It is with a heavy heart that the Stein Club mourns the loss of former Stein Club President Jeff Coudriet. As Councilmember Evans stated in the press release below, it is impossible to put in words the contributions Jeff made to this city and our community.

While his legacy will live on in the lives he touched and organizations he helped sustain, he will forever be missed.

Notice of Appointed At-large Special Election 2011.pdf

The Gertrude Stein Democratic Club joins the National Stonewall Democrats in applauding the Decision of Judge Walker in Perry v. Schwarzenegger.

This decision is about equal protection under the law. Separate is never equal, yet the government under Prop. 8 violates Americans' constitutional rights by creating separate classes of people with different laws for each. As progressives fighting for equality, this decision validates our stance that it is wrong for the government to deny people constitutional liberties simply because of who they are.

As the case inevitably finds its way to the US Supreme Court, The Gertrude Stein Democratic Club stands with our brothers and sisters in California in their continued fight to end this oppressive policy.

Read National Stonewall Democrats Statement on Prop 8 Ruling

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