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Posts tagged ‘Omaha’

Creating a Caucus to Protect WorkPlace Equality.


OMAHA, NE – On April 16th, 2013, a group of LGBT Democrats in Omaha met to discuss some issues that need to get done before the May 14th General City Elections. Among the topics discussed were getting LGBT people registered to vote, volunteering for the Suttle Campaign and forming an LGBT Caucus for the Douglas County Democrats to create a solid LGBT voice in the County level party.

Volunteering for the Suttle campaign is an important issue for the General City Elections on May 14th, Mayor Jim Suttle not only signed the Workplace Protections Ordinance into law, but he is also credited with getting a key swing vote to support Workplace Protections on the City Council!!!  The Suttle Campaign has many opportunities available for volunteers; canvassing, phone banking and data entry are the main ones.  You can call the campaign office at 402-933-0500 to find out more information.  The office is open from 10am-8pm Monday -Thursday, 10am-5pm on Friday and 12pm-5pm on Saturdays and Sundays.   The Suttle Campaign office is located at 347 N 76th St Omaha, NE 68114, which is near 76th and Cass, behind the KwikShop there.  The Firefighters are also hard at work canvassing for Jim Suttle’s campaign, meet them this Saturday, April 20th at 10am at the FireFighters Union Hall near 60th and Grover.  Here is the FaceBook Page for their event.

Another very important topic discussed is getting voters registered.  There will be voter registration applications available at Rebel Interactive on April 21st from 3pm-6pm. Here is the FaceBook Event Page.  They are located at 1217 South 13th St, just a couple of blocks south of 13th and Pacific.  Another opportunity for voter registration applications is the Milo Bail building at UNO, on April 24th, 11am-1:30pm.  If you cannot make those events there are many other opportunities where you and your loved ones can register to vote.  You can register at any public library and at the DMV until April 26th.  You can register in person at the Douglas County Election Commission until May 3rd.  Remember the election is May14th!!

Another item discussed is forming the LGBT Caucus.  The Douglas County Democrats adopted an amendment in November 2012 that made the county level party more LGBT inclusive, as well as creating the opportunity for minority communities to create county level caucuses. The adopted changes also added a Diversity Representative to the Executive Board, allowing a potential LGBT voice in the County party’s executive body.  We need participants for the actual caucus, we must have at least 10 people agree to be a part of it.  We need people to step and run for the office of chair.  Once we have 10 members and an elected chair, we can go to the Central Committee of the Douglas County Democrats and ask for approval and certification.  We must keep 10 members in the Caucus, the chair must attend all Central Committee meetings. The chair will have a vote in the Central Committee. If the Caucus falls below its membership requirements, and/or the chair doesn’t fulfill their duties the Caucus can become decertified and we would have start over again.

The Mission of the Greater Omaha LGBT Democrats:

1. To sensitize Democratic candidates and officeholders to the political needs of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community.
2. To promote the Democrats’ message of economic justice and social progress in the LGBT community.
3. To encourage LGBT community participation in the campaigns of Democratic candidates and at all levels of the Democratic Party.
4. To facilitate the election of Democratic candidates to public office by maximizing the Democratic turnout in the LGBT community.
5. To educate voters concerning fundamental information about LGBT issues, with the purpose of encouraging them to vote for LGBT supportive candidates.

We need volunteers to help out with campaigns of LGBT friendly candidates.  We need LGBT friendly candidates in office to defend the protections we have won, and to vote for and sponsor new legislation! We are looking to bring in a county or state level chapter of the National Stonewall Democrats!!!  Until we formerly organize and elect a chair, Please contact Ken Riter at 402-686-6389 for more information.

Additional items discussed:  Getting the group to attend the Douglas County Election Commission’s Deputy Registrar classes so we can conduct official voter registration drives as well as know everything we need to know about registering to vote in Nebraska.   Organizing an event to galvanize and motivate LGBT voters with a MILK viewing is also an option discussed.  A couple of people said they would discuss the possibility with Aksarben Cinema, FilmStreams and Flixx Lounge about viewing the movie at one of those places. Additional suggestions are welcome, please call Ken at 402-686-6389 for help with any questions or suggestions you have!

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Announcements, Elections, Press Release, Statements

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Douglas County Democrats To Vote On LGBT Inclusive Measure!


OMAHA, NE – This Thursday, Nov 15th, the Douglas County Democrats will be considering an amendment to their Constitution and Bylaws, hopefully ensuring an inclusive County Level Democratic Party. The measure will include the LGBT community when it comes to electing officers in the Douglas County Democrats’ Executive Committee. The measure, if approved, will begin the creation of several County Level Caucus Organizations for 8 different identified groups, including African-American, Latino and LGBT.

