"I am the only one that is opposed to same-sex marriage. The other four, they say they believe in God, they go to church, but they're also for same-sex marriage. So, I think coming down the stretch that that's going to be the key issue. I don't think they're morally fit to run this city."

– Councilmember Vincent Orange on Saturday, August 12.

To view the WTTG report featuring these comments, click here.

Washington, DC - June 14, 2006 – The Gertrude Stein Democratic Club (Stein Club) endorsed Linda Cropp for Mayor of the District of Columbia at its June 12th Mayoral endorsement meeting. The Stein Club is the largest political organization in the District representing the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender (GLBT) Community.

Linda Cropp received 62 % of the vote (106 votes out of 171 total votes) on a second ballot, run-off vote. A candidate for office must receive at least 60% of the vote of members present in order to receive the Stein Club’s endorsement. All votes were conducted by secret ballot.

“The Stein Club appreciates the participation of each of the Mayoral candidates in the Stein Club forums and meetings. The Stein Club is particularly impressed by the commitment of all the Democratic candidates to GLBT issues,” said Mario Acosta-Velez, Stein Club’s President.

Washington Post
by Lori Montgomery
May 08, 2006

The five major candidates for D.C. mayor pledged last night to promote tolerance for gay men and lesbians in the city's black churches and to combat attitudes that led two prominent local ministers to denounce homosexuality from their pulpits.

But only two of the five -- D.C. Council member Adrian M. Fenty (D-Ward 4) and former telecommunications executive Marie C. Johns -- expressed unequivocal support for same-sex marriage, an ideological touchstone in the city's powerful gay community.

Washington, DC – May 9, 2006 – The Gertrude Stein Democratic Club (Stein Club), the largest LGBT political organization in the District, held a successful 2006 Mayoral Candidates Forum attracting approximately 300 participants. The forum, which took place at the Equality Forum of the Human Rights Campaign, highlighted critical issues impacting the LGBT community and the future of the District of Columbia. Mr. Colby King, Deputy Editor of the Washington Post’s editorial page, moderated the forum.

“The Mayoral Candidates Forum was a tremendous success and demonstrated an active and vibrant participation by the District’s LGBT community. The candidates addressed very important issues facing the LGBT community and helped us increase our knowledge of their positions on these issues and their general vision for the city,” said Mario Acosta-Velez, Stein Club’s President.

“We definitely had close to 300 people in attendance. We also sent a clear message that the LGBT community will play a crucial role in electing a Mayor who is supportive of the community and committed to ensuring our equal rights as residents of the District of Columbia,” concluded Acosta-Velez.