Two More Drop Out of LGBT DNC Fundraiser Over DOMA Brief

Two more high profile gay figures have decided not to attend next week's Democratic Party LGBT fundaiser, joining those who opted out earlier this week.

Vermont Senate President Pro Tem Peter Shumlin has said no, protesting the DOMA brief: "One thing I have learned dealing with marriage equality in Vermont is that we all have a responsibility to stand up for the civil rights of all Americans. This memo from the Justice Department is more Bush than Bush. It takes the only minority group left in America that national politicians can publicly discriminate against and still see their numbers go up in the polls and it reinforces the horrible stereotypes about our friends and neighbors."

Replied DNC Treasurer Andy Tobias, who's organizing the event: "I think Pete Shumlin is terrific. I totally get why he feels the way he does. If I thought that the Department of Justice brief reflected the Obama position and vision of America, I would be boycotting or not going to the dinner either. But it doesn't."

Prominent donor Bruce Bastian went a step further, saying he'll no longer be donating to the DNC, at least for now:

"'I will continue to support certain congressmen, congresswomen and senators whom I believe will continue to fight for our rights, but I don't think blanket donations to the Democratic Party right now are justified, at least not in my book,' he said. Bastian, a major donor to many LGBT groups, said he sent an e-mail to the DNC on Wednesday saying he wouldn't attend the event 'because of the remarks on DOMA.' He found the filing 'very offensive.' ... Bastian said the brief was the "tipping point" for him in his perception for how the Democratic Party supports LGBT issues. 'The LGBT community raised a lot of money in support for Obama, and, I think he has to have the courage — well, not just him — but, I think the Democratic Party now has to have the courage to fight back, and when they do, they'll have my support,' he said."

(via slog)

Previously...
Democratic Party LGBT Fundraiser Tainted by DOMA Brief [tr]

Democratic Party LGBT Fundraiser Tainted by Obama DOMA Brief

Obama's now resoundingly criticized Department of Justice defense of DOMA brief could not have come at a worse time for a Democratic Party LGBT fundraiser headlined by Vice President Joe Biden scheduled for next week in Washington D.C. As you may have read by now on Politico, Americablog, or Pam's House Blend, I had planned on attending but early yesterday made a decision that I would not. I wrote DNC Treasurer Andy Tobias (who is a friend outside of any professional relationship we have) and told him that I did not feel at all good about the lack of movement within the Obama administration on LGBT issues and given the content of the Department of Justice brief I could not attend in good conscience. My colleague, Towleroad's political director Corey Johnson, is not attending either.

David Mixner has bowed out as well, he wrote yesterday:

"I will not attend a fundraiser for the National Democratic Party in Washington next week when the current administration is responsible for these kind of actions. How will they ever take us seriously if we keep forking out money while they harm us. For now on, my money is going to battles within the community such as the fight in Maine or the March on Washington! I am so tired of being told by Democratic operatives to 'suck it up' because so many other profound issues are at stake. It is as if our fight for our freedom is single handedly responsible for the fate of all other issues. Bullshit. Maybe, just maybe, it is time for others to 'suck it up' for us and finally, without conditions, join our fight for our freedom!"

Alan van Capelle of the Empire State Pride Agenda has told John Aravosis at Americablog that he too has pulled out.

Tobias, who agrees with those critical of the brief, still believes that the President meant what he said in his promises to LGBT people, he told Politico today: "If this debacle of a brief represented the President's views, I'd boycott too. [I] [t]otally understand all the hurt and anger, thought Joe Solmonese['s] letter to the President was spot on. Still personally totally believe in the President. His Pride Proclamation, and his call to repeal DOMA, are genuine."

Pam Spaulding, who published a leaked list of those scheduled to attend, has called upon her readers to ask Barney Frank, Tammy Baldwin, and Jared Polis and other leaders why they are attending.

Writes Ben Smith: "Organizers, I'm told, are scrambling to get visible White House action on gay issues in advance of the June 25 dinner to prevent it from becoming a protest stage."

UPDATE: HRC National Field Director Marty Rouse, former Clinton aide Richard Socarides out...

