LPAC’s Agenda for Lesbians and Their Male Allies
If you missed the energizing and inspiring speech by pioneering LGBT activist Urvashi Vaid at CAMP Rehoboth on June 22, this firebrand speaker has a challenge for you: Get involved. Your vote counts.
In a session called Lesbian Political Power: Why it Matters, Vaid, a board member of the new LPAC (Lesbian Political Action Committee) had some choice words for our political process and how we can make it work for us.
“Why are we lesbians? Because we love women!” Vaid started off, noting that we are famed for caring, taking responsibility, and helping those in need. LPAC’s goal is to put lesbians, as well as male and straight female allies, in positions of power.
A strictly non-partisan operation, LPAC backs federal, state, and local candidates who believe in LGBT equality, equal pay for equal work, and social justice causes. LPAC raises funds to support candidates who share those values. Their 2014 slate includes several lesbian candidates as well a straight women and two men. In its first year, LPAC was heavily involved in the successful campaign to elect Senator Tammy Baldwin.
Acknowledging that political action committees have been seen as a negative influence for our democracy, Vaid also admitted that as long as they are legal under current campaign finance laws, we should be working within that structure. “We should not just let the Koch Brothers (pronouncing the name as it is spelled, rather than like the soft drink) use PACs to push their agenda,” said Vaid.
Vaid also stressed that it was time for lesbians to get into the political arena in greater numbers than in the past. She lauded the gay men who have taken so many leadership roles over the years, but made the case for women stepping up through activism and as donors.
“The support can make a huge difference,” she said.
Vaid is an attorney and former executive director of the Gay and Lesbian Task Force. In 2009, OUT magazine named her one of the 50 most influential LGBT people in the U.S.
Also speaking at the event was Katherine Grainger, a consultant handling fundraising for the LPAC Board as the organization is too new to have staff yet. Grainger spoke about how to donate to LPAC, and the slate of 2014 endorsements.
On hand to hear the talk were two local candidates for state office, Marie Mayor and Claire Snyder-Hall, along with many women anxious to hear how they can get involved in the political process. Hosts for the event included Ellen Feinberg and Lesley Rogan, Marilyn Hewitt and Leslie Ledogar, Pam Kozey and Marie Martinucci, Natalie B. Moss, Pattie Magee and Anita Pettit, Margie Moore and Sheree Mixell, Julie Peters, Beth Pile, Mary Beth Shaw, and Pam Field.