The board and members of the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club celebrates the DC Court of Appeals decision. The courts decision affirms our stance that the rights of a minority should never be subject to a vote of the majority and that the DC City Council was within its power to utilize the legislative vehicle of the human rights act to ensure that this core value was made law.

Today the DC Court of Appeals released it's decision in the case of Harry Jackson Jr., et al v. The DC Board of Elections and Ethics.

This decision by the DC Court of Appeals affirms 5-4 the decision of the lower court that rejected the argument that the Human Rights Act safeguard provision is an invalid restriction on the right of initiative and agreeing with the Board that appellant's proposed initiative would authorize discrimination.

Candidates for Chair of the Council of the District of Columbia

Kwame Brown Candidate Questionaire.pdf

Vince Orange Candidate Questionnaire.doc

Candidates for At-Large City Council member

Clark Ray Candidate Questionnaire.doc

Dear Friends,

This week has brought us a lot of interesting updates and the passage of another historic piece of legislation. I hope you find the following updates useful and please let us know if you have any questions:

Democrats working to advance immigration rights and equality: In a recent press conference, Democratic leaders (including DNC Vice Chair Rep. Mike Honda), spoke to the importance of the Uniting American Families Act to truly inclusive and comprehensive immigration reform, and to their commitment to seeing comprehensive inclusive immigration reform come to pass.

Wall Street Reform headed to the President's desk: Hear the President's remarks or learn more about the bill which includes many new consumer protections.

President announces national plan to fight HIV/AIDS: "Government has to do its part, but our ability to combat HIV/AIDS doesn't rest on government alone... It requires each of us to act responsibly in our own lives, and it requires all of us to look inward -- to ask not only how we can end this scourge, but also how we can root out the inequities and the attitudes on which this scourge thrives."

Republicans work to stop LGBT inclusion at the United Nations: The Obama Administration & Ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, is leading the charge to give LGBT people the world over a voice at the United Nations. Ambassador Rice is working to grant the International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission 'consultative status' within the United Nations - just like hundreds of other non-profit organizations that participate in UN meetings. Unfortunately Republicans Christopher Smith (R-NJ) and Trent Franks (R-AZ) are doing what they can to stop the effort. Read the letter they sent to UN member nations here.

More (and more and more) Republican Madness: Georgia GOP Gubernatorial Candidate comes out against LGBT adoption.

Q: Would you favor outlawing gay adoptions?

A: Yeah, I would consider that, absolutely.

Have a great weekend!

Jamie Citron

Director, LGBT Leadership Council

Democratic National Committee

Today the DC Court of Appeals released it's decision in the case of Harry Jackson Jr., et al v. The DC Board of Elections and Ethics.

This decision by the DC Court of Appeals affirms 5-4 the decision of the lower court that rejected the argument that the Human Rights Act safeguard provision is an invalid restriction on the right of initiative and agreeing with the Board that appellant's proposed initiative would authorize discrimination.

Candidates for Chair of the Council of the District of Columbia

Kwame Brown Candidate Questionaire.pdf

Vince Orange Candidate Questionnaire.doc

Candidates for At-Large City Council member

Clark Ray Candidate Questionnaire.doc