Certainly a busy time for these folks with Linda Ketner challenging Henry Brown.
From the Stonewall Democrats:
What an exciting month of political activities across our great State! Precinct Meetings, County Conventions and Elections, several Campaign Kickoffs . . . and it’s only going to get more exciting from here!
SC Stonewall Meetings:
The next SC Stonewall Democrats Meeting will take place on April 9th at 6:30pm at Sunfire Grill in Charleston. More information, including announcements regarding our guest speakers, will be sent out in the coming days. Please make every effort to attend.
The June meeting of the SC Stonewall Democrats will be held in Columbia on Wednesday, June11th. Our guest speaker at the meeting will be Carol Fowler, Chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party. This will be an exciting meeting and one not to miss!
County Conventions:
Congratulations to fellow Stonewall Democrat, Susie Prueter, on her election as the 2nd Vice-Chair of the Charleston County Democratic Party! Way to go Susie!
If you are aware of other fellow Stonewall Democrats (or Stonewall Friends) that were elected to County positions, please contact Susie with that information (prueter@bellsouth.net).
Democracy for America Training:
Want to know the “ends and outs” of creating a winning campaign? Want to know how to better serve our local friends who are running for office? Then please consider attending the Democracy for America Training Academy being offered at The College of Charleston on April 12th and 13th. The cost of the training has been reduced to only $30 due to sponsorships by several local organizations, including the SC Stonewall Democrats! Additional scholarships are available if needed - contact Mike Schwarzott (mikeschwarzott@comcast.net) for information.
Visit http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=26532 to register online. Response has been overwhelming and seats are filling up fast!
State Convention:
The State Democratic Party Convention will be held in Columbia on May 3rd. Several Counties still have available Delegate and Alternate Delegate openings. We need as many Stonewall and Stonewall Friends in attendance at the Convention to ensure openly GLBT people are elected as Delegates to the National Convention. Several Stonewall members are running for these hotly contested delegates positions. So, let’s get out and support them!
If you’d like to attend the State Convention, contact your local County Democrattic Party and sign up as a Delegate. Also, please let us know that you will be there by contacting Keith Riddle (KRiddle595@aol.com).
Be on the lookout for the unveiling of the new South Carolina Stonewall Democrat website - Coming Soon!
Join AFFA and The Chart for an evening of music with Jen Foster. This Texas-native, award-winning singer, songwriter and guitarist writes from the heart and performs from the soul.
When: Friday, March 28, 2008
8 pm
$10 at the door supports AFFA.
Where:
www.myspace.com/charlestonchart
1078 E. Montague Ave. Unit D ~ N. Charleston SC 29405
“located behind Park Circle Coffee & across the street from Wachovia”
Phone:Â 843.225.9989
www.jenfoster.com
Yesterday afternoon, I filed to run for Congress in South Carolina’s 1st District!
Many of you know that I grew up in a little town called Faith, and that I adored my grandmother. Ma told me when I was a small child that if I saw something wrong, God counted on me to fix it. I took that lesson to heart and have spent my life working to solve problems and make a difference.
Some of you have actually worked beside me with Katrina families in Mississippi, or on homelessness and affordable housing, on civil rights and social justice, or on children’s issues, sustainability and more. Others of you have done important work in other areas. And here we are now, working together to make a difference in South Carolina!
Having you beside me convinces me that we will forge that new path forward. A path that leads to a 1st District known for its opportunities, exceptional education system, job growth in new technologies, commuter rails, clean air and water, support for veterans, and quality healthcare.
And, we’ll forge a path that leads to an America which is again respected around the world - not because we have bigger guns and more money, but because we live our values of a level playing field, opportunity for all, fairness and compassion.
As your Congresswoman, I’ll continue to take my grandmother’s lesson to heart, and together we can take that new path forward to a thriving future.
I can’t tell you how glad I am to be walking that path with you!
Linda
Campaign Kick-Off!
Thursday, April 3d
Join Linda and Mayor Riley to celebrate the beginning of an exciting campaign. The fun begins at 10am in Charleston’s Cannon Park.
10am Cannon Park with Mayor Joe Riley
1pm Fish Camp on Pawley’s Island
4pm Walking tour of downtown Conway
6pm Market Common in Myrtle Beach
To RSVP and for more information, call the campaign
at 843-937-4901 or email info@lindaketner.com.
Get some friends together, get creative and use your imagination and fashion a hat to wear to the Spring Silly Hat Party on Thursday, April 3 at Club Pantheon. The party starts at 8 p.m. and proceeds from the door go to Lowcountry AIDS Services. The silliest, most outrageous hat will win a trophy and bragging rights. The night will be filled with dancing and music will be provided by DJ Jesse. Twenty dollars will get you in the door with a hat or $30 without a hat. Cash or check will be accepted at the door. Representatives will also be on hand to distribute information about Lowcountry AIDS Services.
Lowcountry AIDS Services (LAS) is the only organization in Berkeley, Dorchester and Charleston counties whose sole focus is HIV/AIDS. LAS provides case management, support groups, financial assistance, legal services, housing assistance, volunteer services, nutritional assistance and education to their clients. Services include referrals to a strong network of community-based service providers, prevention education and HIV counseling and testing throughout the tri-county area.
To learn more about LAS, call 843.747.2273 or visit www.aids-service.com.
The Lowcountry Blogroll has a brief wrap of local reactions to Oklahoma Rep. Sally Kern’s rant against gay people. In the video below she talks about how gay people are the biggest threat to our nation (bigger than terrorism) and how the lifestyle has “deadly consequences.” She says that “no society that has totally embraced homosexuality has lasted more than a few decades.”
She says it’s her right to say these things. That’s true. It’s also the right of the people in her district to hold her responsible for what she says.
From the hard working people at the South Carolina Equality Coalition we hear the following:
“Just minutes ago, the Columbia City Council voted unanimously to pass ordinances prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity in housing and public accommodations. South Carolina Equality proposed these ordinances in January and the ordinances passed with little opposition. Please see the attached press release.
We have passed one of the most comprehensive local ordinances in the United States, in one of the most conservative states in the country. These ordinances represent the most significant advance in GLBT rights in SC, in the history of our state.
When we work together, when we’re focused, when we’re strong– there is no limit to what we can accomplish. We have re-launched South Carolina Equality in the last three months, and look at what we’ve been able to do, together. With your help, South Carolina Equality will take these ordinances to other cities in the state and continue to work at a local level.
South Carolina Equality worked closely with the SC Gay and Lesbian Pride Movement and the Harriet Hancock Center, coordinating activity and building support. None of this would have been possible without the efforts of Council Members Daniel Rickenmann and Tameika Isaac Devine and Mayor Bob Coble.
South Carolina’s Capital City is the first municipality in the state to pass comprehensive human rights ordinances in housing and public accommodations including sexual orientation and gender identity. Columbia joins two other cities in the Deep South that have passed comprehensive anti-discrimination ordinances - New Orleans and Atlanta.”
A Florida man is hitting the road with a traveling memorial recognizing victims of hate crimes.
A lesser-known woman supporting the memorial is Elke Kennedy, whose son Sean, 20, (pictured) in May 2007 took a fatal punch to the face in Greenville, S.C.
”I get up each day knowing that this is what I need to do for the rest of my life,” said Kennedy, 46, of South Carolina, now an activist lobbying for a national hate-crimes law.
”I did not want any mother to have to go through this again,” she said.
