COLUMBUS - Today, the Ohio Democratic Party announced Collin Burton has joined its team as LGBT Caucus Director. In his new role, Burton will facilitate outreach to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community as part of the Ohio Democratic Party's continued efforts to reach diverse constituencies throughout the Buckeye State.

Born in Youngstown and raised in Westerville, Burton is a proud Ohio native. He's a graduate of Westerville South High School and Marquette University, with time spent at Oxford University in the United Kingdom. An early activist, Burton participated in a local city council campaign at age 12. While at Marquette, he was a founding member of the MU Gay Straight Alliance and became President of the group during his junior year. Most recently, Burton served as the co-founder of an organization called The Activist Nation, which focuses on organizing young adults to participate in global activism. Burton's passion for open dialogue, relationship building and community engagement will be an asset to the Ohio Democratic Party.

"I am excited about this opportunity to engage the LGBT community in the work of the Ohio Democratic Party," said Burton. "The party is moving forward with incredible momentum toward the 2010 elections, and the LGBT community has many amazing opportunities to elect progressive leaders who will advance pro-LGBT legislation at all levels in Ohio. Let's get to work!"

Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern added, "In 2005, soon after being elected Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party, I decided we would build the strongest LGBT Caucus in the nation. Under James Winnett's leadership, we achieved historic success, electing a record number of openly-gay and lesbian Ohioans at the local and county level. With Collin Burton now at the helm of our outreach to the LGBT community, we will continue to grow as a Party and be stronger than ever."
The Ohio Democratic Party is the only known State Party in the country to have a full-time staffer dedicated to outreach to the LGBT community. In the 2009 municipal elections, ODP supported thirteen openly-LGBT candidates, electing a record ten of those candidates to office. ODP also celebrated last year's historic passage in the Ohio House of Representatives of H.B. 176, the Equal Housing and Employment Act. All Democrats supported the bill, and we look forward to the day that Ohioans can no longer be legally fired from their jobs or kicked out of their homes because of who they are or who they love. In addition, Governor Ted Strickland was the first governor in Ohio history to appoint openly-gay and lesbian judges to the bench. He celebrated this landmark during his 2010 State of the State Address.

Collin can be reached at lgbt@ohiodems.org.

For more information about the Ohio Democratic Party's LGBT Caucus, visit: http://www.ohiodems.org/networks/lgbt_caucus/.
Follow ODP's LGBT Caucus on Twitter at twitter.com/ohioLGBTdems or fan the Caucus on Facebook.

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It's 2010, and in most of the country, it's legal to be fired for being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender!

Protect LGBT workers and their families by helping to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), a federal bill that will ban job discrimination nationwide on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. We have the votes in Congress, we have a president who will sign the bill... now we need to keep the momentum going strong!

These basic protections are long overdue. Join us to set the standard for fairness and equality in 2010 by working to mobilize supporters for this historic legislation.

What: Friendly phone calls to LGBT supporters in Ohio

When: Over the next two weeks

Upcoming phone banks:

Sunday, March 14
Wednesday, March 17
Thursday, March 18
Tuesday, March 23
Wednesday, March 24

Where: Equality Ohio, 50 W. Broad St., Suite 1970, Columbus, OH 43215

Why: To move ENDA through Congress to a vote!

How: We'll provide scripts and training

Questions? Contact Kim Welter at kim@equalityohio.org for more information!

In Person Absentee Voting Hours:
Day and Time will be announced

Bring ID to Vote Absentee
Voters must bring identification to the polls in order to vote a regular ballot on Election Day. Acceptable forms of identification are:

A current and valid photo identification (such as Ohio driver license card, state ID card, government ID). Photo identification must show name and current address (except that Ohio driver license or State ID card does not need to show current address if the address in the poll book is current); or
A military identification that shows the voter's name (does not need to show address); or
A copy of a current (within the last 12 months) utility bill (including cell phone bill), bank statement, paycheck, government check, or other government document (including from a public college or university) that shows the voter's name and current address.
Voters who do not provide one of these documents will still be able to vote by providing the last four digits of the voter's social security number and by casting a provisional ballot. Voters who do not have any of the above forms of identification, including a social security number, will still be able to vote by signing an affirmation swearing to the voter's identity under penalty of election falsification and by casting a provisional ballot. If identification is not provided at the time the provisional ballot is cast, the provisional voter may provide a valid form of identification in person at the Board of Elections during the 10 days following Election Day.

April 5th - Deadline for Voter Registration for the Primary Election (30 days before the election)

May 1st - Application by mail for absentee ballots for the May 4th Primary Election must be received by the Board of Elections by noon

May 3rd - Last day to Vote Adsentee in person at the Board of Elections until close of business

May 4th - Primary Election Day - Polls are open from 6:30am - 7:30pm

Bring ID on Primary Election Day
Voters must bring identification to the polls in order to vote a regular ballot on Election Day. Acceptable forms of identification are:

A current and valid photo identification (such as Ohio driver license card, state ID card, government ID). Photo identification must show name and current address (except that Ohio driver license or State ID card does not need to show current address if the address in the poll book is current); or
A military identification that shows the voter's name (does not need to show address); or
A copy of a current (within the last 12 months) utility bill (including cell phone bill), bank statement, paycheck, government check, or other government document (including from a public college or university) that shows the voter's name and current address.
Voters who do not provide one of these documents will still be able to vote by providing the last four digits of the voter's social security number and by casting a provisional ballot. Voters who do not have any of the above forms of identification, including a social security number, will still be able to vote by signing an affirmation swearing to the voter's identity under penalty of election falsification and by casting a provisional ballot. If identification is not provided at the time the provisional ballot is cast, the provisional voter may provide a valid form of identification in person at the Board of Elections during the 10 days following Election Day.

2010 monthly meetings will include a wide variety of speakers. In addition, each month presents us with a new way to give back to the community-- in March, Bowling for Equality through HRC and in July, the Central Ohio AIDS walk. These are but a few of the activities in which Stonewall Dems plans to take part.

The month of May will be an important one for Stonewall Dems, as we host our annual wine tasting event in the Short North. I encourage each and every one of you to "Get on the Blue Train" in 2010.

Of course, the highlight of the year for the LGBT community is the 2-day Pride Festival at Goodale Park. Look for Stonewall Dems to take part in the Pride parade, host a booth at the festival, and also host a new kick-off event, details of which will be forthcoming.

Let us get behind our Democratic brothers and sisters in this all-important election year. Let us continue to serve the candidates who serve us. As always, I welcome suggestions and feedback from Stonewall Dems members. Feel free to e-mail me at fmellissia@hotmail.com. Sincerely,

Mel Fuhrmann
President, Stonewall Dems of Central Ohio
2010

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.

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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

> Ensuring sensitivity, understanding and support for issues of importance to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) and Allied Community

> Educating, promoting and electing Democratic candidates who are supportive of such issues.

> Organizing, educating and energizing the GLBT and Allied Community to work for, support and elect these Democratic candidates.

Our club meets the first Tuesday of every month at 6:30pm.

Meetings are held at the Franklin County Democratic Party Headquarters 271 E. State St. Columbus, OH 43215 (2nd floor)

President: Mel Fuhrmann

VP Political Stragety: Michael Sheline

VP Membership: Joe Sunday

VP Communications: Dwight E. Garner

Secretary/Treasurer: Rob Snyder

(links take you to Executive Committee's email addresses)

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