There are 236 members of the Georgia State Assembly, only one of whom is openly LGBT.  The Georgia disctrict with the highest LGBT population might be able to double that number in the near future if advocate-turned-candidate Simone Bell is elected.  But the significance of the race won’t be limited to Georgia.  Simone would be the first openly lesbian African American elected to any state legislature.

Simone brings decades of advocacy experience to this campaign, including work with Lambda Legal and the Atlanta Lesbian Health Initiative.  GayPolitics.com interviewed Simone to learn more about her historic candidacy and what her election would mean for her district.

GayPolitics: Considering your district has a large LGBT population, do you think District 58’s Rep should feel compelled to represent their interests?

Simone Bell: I think all Reps in every district should feel compelled to represent the interests of all voters in the District. District 58 definitely has a large LGBT voting population and the person who represents the district should absolutely represent LGBT interests and understand that LGBT issues fall into the overall issues of access to accessible and affordable healthcare, better education, stronger families and communities, jobs, public safety and so on.

GP: Why do you think now is the right time to transition from advocacy and activism to direct participation in the Assembly?

SB: I’ve been an advocate and activist for 20 years and have been successful on many levels.  I am now ready to bring together all aspects of my social justice and equality work and make a difference on a larger level by actually taking a seat at the table of decision making.  We need additional progressive voices in the Georgia General Assembly and I am passionate, prepared and committed to being that voice for the voters of District 58.

GP: How do the lessons you’ve learned in LGBT advocacy apply to your broader political goals?

SB: The greatest lesson I can take from my LGBT advocacy into my broader political goals is to understand that the work of representing the interests of many is both an honor and responsibility that should not be taken lightly.  The good work that I accomplish affects the everyday lives of the people I fight for. It is long term work that is demanding and challenging.  It is work that must be done from an organizer’s point of view – one that seeks to build relationships and find common ground within the issues to bring about effective change that transforms people’s awareness of their right to have a voice in the process. Continue reading »

Those who wish to undo domestic partnership benefits laws in Washington state have a steep hill to climb, according to a new poll, which finds 66% of registered voters favor either full marriage equality or domestic partner benefits for same-sex couples.

The poll’s authors write:

The debate over the legal recognition of same sex couples will no doubt remain controversial forsome time in Washington State. Despite this, granting lesbian and gay couples the rights of marriage in their entirety in the form of domestic partnerships is a position supported by amajority of Washingtonians. This support is widespread across demographic groups, and is a majority position for those in the political middle. While some demographic groups, including conservatives and Republicans, are far from having majorities that support full domestic partnerships, most other demographic groups are evenly split or have strong majorities that support them. Further, our data reveal that support for same‐sex partnership rights has grown each year, suggesting an increasing tolerance in Washington State.

Referendum 71, which would overturn state laws expanding domestic partner benefits for same-sex couples, earned a spot on the next statewide ballot after marriage equality opponents collected the necessary 120,577 signatures to put the law up to a popular vote.

Houston mayoral candidate Annise Parker earned the endorsements of three major labor and Democratic groups Thursday night, her campaign announced in an e-mail to supporters.  Service Employees International Union, the Houston Organization of Public Employees and Harris County Democrats all threw their support to Parker.  ”Last night was a great victory,” Parker said.

In a profile of Parker in today’s Washington Blade, reporter Amy Cavanaugh writes:

Move over New York, Boston and San Francisco — Houston is poised to become the nation’s largest city with an openly LGBT mayor.

Annise Parker has built a reputation as a hard working, knowledgeable and dedicated Houstonian, who happens to be a lesbian.

“This is my city, my home,” said Parker, who serves as Houston City Controller. “I love Houston and I think it’s a great city and a great place to live.”

She’s among the top contenders to succeed Mayor Bill White, a Democrat who served three terms and is running for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Kay Bailey Hutchison. Parker will face three other leading candidates — Houston City Council member Peter Brown, former City Attorney Gene Locke and Harris County Board of Education Trustee Roy Morales — on Nov. 3.

Parker, who graduated from Rice University in Houston, worked for 20 years in the oil and gas industry and co-owned a bookstore for 10 years. She lives with her partner of 19 years, Kathy Hubbard, and the couple’s two adopted daughters who are 13 and 18. They also raised a foster son who is now 32.

Parker has a long record of LGBT activism in Houston, so her sexual orientation is well known in the city and state. She said her election would “certainly send a signal to the rest of the world that Houston values people for what they do, and what they can accomplish, and that we’re a lively, open, cosmopolitan city.”

The Victory Fund is working to help Annise Parker win.  Find out how you can get involved in this historic campaign here.

Victory Fund candidate Steve Kornell has earned the endorsement of the  St. Petersburg Times.  The paper’s editorial board wrote:

A St. Petersburg native, Kornell, 43, has spent his professional career amid the city’s youth, first as a city recreation manager and now as a social worker in the Pinellas County schools. He sees politics as the natural progression of his career, so that he can help implement sound, long-term policies that will improve people’s lives, particularly children’s. A former manager of Childs Park Recreation Center, he advocates the city and schools work together to provide intervention in at-risk children’s lives before they can turn to crime. In his current job, he works to keep at-risk children in school and occasionally helps families at risk of homelessness access resources to keep a roof over their heads.

Kornell does not claim government spending will solve all problems, and he advocates maintaining much of the city’s existing reserves for hurricanes and other emergencies. He is dubious about whether the city needs more police officers or just a return to some community-based policing policy. He wants to find a plan for the Pier that will eliminate the city’s $1.5 million annual operating subsidy. And while he isn’t opposed to a new Tampa Bay Rays stadium, he says he does not want to increase the city’s annual debt payments.

Rouson, 42, a member of the Pinellas County Housing Authority, and Smith, 48, a retired St. Petersburg police officer, also have records of civic engagement, including Smith’s notable service for years as a youth coach and as an administrator of Eckerd College’s National Youth Sports Program. But neither are as succinct or well-versed on the issues as Kornell. In District 5, the Times recommends Steve Kornell.

Learn about how you can help Steve become St. Petersburg’s first openly LGBT city councilmember here.

Iraq war veteran Anthony Woods has received the endorsements of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund and the Human Rights Campaign in his race to represent California’s 10th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, the groups announced today.  The special election to fill the vacant seat comes after its former occupant, Ellen Tauscher, accepted a presidential appointment as Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security.

Woods, who is openly gay, was awarded the Bronze Star for his two tours in Iraq before being discharged from the Army because of his sexual orientation.  He graduated from West Point and earned his masters degree at Harvard University.

“Anthony Woods is an exciting candidate with a tremendous record of accomplishment.  He’s also running an impressive campaign.  Anthony has assembled a solid campaign team that understands what it will take to win this extremely competitive race.  We need more leaders like Anthony Woods in the U.S. Congress, so we are proud to endorse him,” said Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund.  “His will be an authentic voice not only for the people of California’s 10th Congressional District, but for the millions of Americans who are denied equal treatment because of their sexual orientation.”

To learn more about Anthony Woods and his campaign for Congress, go here.