What do the Stonewall Democrats Have Against Women of Color?

[Michael Deneen]

I received an email today listing the Cleveland Stonewall Democrats official endorsements. As a supporter of gay rights, I receive their emails and support the fight for acceptance at all government levels. With Trump in the White House and Dewine in Columbus, there is obviously a lot of work to do. However, I find CSD very lacking in its political work at the local level.

I was disappointed to see that they endorsed Ed FitzGerald lackey Tess Neff, an establishment insider, over Laura Rodriguez Carbone in the Lakewood Ward 1 race. This reminds me of CSD's 2017 endorsement of Cleveland Council Rep Brian Cummins, a chronic flip-flopper, over grassroots activist Jasmine Santana.

Laura's campaign, the first of a person of color in Lakewood, has embodied the values of tolerance and inclusiveness. Laura has an inspirational story of overcoming poverty and homelessness to achieve the American Dream. She is widely known to be extremely compassionate to all marginalized groups....not just racial minorities, but also LGBTQ, the disabled, elderly, and poor.
In addition, Laura is extremely honest and highly educated on all the issues.
This sort of campaign is what the Stonewall Democrats are SUPPOSED to be about. Instead, they endorse yet another Establishment party hack.

I visited San Francisco a couple weeks ago. I can only imagine what Harvey Milk would think of this dreadful decision. He spent his political career fighting the Establishment Machine, and it literally cost him his life. Here in Cuyahoga, CSD submits to the will of the Budish Machine.

As some of you know, in 2017 Santana overcame the Establishment and was elected in Cleveland. Hopefully Laura will do the same in Lakewood. She's a great candidate with a wonderful team of volunteers.

As the rise of AOC and "The Squad" indicates, the Democratic Party is changing nationally. Women of color are taking a bigger role, and they are doing so in an increasingly progressive manner. It's too bad that CSD has decided to fight change instead of embracing it. Sadly, they look like just another group of wealthy white men that want to protect the status quo.

p.s. You might be wondering, "Hey Mike, why didn't you raise this issue with CSD?" That's a good question. The answer: They no longer allow me to post on their Facebook page. I dared to question their 2018 endorsement of racist Tom Bullock over longtime LGBTQ advocate Mike Skindell.

[Dan Alaimo]

It sounds like the Stonewall Democrats have moved decidedly to the center/mainstream of the Democratic Party, if not farther to the right.

[Michael Deneen]

It sounds like the Stonewall Democrats have moved decidedly to the center/mainstream of the Democratic Party, if not farther to the right.

CSD is most definitely to the right...they are grossly out of touch with both the minority community and young people.
I'm almost ready to call them "Republicans with Rainbow Flags".

[John Farina]

This is actually a very unfair statement and is pretty much full of nonsense. CSD has a very thorough and fair process to endorse Democratic candidates. What is presented here is completely false. CSD has never had a problem endorsing people of color, we do in every single election cycle. In fact, there are many women and men of color endorsed in this cycle. Laura Rodriguez-Carbone participated in the process and to my knowledge was treated very fairly. She was interviewed by the screening committee and spoke to the membership, as did the other two candidates. The membership votes on who is endorsed and any candidate has to reach 60% of the vote in order to be endorsed. For the primary, none of the three candidates reached 60% and no one was endorsed. The endorsement was reconsidered after the primary and both Laura and Tess had the opportunity to speak to the membership or send a representative. Tess sent her husband and I do not believe Laura sent anyone. The members that were present voted to endorse Tess. That is nothing against Laura, but there were simply more people present who preferred Tess for whatever their reasons. Cleveland Stonewall Democrats has one of the most ethical and thorough endorsement processes of ANY Democratic club in the county and this letter is absolutely unfounded.

The club has frequently bucked the county party on many occasions and has a strong record of standing up for our principles and not following 'establishment' politics. It is also completely false to say the club is 'to the right'. The only time someone is blocked from our page is because they can't play nice with others. No one is blocked simply for disagreeing with our endorsements. Anyone is welcome to join CSD if they are interested in seeing fair minded Democrats elected. If you want to see different candidates endorsed, show up and make the case. That's how politics works.

As far as our work at the local level, Cleveland Stonewall Democrats has done more to move LGBTQ issues across the county than any other LGBTQ organization. From Lakewood to East Cleveland, there is ample evidence of the work we have done. It is yet another falsehood to say that we are 'lacking on the local level'.

[Amy Martin]

Rest assured that the Cleveland Stonewall Democrats do not speak for the entire LBGTQ+ community. Just because a gay organization supports a particular candidate does not automatically mean a gay vote. Julie and I have consistently voted with our conscience and this frequently is for someone other than the CSD endorsed candidate.

[Michael Deneen]

Thanks for posting John!
Allow me to defend my statements.

CSD has never had a problem endorsing people of color, we do in every single election cycle.

How many challengers of color has CSD endorsed in recent years? The organization tends to endorse the same establishment figures as the county party (for example, Frank Jackson). These endorsements reflect the groups cozy relationship with the status quo.

