April 2008
BAYMEC ENDORSES LGBT-FRIENDLY CANDIDATES IN SANTA CLARA RACES
With dozens of individuals running for hotly contested seats throughout Santa Clara County, the Bay Area Municipal Elections Committee was pleased to see so many candidates who are supportive of issues affecting the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
Choosing BAYMEC's endorsements for the June 3 election was a tough task, but we believe these candidates will truly be advocates for LGBT residents. Click on the candidates' photos to visit their websites, if available.
Watch for BAYMEC's endorsements in races facing LGBT residents in Santa Cruz County.
Watch for BAYMEC's endorsements in races facing LGBT residents in Santa Cruz County.
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Look Up Your June 3 Ballot
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Visit www.smartvoter.org and enter your address to find which candidates you can support at the polls.
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In the 22nd Assembly District, encompassing the cities of Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Mountain View, and portions of Santa Clara and San Jose, BAYMEC has chosen to endorse Paul Fong, currently a trustee for the Foothill-De Anza Community College District and a professor at Evergreen Valley College. Fong has been a longstanding advocate for equal rights in our community and has been a vocal advocate for the LGBT community. His track record on social justice issues makes him an excellent candidate for this seat.
George Shirakawa's wealth of experience on the San Jose City Council and as a school board trustee have prepared him well to represent the bulk of central San Jose, including downtown, most of the Rose Garden and Willow Glen neighborhoods, and portions of the East Side. He has long been an advocate of equal rights, and BAYMEC believes he will ably represent this area and its large LGBT populations.
For the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors District 3 race, BAYMEC issued a dual endorsement of Otto Lee and Dave Cortese. Lee is currently a Sunnyvale City Council member, and Cortese is the vice mayor of the City of San Jose. Both are progressive candidates who are strong advocates of both equality and justice for our community. BAYMEC believes that either one would fight hard for our community if elected to this seat.
For San Jose City Council's second district, BAYMEC has endorsed Ash Kalra. A longtime ally of the LGBT community, Kalra has been a deputy public defender for the past 11 years, has served on numerous boards and commissions - including the San Jose Human Rights Commission and the Minority Access Committee of the Santa Clara County Bar Association - and is currently the chair of the San Jose Planning Commission. Kalra has been a supporter of marriage equality since the inception of that struggle, vigorously advocates for full LGBT equality and inclusion in every aspect of civic life, and will be a bold leader on our issues.
Both Lan Nguyen and Craig Mann have spent years proving their commitment to supporting all residents, including LGBT individuals. BAYMEC has endorsed both Mann and Nguyen in their race to represent the Evergreen and East Side neighborhoods of San Jose on the City Council, because either one would encourage their LGBT constituents to bring their voices to City Hall.
In the race for the Superior Court of Santa Clara County, BAYMEC has endorsed both Jay Boyarsky and Jesus Valencia. Valencia, a former defense attorney in private practice for 20 years, is currently a commissioner of the Superior Court, and Boyarsky has been a deputy district attorney since 1994. Out of a field of five candidates, Boyarsky and Valencia have the greatest support in the legal community. BAYMEC believes either candidate would be a strong champion for fairness, access, and inclusion for our community in the justice system.
VALENCIA
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BAYMEC's June 2008 Endorsements
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San Jose City Council, District 2: Ash Kalra
San Jose City Council, District 8: Craig Mann and Lan Nguyen (dual) Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, District 2: George Shirakawa Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, District 3: Dave Cortese and Otto Lee (dual) Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge: Jay Boyarsky and Jesus Valencia (dual) State Assembly, District 20: Alberto Torrico (incumbent) State Assembly, District 21: Ira Ruskin (incumbent) State Assembly, District 22: Paul Fong State Assembly, District 23: Joe Coto (incumbent) State Assembly, District 24: Jim Beall (incumbent) State Assembly, District 28: Anna Caballero (incumbent) State Senate, District 10: Ellen Corbett (incumbent) State Senate, District 11: Joe Simitian (incumbent) State Senate, District 13: Elaine Alquist (incumbent) U.S. House of Representatives, District 11: Jerry McNerney (incumbent) U.S. House of Representatives, District 14: Anna Eshoo (incumbent) U.S. House of Representatives, District 15: Mike Honda (incumbent) U.S. House of Representatives, District 16: Zoe Lofgren (incumbent) |
BAYMEC AND HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN TO HOST SOUTH BAY POLITICAL FORUM
The upcoming presidential election, discriminatory state initiatives, and federal legislation affecting domestic partnerships all foreshadow a stormy political future for LGBT individuals this year. South Bay LGBT residents need to be organized and educated to fend off attacks against our community and promote legislation that can energize LGBT individuals.
