Stonewall Democrats Drop Support of DNC LGBT Fundraiser-- Andrew Sullivan Calls for End to Donations

Stonewall Democrats, the largest grassroots network of LGBT activists in the nation, has publicly dropped its support of the Democratic Party's LGBT fundraiser scheduled for next week. The Stonewall Democrats join a growing list of high-profile individuals who have decided not to support the event in anger over the Department of Justice's disturbing defense of DOMA brief. The Stonewall Democrats have an additional complaint however. They say that while the Democratic Party has offered them financial support in the past, they were unexpectedly cut off from funding this year. Wrote the board members to DNC finance director Tom Petrillo: "[W]e are incredibly disappointed that the DNC has made a decision to withhold any financial support to National Stonewall Democrats this year but is in turn asking us to help raise money for the DNC in a difficult financial environment. The DNC has historically supported National Stonewall through sponsorship of the annual Capitol Champions event. This year, we did not receive any support. The DNC has traditionally provided materials for the many Pride parades and festivals around the country to help educate the LGBT community about why the Democratic Party is the Party for full LGBT equality. This year we were informed that we would not be receiving any materials or support for producing materials for the various nationwide Pride activities. These decisions were very disappointing." Ben Smith has more of the emails at Politico. Andrew Sullivan has called for an end to donations to the Democratic Party until action is taken on issues of importance to the LGBT community. Writes Sullivan: "We need actions to highlight the administration's betrayals, postponements and boilerplate. We need to start confronting the president at his events. We need civil disobedience. We need to tell him we do not want another fricking speech where he tells us he is a fierce advocate for our rights, when that is quite plainly at this point not true. We will not tolerate another Clinton. No invites to these people for dinners or fundraisers. No cheering him at events while he does nothing to follow up on his explicit promises. Of course these things can be done. If anyone high up in the Obama administration or the Pelosi-Reid Congress gave a damn, much would have been done." UPDATE: Former co-chair of the Obama LGBT Leadership Council Stampp Corbin has dropped out of the fundraiser as well. His post. Previously... Democratic Party LGBT Fundraiser Tainted by DOMA Brief [tr] Two More Drop Out of LGBT DNC Fundraiser Over DOMA Brief [tr] Posted in full at TOWERLOAD.COM Listen to my news Podcast http://RonMills.us/news Visit My Social Media Blog http://ronmills.us/ Visit me on twitter http://Twitter.com/RainbowUSA Visit Me On Face Book http://RonMills.us/facebook My Biz on Twitter http://Twitter.com/theRbuzz