Gay Men Accept, Retain Top Positions at the Democratic Party

The Southern Voice reports that fundraiser Rufus Gifford, who with his partner Jeremy Bernard, raised millions for the Obama campaign, is expected to accept a role as the new finance director for the DNC. I shot the above photo of Gifford (left) and Bernard at the opening ceremonies of the Inauguration at the Lincoln Memorial.

The Voice's piece also notes that DNC Treasurer Andrew Tobias has been asked to stay on in his role by incoming Chairman Tim Kaine. Another high-profile gay figure in the DNC is New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair Ray Buckley. You may have seen our interview with him last week. Buckley was elected the new President of the Association of State Democratic Chairs.

You may have missed...
Towleroad Interviews Ray Buckley, New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair [tr]
A Partisan Message from DNC Treasurer Andrew Tobias [tr]
L.A. Weekly on Obama's Gay Fundraisers [tr]

A Partisan Message from DNC Treasurer Andrew Tobias

***EXCLUSIVE to TOWLEROAD - DNC Treasurer Andrew Tobias spoke at the Convention this afternoon. More on his remarks tomorrow. He's pictured above (left), following those remarks, with his partner, fashion designer Charles Nolan. I asked him if he'd like to write us a post on the occasion of this year's Convention. I've posted it below.

I watched my first Democratic Convention in 1960 at Camp Wigwam, where I was secretly and hopelessly in love with Timmy Morse. Which was a problem.

The older you are (or the deeper into the back woods of today's Alabama you live) the more you can relate to just how big -- just how enormous -- this problem was.

Which is why I come to Denver, in my role as glorified concierge and apologiser-in-chief ("we put you in a Residence Inn, Ambassador? Oh, my God, I'm so SORRY!"), with such a sense of wonder and gratitude.

For our country to have come so far since 1960 is amazing (at least to me). And a lot of the progress comes thanks to Democrats, who've overwhelmingly been leaning forward with us, against opposition at every step from an overwhelming majority of backward-leaning Republicans.

I'm sorry to make it partisan, but when every one of our primary candidates in 2004 and 2008 favored our open military service (for example) and every one of theirs opposed it -- how is it NOT partisan?

I'm sorry to make it partisan, but when our nominee favors everything we want short of marriage (and even sends a public letter congratulating "all of you who have shown your love for each other by getting married these last few weeks") -- and their nominee OPPOSES everything we want (even opposes including us under existing hate-crimes legislation) -- how is it not partisan?

I'm sorry to make it partisan, but when more than 350 of our delegates and alternates are openly LGBT . . . when our chairman appoints a transgendered person to our Platform Committee . . . when the guy who's been training our organizers around the country for three years was specifically encouraged by our Chairman to "come out" at every one of those hundreds and hundreds of training sessions (because once they get to know gay people in Kentucky and Kansas everything changes) . . . when the third most powerful guy in our candidate's campaign is openly gay . . . when the Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee is openly gay . . . when the next First Lady (knock wood) uses the phrase "from Selma to Stonewall" and the next President (knock wood) tells the congregation of the Ebenezer Baptist Church that we need to get over homophobia in the African-American community -- BUT HIS OPPONENT FAVORS WRITING DISCRIMINATION INTO THE ARIZONA CONSTITUTION -- how can it not be partisan?

Uh, oh. I'm getting carried away. But it's been so heartbreaking to see the other side play dirty . . . win . . . and then run our country off the rails.

And now we have a chance to fix it. To elect another inspiring young Senator (not 43, as in 1960, but just turned 47) and put aside our fears (would Kennedy, a Catholic, take his orders from the Pope?) and get to work.

Because BOY has the current President ever left us a huge mess to clean up.

For those of you out here in Denver with me, feel free to come by for an apology ("you got stuck in line HOW long? I'm so SORRY"). But bring your credit card.

And for those who had the good sense to stay home with TiVo and an umbrella drink, but who want to toss in a little visibly LGBT support, click here: https://donate.barackobama.com/page/contribute/GLBT.

— Andrew Tobias

***