Stonewall contrasts: the White House reception vs. The Power's call for full equality now

by: Pam Spaulding

Sat Jun 27, 2009 at 20:31:45 PM EDT

Shin Inouye, a White House spokesperson, said in a statement the event "is a chance for the White House to recognize the accomplishments of LGBT Americans."

...When questioned about the event Friday during a briefing, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said the president doesn't plan to make any substantive announcements at the reception regarding DOMA or "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

• Rea Carey, executive director of the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force;
• Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network;
• Jim Hormel, a former U.S. ambassador to Holland and the first openly gay U.S. ambassador;
• Fred Hochberg, who's gay and chair of the U.S. Export-Import Bank;
• Stampp Corbin, a San Diego-based gay activist who supported Obama during the presidential campaign;
• and Lt. Col. Victor Fehrenbach, an Air Force pilot who was discharged under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

Press Conference at Historic Stonewall Inn to Announce New LGBT Civil Rights Agenda and Present U.S. Congressman Jerrold Nadler With Signed Petition from all 50 States.

As President Obama prepares to host a cocktail reception at the White House for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender leaders, prominent activists and fundraisers return to the Stonewall Inn on the 40th Anniversary of the Stonewall Riots to announce a new comprehensive LGBT civil rights agenda.  At that time they will also present U.S. Congressman Jerrold Nadler with signed petitions from all 50 states and 36 countries supporting expansion of the Civil Rights Act to include LGBT people, marking the official launch of The Power's nationwide petition drive and campaign demanding full equality now.

The Power (www.ThePowerOnline.org), is an online organizing network that empowers grassroots and netroots activists from every state in the country and from all over the world to fight for equal rights for LGBT people, not on some arbitrary and convenient schedule created by politicians and lobbyists, but right now.

Speakers will include Congressman Jerrold Nadler, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Civil Rights, Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum, civil rights attorney Liz Abzug (daughter of feminist, anti-war, and LGBT activist and Congresswoman Bella Abzug), former Jerry Falwell ghostwriter and Soulforce founder Rev. Mel White, and others.  

WHAT:  A press conference convened by The Power (www.ThePowerOnline.org) launching a national movement to pass comprehensive LGBT civil rights legislation.

WHO:  Jeffrey H. Campagna, founder of The Power, Congressman Jerrold Nadler, a representative of Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum, and civil rights attorney and daughter of Congresswoman Bella Abzug, Liz Abzug.

WHEN: 10 a.m., Monday, June 29, 2009, 40th Anniversary of the Stonewall Riots

WHERE: Outside The Stonewall Inn, 53 Christopher St. @ Sheridan Square, New York, NY

WHY:  With a self-proclaimed "fierce advocate" of LGBT rights in the White House, and Democratic majorities in the House and Senate, the federal agenda for gay rights does not include full equality.  It is time for LGBT people and their allies to seize this historic moment to pass comprehensive civil rights legislation now.  

SPEAKER BIOS:
·         Jeffrey H. Campagna is the founder of The Power.  Campagna is also an attorney who worked in the civil rights bureau of the New York State Attorney General's Office, and a fundraiser for Democratic causes who was on Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama's LGBT steering committees.  He is co-author of The Dallas Principles (www.thedallasprinciples.org), a call to action demanding full equality now.  Campagna and The Power's organizing efforts have been cited by The New York Daily News, The New York Blade, The Washington Blade, The San Francisco Examiner, Edge (the largest web portal of LGBT news and entertainment), Huffington Post, TimeOut New York, Towleroad.com, and others.  
·         Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) is Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Civil Rights, and lead sponsor of the Uniting American Families Act.
·         Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum is the leader of the largest LGBT congregation in the world, New York's Congregation Beth Simchat Torah.
·         Liz Abzug, a public affairs consultant and adjunct professor of urban studies at Columbia University, she is the daughter of the late Congresswoman Bella Abzug who introduced sweeping gay rights legislation three times in the 1970's.
·         Rev. Dr. Mel White, former ghost writer for clients including Jerry Falwell and Pat Roberston, founder of Soulforce, a national organization of religious leaders fighting religious based bigotry, and author of "Stranger at the Gate:  To Be Gay And Christian In America"