History
The National Stonewall Democrats was founded in 1998 by Barney Frank, an openly gay Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts. The organization brought together LGBT Democratic clubs across the United States which were left unaffiliated after the 1987 dissolution of the National Association of Gay and Lesbian Democratic Clubs.
The group describes itself as "a grassroots force for social change within our movement and within our party." It has over 90 chapters throughout the United States which focus on a variety of equality issues. The national organization also operates a political action committee (PAC) which coordinates campaign contributions and support from local chapters to endorse pro-equality Democrats in federal elections.
Michael Mitchell, the current Executive Director, has previously served as the marriage campaign manager for the ACLU's LGBT Project, the advocacy and planning specialist for the Equality Federation, and was the first Executive Director for Equality Utah. Previous leaders of the organization include Daniel McGlinchey, Jo Wyrick, Eric Stern, Michael Perez, Paul Yandura, Michael Colby, and Chad S. Johnson.
In 2003, the University of Michigan chapter of the Stonewall Democrats became the first of its kind on a college campus. It has worked towards open housing, lifting the ban on gay men who wish to donate blood, and statewide anti-bullying campaigns.
Read more about this topic: National Stonewall Democrats
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