning on June 19th at 5:00 PM and continuing on Saturday, June 20th until 10:00 PM.

Volunteers are needed to help staff our festival booth and to march in the PARADE on Saturday afternoon. The parade will step of at the Ohio State Capitol at 1:00 PM.

To volunteer please email Michael Sheline at dmsheline@gmail.com or Mellissia Fuhrmann at fmellissia@hotmail.com. We are requesting members volunteer for 2 hour shifts at the booth that will be shared with the Franklin County Democratic Party and SDCO. Volunteers will receive at specially designed T-Shirt. To Donate go to http://www.stonewalldemocratsohio.org/events/PRIDE2009

If you would like to donate $20.09 to help defray the cost of the PRIDE expences please donate here! All money raised will pay for our booth, parade entry and T-Shirts.

Stonewall Democrats of Central Ohio has endorsed Columbus Issue 1 at the June 2nd meeting. We strongly encourage our membership to Join Mayor Michael B. Coleman in voting YES for a SAFE Columbus. For more information on Columbus Issue 1 call (614) 221-1999.

Equality Happy Hour at "Union Cafe" continues this Friday, June 5th. Join Stonewall Democrats of Central Ohio, Equality Ohio and HRC Columbus each Friday from 4 to 7 PM for "Equality Happy Hour"!!! Union Cafe is offering their "PREMIUM" $4.00 Martini's with $1.00 of each Martini sold going to Support SDCO, Equality Ohio and HRC. Proprietor Michael Council offered, "We wanted to do a relaxed non-event. Everyone can enjoy a fun happy hour and raise funds by being SOCIAL>" A new 13 cocktail Martini menu will be unvailed on the 29th! featuring an ABSOLUT LIMONCELLO COSMOPOLITAN! among others! See you there! Union Cafe is located at 782 North High Street, Valet Parking available.

Please remember, our next monthly meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 7, 2009 at the "Center on High" Stonewall Columbus, 1160 N. High St. Our featured speakers will be Columbus City Councilman and candidate for election, A. Troy Miller, Judge Laurel Beatty and Judge Kim Crocroft. Both Judges were appointed to the bench earlier this year and will be on the 2010 ballot. The meeting will begin promptly at 6:30 PM

Are you a member of Stonewall Democrats of Central Ohio? Now is the time to join or to renew if you've let your membership lapse. Joining is simple and easy, just go to our contribution page. There are various membership options:

Sustaining Member: $100.00
Couples Membership: $60.00
General Membership: $35.00
Student or Hardship Membership: $20.00

Please consider joining or renewing today! We are only as strong as our membership.

To find out if you are current on your dues, please contact Brett Warner.
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Need a new HOODIE or Ball Cap for the WINTER? Check our our new online store at clicking here! SDCO Logo T-Shirts, Polo Shirts, Tanks, Buttons, Mugs and more are available! Check us out! All proceeds go to Stonewall Democrats of Central Ohio


Recent News Items

May 6, 2009

ANTI-DISCRIMINATAION LAW UPDATE!

Thanks to our Friends at Equality Ohio for taking the Lead with the Ohio House of Representatives!

Anti-Discrimination Law Passes Ohio House of Representatives' State Government Committee

History is made in Ohio

Today, with a vote of 8 to 5, House Bill 176, the Equal Housing and Employment Act, passed out of State Government Committee in the Ohio House of Representatives. The committee vote marks the first time in Ohio's history that a vote has occurred on legislation protecting the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community in Ohio in either chamber of the General Assembly. The only previous issue to come to a vote in the Assembly related to LGBT issues was the 2003 legislative so called Defense of Marriage Act.

Voting YES were Gerberry, Lundy, Sykes, Williams B., Stewart, Mallory, Sayre, and Hite with Adams, Daniels, Grossman, Hall, and Stebelton casting NO votes. The bill now moves to consideration by the entire House of Representatives.

And the firsts just keep right on rolling. It is possible that next week the entire House of Representatives will vote on HB 176!

It is time to call or email your State House Representative to ask them to support HB 176, the Equal Housing and Employment Act. This bill would add sexual orientation and gender identity to the existing enumeration of protected classes in our state non-discrimination law.

PLEASE TAKE ACTION NOW!

Is your legislator already supportive?


Use our talking points found here to write to your local paper and submit a letter to the editor. Please see your local paper's requirements for those letters. And then send it to us so we can include it in what we provide to the legislature.

May 1, 2009

Matthew Shepard Act Passes U.S. House of Representatives

Stonewall Democrats of Central Ohio Encourages Senate to Act Quickly

Stonewall Democrats of Central Ohio applauds the passage of the Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act (LLEHCPA), also known as the Matthew Shepard Act (H. R. 1913) in the U.S. House of Representatives April 29,2009 by a margin of 249 to 175. This action moves the United States one step closer to the passage of the first federal law to provide protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity. In addition the bill would add protections for gender and disability. The Bill was recently introduced in the Senate, though no vote has been scheduled.

This action sends a powerful message that this country will not tolerate violence against Lesbians, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people. There are 3 key components to this bill which are vital to that protection.
The removal of the current prerequisite that the victim be engaging in a federally-protected activity, like voting or going to school.

It gives federal authorities greater ability to engage in hate crimes investigations. This helps to ensure that victims in localities that are not LGBT-friendly have access to equal protection.

The bill for the first time mandates that the FBI track statistics on hate crimes against transgender people.

Stonewall Democrats of Central Ohio encourages the U.S. Senate to take up the legislation, which was introduced today. We anticipate that as promised, President Obama will sign the bill in to law.

Stonewall Democrats of Central Ohio encourages you to find out how your Representative voted and let them know how you feel about their position. Additionally, please contact your Senators and let them know your position on this legislation.

senator_voinovich@voinovich.senate.gov

http://brown.senate.gov/contact