I was elected President of the Delaware
Liberty Fund, the state’s only GLBT political action committee in
January 2001. Almost two years later, with an important election on the
horizon, it has been a reflective time for me as my tenure as president
is coming to an end.
When the DLF was first conceived in
August of 1999, it was in response to the Defense of Marriage Act. The
original members of the steering committee noticed that the most
respected and successful political groups were well financed PACs that
had significant grassroots support. Our mission developed out of the
desire to educate and mobilize the GLBT electorate, and promote
candidates and legislation that are important to our community. We
wanted to give gay and lesbian Delaware citizens a forum to meet
candidates running for office, and we wanted to normalize the face of
homosexuality for our mostly straight elected officials.
Two years ago, we sent out our first
surveys and made our first endorsements. As a fledgling organization, I
have to admit that the response was slow and spotty. We did not always
have access to accurate information or the clout to demand a response.
Occasionally, individuals we endorsed sent back our checks and asked
that we not publicize our endorsement of their candidacy. Other
political organizations and community activists were at odds at our
pecuniary approach to achieving basic civil rights and many called us an
“elitist” organization. However, we are only using tactics to raise
and distribute campaign finances that have been used by the straight
community for many years.
House Bill 99 and its failure to leave
Bob Venables’ desk drawer changed many things for the Delaware Liberty
Fund. Our lobbying skills emerged, making us a more evident and
organized PAC in Legislative Hall; subsequent financial support for the
allies of HB99 and their primary campaigns added authority to our
visibility. As part of the greater GLBT community, a unity began to
evolve between formerly contentious organizations when a common and
identifiable adversary had emerged. Average straight voters were
becoming more aware of our issues and, except for a small and scary
conservative minority, were in favor of the passage of HB99.
Delaware is on the verge of a very
exciting time for our community, politically speaking. It is estimated
that there are 50,000 to 65,000 gays and lesbians in our state, making
us a substantial and powerful minority. In some Sussex County districts,
nearly 8% of the electorate is homosexual, and in tight elections these
numbers cannot be easily set aside. The Delaware Liberty Fund would like
to harness these people and their voices so that candidates will no
longer discount us as a curious fringe element. The small size of our
state means that candidates are interacting every day with gay and
lesbian individuals whether they realize it or not. It is important for
all of us to make an effort to meet candidates and elected officials on
a grass roots level, let them into our homes, meet our partners, our
children and witness the reality of a so-called “gay lifestyle.”.
During the week of October 8, Delaware
Liberty Fund held two “Meet the Candidate” events, one in New Castle
County and one in Sussex County. These events drew 12 candidates between
them as well as representatives from Jack Markell and Carl Schnee’s
campaigns.
Two years, and one failed
anti-discrimination bill later, a candidate that had turned down our
endorsement and our money was an attendee at one of our events and
grateful to have the backing. Legislators who would not return our
surveys called us when they discovered they had nearly lost our
endorsement and financial contribution. The $11,000 we gave out during
the primary and general election campaigns have let our legislators know
that we care, we are watching how they vote, and we are willing to
support worthy candidates.
Our website, www.delawarelibertyfund.org,
lists the forty individuals who received our endorsement for the 2002
election year. These are individuals who defended or sponsored HB99,
answered our survey questions positively, or both. Please use our list
as a guide to help you choose on Election Day, and forward the list to
relatives and friends in other districts.
I am grateful to the families that have
joined the Liberty Fund and thank you for the opportunity to serve you,
our GLBT community, and the State of Delaware.
And, please, don’t forget to vote!
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