Stonewall Democrats hold annual meeting
Story Location:
18 Olive Ave.
Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971
United States
With the 2020 elections closing in, the Delaware Stonewall PAC, a political organization, looks to continue its advocacy for LGBT rights for Delawareans.
On Jan. 25, the group met at All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Rehoboth Beach to discuss the new year and new goals going forward.
The meeting centered on establishing a legislative agenda and identifying candidates the organization will endorse in the 2020 election. Participants also discussed the importance of including young people and transgender individuals in the group.
“After meeting regularly with PFLAG and the transgender community, we will definitely be creating some kind of legislative agenda in support of the youth of transgender people particularly,” said PAC President Peter Schott. That position is in line with Stonewall PAC’s endorsement of Sarah McBride, a transgender woman running for the Delaware Senate. If McBride wins, she will be the first openly transgender state senator in the country. While Delaware Stonewall PAC usually waits until the new year to endorse candidates, they’ve been behind McBride the whole way. In addition to McBride, the PAC is preparing to decide which other candidates to back.
“We’re looking closely at all of the races to make sure we elect and endorse someone that supports us,” said Vice President Mitch Crane. “That, of course, is the most important part.”
Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings was present to discuss bills in the current legislative session, specifically Senate Bill 96, which would create an individual Civil Rights and Public Trust Office in the Department of Justice. This office would provide a focal point for defending LGBT rights, she said.
“We’re pushing it through with great speed because there’s a great need for civil rights in our state,” Jennings said. “I remain optimistic with the march of progress in this state. To think of where we were just 10 years ago, fighting tooth-and-nail just to recognize civil unions. The progress is phenomenal.”
For more information on the Delaware Stonewall PAC, visit delawarestonewall.org.