BAYMEC and HRC invite LGBT residents and allies to a political forum May 28 to give an update on legislation facing the community and discuss these issues with the local residents. Topics on the agenda include a review of the top three presidential candidates' political positions, updates on federal legislation and state initiatives, and discussions with local LGBT elected officials and community leaders.
Not only will this be a chance for political veterans to lend their experience in a new environment, it will be a great opportunity for people who have not been very politically active to jump in.
Keep an eye out for more details on the political forum, which is still being finalized.
SCHWARZENEGGER DENOUNCES ANTI-LGBT MARRIAGE INITIATIVE
The governor was referring to a ballot initiative launched by extremist anti-LGBT organizations that paid out-of-state signature gatherers to gain enough signatures to get the initiative on the November ballot.
Schwarzenegger has previously drawn the ire of LGBT activists due to his veto of gay Assemblymember Mark Leno’s marriage bill, though the governor has signed almost all other LGBT rights bills that have made it to his desk during his tenure. The marriage bill was approved by the California Legislature twice, in 2005 and 2007. On both occasions, the governor based his decision to veto on Proposition 22, which some interpret as limiting marriages performed in the state of California to only those between one man and one woman.
Schwarzenegger’s comments come at a decisive time for the marriage movement in our state. The California State Supreme Court will issue a decision on the marriage case by June 2. The case stems from the marriages performed in San Francisco in 2004, and it challenges the constitutionality of the same-sex marriage ban in the state.
“This instance shows the importance of having our community active and out in every aspect of society,” said Leslie Bulbuk, BAYMEC president. “BAYMEC thanks the California Log Cabin Republicans for ensuring that our governor publicly denounced this reckless affront to justice and true equality in our state.”
As of press time, it appears that the backers of the constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage may have gathered enough signatures to place it on the ballot in November. The measure’s proponents needed 694,354 valid signatures, or 8 percent of the votes cast in the last governor's race, in order to qualify it for the ballot. The groups claim to have submitted 1.1 million signatures. Next comes the lengthy process of determining how many of the signatures are actually valid.
The driving force behind the amendment is a coalition of religious groups called “Protect Marriage.” If they succeed, the cause of marriage equality could be set back for years to come. One thing is certain: If the amendment makes it onto the ballot, the community will face a long, ugly, costly battle through November, and it will take everything we and our allies have got in order to beat it back.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Have an event coming up? Let us know! E-mail us at baymec@gmail.com.
Have an issue you'd like to bring up at the next BAYMEC board meeting? E-mail us about attending or about discussing your issue at baymec@gmail.com.
Unmask the Mysteries
The AIDS Coalition Silicon Valley invites you to its benefit event, Unmask The Mysteries Masquerade Gala and Awards of Distinction 2008. Enjoy an evening of unique entertainment, food, wine and masks in the theme of Carnival in Brazil. Tickets are $175 and can be purchased at www.unmaskthemysteries.com.
- 7 p.m. June 21 at the Rotary Summit Center, 88 S. First St., San Jose.
Silicon Valley LGBT Democratic Club
The local chapter of the LGBT Democratic Club, a grassroots political organization that works to influence the Democratic Party's policies on LGBT issues, will host a presidential forum. Come hear about the candidates campaigning for the Democratic nomination. - Visit www.lgbtdems.org for more information.
Log Cabin Republicans
A Republican volunteer group that fights for tolerance in the GOP - monthly meetings. Visit www.logcabin.org/logcabinca/silicon_valley_chapter.html for more information.
Song That Radio
A weekly Vietnamese-language radio program that focuses on issues affecting the Vietnamese LGBT community - 7 p.m. every Sunday on KSJX 1500 AM. Visit http://songthat.com for more information or to listen to archived shows.
Human Rights Campaign's Third Tuesdays
Monthly discussions of local LGBT issues - 6 to 8 p.m. every third Tuesday of each month at Paragon Restaurant, in the Hotel Montgomery, 211 S. First St., San Jose.
Outlook Video
A monthly TV newsmagazine airing on local public access channels across the Bay Area. - Visit www.outlookvideo.org and click on "Air Dates" to find out when the show airs in your area.
ABOUT BAYMEC
Officers: Leslie Bulbuk, president; Robert Greeley, treasurer
Members: Kristin Long, Evan Low, John Myers, Thanh Ngo, Richard Poppen, Wiggsy Sivertsen
The Bay Area Municipal Elections Committee has been advocating for the civil rights of LGBT individuals in the counties of San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and Monterey since 1984. As a political action committee, BAYMEC's Board of Directors makes endorsements, raises funds and provides volunteers to gay and gay-friendly candidates, and the board makes sure elected officials follow through on their promises to address the issues of our community.
P.O. Box 6296, San Jose, CA 95150-9696 * (408) 486-9049 * www.baymec.net * FPPC #841499