I am very excited for this! I  have helped push for this since the County Convention back in June 2012. We have been hashing this out in the Inclusive Task Force Committee since July.  We have now finished a proposal that will introduced to the Central Committee for the first time. I am a member of of the Central Committee from LD9, and all 4 original committee members from LD9 have been in involved in some manner.  I’m very proud of my LD district for that involvement!  A total of 15 people were involved in the Inclusion Task Force Committee.  As fellow activist and friend, Mika Covington, says, “Great things happen when Queers step up!!”  The meeting is this Thursday, Nov 15th at 7pm at the IBEW at 8946 L Street Omaha, NE 68127 near 90th and L.

I hope this will help people understand that political parties, especially the Democratic party, will listen to us as a people.  We just have to put ourselves in a position to talk where we will be heard. Many Democrats won election because they support the LGBT community, and because they had the support of great organizations like the National Stonewall Democrats.  The creation of a county level LGBT Caucus would give us a nice stepping stone in creating a Stonewall Democrat chapter here in Omaha.

You can view the proposal here, Inclusion_Task_Force_Proposal_Presentation_Packet

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Greater Omaha LGBT Democrats First Meeting Scheduled.


OMAHA, NE –  The Greater Omaha LGBT Democrats will have their first meeting on Sunday, March 11th, 2012 at 7pm at the 13th Street CoffeeHouse in the Omaha Old Market.  Some of the items on the agenda attendees may be discussing include the group’s purpose within the Democratic Party, LGBT issues, and formation of an LGBT Democratic Club to name a few.  The meeting will be informal and will serve  as an instrument of discussion. The Omaha area is a developing Democratic Party hotspot, as displayed by Obama’s 2008 win of Nebraska’s 2nd District and Jim Suttle’s 2009 upset over former Mayor Hal Daub and a bogus recall attempt help demonstrate that claim.  It is very important that the Omaha area’s LGBT Community rise with the Democrats in political organization to be sure that our issues are not left on the side.  Gwen Howard and John Ewing, both running for Nebraska’s 2nd District, had a debate sponsored by the Douglas County Democrats, but no LGBT issues were discussed. We have to change that, and we can change that by organizing politically and becoming directly involved in the processes of the local Democratic Party.  How we can do that will be discussed at these type of meetings.  Bring your questions and we will discuss the answers, hope to see you there  😀

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The Time for Greater Omaha LGBT Political Organizing is Long Overdue.


OMAHA, NE – The time for Greater Omaha LGBT Political Organizing is long overdue.  So what do we do?  Sit on our thumbs and hope for the best?  NOPE!  We are going to get together as one group, one voice and make our issues known. Our issues as members of the LGBT Community have been ignored for far too long.  We, as a people, can do something about that.  For example, have you ever looked at the make up of the current leadership of the Douglas County Democrats?  Well, have a look right here on the Douglas County Democrats Leadership page.  Notice how men, women and even those of racial minority backgrounds are represented?  There are even positions specifically labeled Minority Representatives.  Also, the bylaws dictate that if one Minority rep is male, the other must be female.  If the Chairman is male, the Vice-Chair must be female. This is how they ensure both men and women are represented in the party.  Here is the link to the Douglas County Democrats Bylaws to find out more. I am confident that if we, as Greater Omaha area’s LGBT Community, put our heads together, we can create some space for ourselves.  A space that will allow us the power to ensure that Democratic Candidates in our Greater Omaha area will be people who are considerate supporters of our precious and delicate LGBT issues.  But that can only happen if we participate in the political party that has long stood up for our issues on the National stage.  Its up to us to make sure the Democratic Party in the Omaha area is up to that task right here.  Its takes participation to create those seats to fill, it takes participation to be heard politically.

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Welcome to the new Greater Omaha LGBT Democrats Blog.


OMAHA, NE – Welcome to the new Greater Omaha LGBT Democrats Blog!  Its the dawn of a BLUE day in Omaha’s LGBT Community.  Its time for Omaha’s LGBT Democrats and their ever important Straight Allies to rally for political action for civil rights protections, marriage equality, economic justice and fairness for all!  In this election year in 2012, we see many of the same hurdles rising up to block our fight for progress.  As Ben Gray is about to reintroduce civil rights protections for sexual orientation and gender identity, anti LGBT and big government forces rise up to block such legislation in the Nebraska Unicameral with LB912.  If we can unite as one political force, we can push back the tide against us, but it takes participation in our democracy.  It means taking the time to email, call, mail, whatever you can do to let our politicians know that we are here, we are strong and we want our voices heard.  We need to support the politicians who openly support our community, that is how we will help get into a position to further equality legislation and directives.   More to come…….

Rainbow flag. Symbol of gay pride.

Image via Wikipedia

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