The membership votes on who is endorsed and any candidate has to reach 60% of the vote in order to be endorsed.

That is nothing against Laura, but there were simply more people present who preferred Tess for whatever their reasons.

Like the other Democratic groups (Lakewood Dem Club, for example), most (if not all) voters have their minds made up before any presentations are made.....so the entire process is based on familiarity rather than policy. This is not exactly a recipe for diversity.

The club has frequently bucked the county party on many occasions and has a strong record of standing up for our principles and not following 'establishment' politics.

OK, CSD endorsed Nickie Antonio over Sweeney in 2018. That wasn't exactly a radical decision. Why did you endorse Sweeney's running buddy Tom Bullock over Mike Skindell, a longtime advocate for the community? Nickie and Mike go back for years....it was a disgrace that CSD threw Skindell under the bus for Sweeney's co-conspirator. If it's simply a matter of "Bullock brought more people to the vote", then that calls into question your endorsement process.

As far as our work at the local level, Cleveland Stonewall Democrats has done more to move LGBTQ issues across the county than any other LGBTQ organization. From Lakewood to East Cleveland, there is ample evidence of the work we have done. It is yet another falsehood to say that we are 'lacking on the local level'.

I fully respect the work that you and CSD did back in the 2000s. i vividly remember the ugly days of Demro's "big gay flagpole" and the bitter fight over Issue 1 in 2004. Back in those days, CSD was the best organized Democratic group on the west side. I appreciated getting their email updates on local events and their fight for civil rights.

My disappointment in recent years stems from the group's unwillingness to address a wider progressive agenda. Now that gay rights have largely been won in the county, it would be nice to see the group reach out to other marginalized groups. That is something I admire about Barney Frank's career...he looked to build coalitions.
For example, I have not noticed or seen the group address police brutality or the County Jail crisis. Given the origins of the group, one might think this is an area of concern for the Stonewall Dems.

It is also completely false to say the club is 'to the right'.

I think we can agree that the the Stonewall Dems have tended to endorse establishment candidates at every level in recent years. Within the Democratic spectrum, this definitely puts them to the right of newer groups like Our Revolution/CCPC. Younger folks (those who were just kids during the 2000s) are leaning to the left.

[John Farina]

Gee Mike, nothing you said was accurate in your original post and you continued being inaccurate in your 'defense'. I stand by our work and our organization. Folks like you aren't going to ever take that away. You couldn't be more wrong, but then again, you usually are.

Oh, and never use the term 'I think we can agree' with me. That will never happen.

[John Farina]

Rest assured that the Cleveland Stonewall Democrats do not speak for the entire LBGTQ+ community. Just because a gay organization supports a particular candidate does not automatically mean a gay vote. Julie and I have consistently voted with our conscience and this frequently is for someone other than the CSD endorsed candidate.

All you have to do is show up and get involved if you're not happy with the way the club works. Feel free to come to a meeting sometime.

[Michael Deneen]

Oh, and never use the term 'I think we can agree' with me. That will never happen.

I think we can agree that Trump shouldn't be re-elected.

[John Farina]

Even a broken clock is right twice a day.

[m buckley]

My take.

When given the opportunity to endorse an accomplished, thoughtful , more than qualified minority candidate for Lakewood City Council CSD said No.

They said No to diversity. No to inclusiveness. No to a different voice in the room.
And in doing so they said Yes to keeping Lakewood City Council Lilly white. White on white.

Diversity in Lakewood... A word on a yard sign. A photo-op at an event. But never a seat at the table. Not for those people.
CSD endorsed.

[Bridget Conant]

My take.

When given the opportunity to endorse an accomplished, thoughtful , more than qualified minority candidate for Lakewood City Council CSD said No.

They said No to diversity. No to inclusiveness. No to a different voice in the room.
And in doing so they said Yes to keeping Lakewood City Council Lilly white. White on white.

Diversity in Lakewood... A word on a yard sign. A photo-op at an event. But never a seat at the table. Not for those people.
CSD endorsed.

AMEN

[Kate McCarthy]

My take.

When given the opportunity to endorse an accomplished, thoughtful , more than qualified minority candidate for Lakewood City Council CSD said No.

They said No to diversity. No to inclusiveness. No to a different voice in the room.
And in doing so they said Yes to keeping Lakewood City Council Lilly white. White on white.

Diversity in Lakewood... A word on a yard sign. A photo-op at an event. But never a seat at the table. Not for those people.
CSD endorsed.

AMEN

Yes. And CSD, there is a group out there for you all ... it's called Log Cabin Republicans.

[John Farina]

Wow, I had forgotten how completely irrational Lakewood folks are. If even one of you knew what you were talking about, it would be an achievement. Enjoy your misery.

[John Farina]

Wow, I had forgotten how completely irrational some Lakewood folks are. If even one of you knew what you were talking about, it would be an achievement. Enjoy your misery.