| Welcome to HerndonDavis.com! Home of The Herndon Davis Diversity Reports Educational, Inspirational, Motivational |
| Returning in Spring 2006 to: The Dish Network, Channel 223 Time Warner Cable "The Healthy Living Channel" PRIME TIME Every Thursday evening 10pm Eastern, 9pm Central, 8pm Mountain, 7pm Pacific Additional Cable Outlets: Comcast, Adelphia, Charter |
| Listen to a radio interview with Brian Johnson, Chairman of the Board of the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund |
| Empowering The World's Diversity |
| Gay Politics Redfined by: Herndon L. Davis |
As we embark upon Election Day 2006, once again “bedroom issues” have dominated the American landscape
more so than the crucial issues that are actually impacting this country.
From judicial, legislative, and voter debates over same-gender marriage to clashes over laws dealing with the age
of sexual consent, to the generational debate over abortion, this country appears vexed over who is having sexual
relations with whom as well as the rights and responsibilities that should or should not come with those relations.
However, for the gay community, we are positioned more prominently than ever to not only make a difference
inside the voter booths, but to also make a huge political difference changing the overall fabric of American politics
and the law forever.
more so than the crucial issues that are actually impacting this country.
From judicial, legislative, and voter debates over same-gender marriage to clashes over laws dealing with the age
of sexual consent, to the generational debate over abortion, this country appears vexed over who is having sexual
relations with whom as well as the rights and responsibilities that should or should not come with those relations.
However, for the gay community, we are positioned more prominently than ever to not only make a difference
inside the voter booths, but to also make a huge political difference changing the overall fabric of American politics
and the law forever.
| Become Aware Of The Issues |
In order for the gay community to continue to make political/legal gains, we must become more aware of the
issues which impact us. There’s an old saying which I love to repeat that “There are three sides to any story:
your side, my side and the truth.” As LGBT, we must seek the truth and not accept what is served to us on the
evening news. In order for this to happen we must do the following:
1. Read, listen, and watch media from alternative sources in order to understand the total picture and not just
what is presented in the mainstream news. We must also recognize that the American media is dominated by a
handful of corporations which are controlled by an even smaller number of people and their affiliated interest
groups.
As a result, we must arm ourselves with knowledge wherever and whenever possible. Given our busy schedules,
perhaps we should schedule time maybe 30- 45 minutes a day to study the various issues from a local, state,
regional, federal, and international perspective.
Maybe we could wake up 30 minutes earlier just to read or listen to a news podcast at www.npr.org. Or
perhaps right before going to bed we could schedule time to read www.popandpolitics.com and other alternative
political blogs. Or on the weekend we could commit spending 2 hours reading alternative political books or
watching webcasts at www.currentv.com.
Regardless of how you do it, please take the precious time to read up, study up, and become knowledgeable of
the issues outside of what you would normally see and hear from traditional four networks, three cable news
outlets and your local news. Remember to seek the truth, and not just absorb someone else’s version or
interpretation of the truth.
issues which impact us. There’s an old saying which I love to repeat that “There are three sides to any story:
your side, my side and the truth.” As LGBT, we must seek the truth and not accept what is served to us on the
evening news. In order for this to happen we must do the following:
1. Read, listen, and watch media from alternative sources in order to understand the total picture and not just
what is presented in the mainstream news. We must also recognize that the American media is dominated by a
handful of corporations which are controlled by an even smaller number of people and their affiliated interest
groups.
As a result, we must arm ourselves with knowledge wherever and whenever possible. Given our busy schedules,
perhaps we should schedule time maybe 30- 45 minutes a day to study the various issues from a local, state,
regional, federal, and international perspective.
Maybe we could wake up 30 minutes earlier just to read or listen to a news podcast at www.npr.org. Or
perhaps right before going to bed we could schedule time to read www.popandpolitics.com and other alternative
political blogs. Or on the weekend we could commit spending 2 hours reading alternative political books or
watching webcasts at www.currentv.com.
Regardless of how you do it, please take the precious time to read up, study up, and become knowledgeable of
the issues outside of what you would normally see and hear from traditional four networks, three cable news
outlets and your local news. Remember to seek the truth, and not just absorb someone else’s version or
interpretation of the truth.
| Become Part of the Political System And Bring Your Solutions |
In recent years the LGBT community has increased the number of openly gay men and women seeking and
winning elected office. In addition, we have been successful through our aggressive legislative lobbying on both
sides of the political fence. Further, we have initiated and won key courtroom victories challenging
discrimination against gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgender, and those living with HIV.
In fact there are four major gay political/legal organizations that seek to turn the tide of the anti-gay sentiment
being interjected into American politics and the legal system. The following is information about each
organization and their contact information:
winning elected office. In addition, we have been successful through our aggressive legislative lobbying on both
sides of the political fence. Further, we have initiated and won key courtroom victories challenging
discrimination against gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgender, and those living with HIV.
In fact there are four major gay political/legal organizations that seek to turn the tide of the anti-gay sentiment
being interjected into American politics and the legal system. The following is information about each
organization and their contact information:
| The Stonewall Democrats www.stonewalldemocrats.org |
The National Stonewall Democrats is a grassroots network connecting LGBT Democratic activists from
Seattle, Washington to Austin, Texas to Little Rock, Arkansas to Atlanta, Georgia. With more than 90
chapters across the country, Stonewall is a grassroots force for social change within our movement and within
our party. Their members do the hard work of calling voters, putting together campaign mailings, going door-
to-door for our fair-minded candidates and having tough conversations with Democratic party officials about
why our families need and deserve more support from our party and its elected officials.
Stonewall is America’s only grassroots Democratic LGBT organization. It focuses on creating change in three
ways: educating the LGBT community about the differences between the political parties; mobilizing the LGBT
community to get out to vote on Election Day for fair-minded Democrats; and standing up when Republicans
attack our families and our civil rights while we lead the Democratic party to continue improving its record on
issues important to our community.
Seattle, Washington to Austin, Texas to Little Rock, Arkansas to Atlanta, Georgia. With more than 90
chapters across the country, Stonewall is a grassroots force for social change within our movement and within
our party. Their members do the hard work of calling voters, putting together campaign mailings, going door-
to-door for our fair-minded candidates and having tough conversations with Democratic party officials about
why our families need and deserve more support from our party and its elected officials.
Stonewall is America’s only grassroots Democratic LGBT organization. It focuses on creating change in three
ways: educating the LGBT community about the differences between the political parties; mobilizing the LGBT
community to get out to vote on Election Day for fair-minded Democrats; and standing up when Republicans
attack our families and our civil rights while we lead the Democratic party to continue improving its record on
issues important to our community.
| The Log Cabin Republicans www.logcabin.org |
Log Cabin Republicans courageously stand on the front lines of today's most important battleground for gay
and lesbian civil rights. They are the nation's leading voice for fairness, inclusion, and tolerance within the
GOP.
The organization recognizes the fact that the Republican Party still has a long way to go on issues affecting
gay and lesbian civil rights. In recent years, the GOP has made important strides toward inclusion, however
much more must be done. Too many people in the party remain hostile to gay and lesbian civil rights. Log
Cabin will confront the radical right's bigotry head-on as we join the majority of Republicans who believe
inclusion wins. Aside from working within the party for change, Log Cabin continues building new alliances in
the gay and lesbian community.
and lesbian civil rights. They are the nation's leading voice for fairness, inclusion, and tolerance within the
GOP.
The organization recognizes the fact that the Republican Party still has a long way to go on issues affecting
gay and lesbian civil rights. In recent years, the GOP has made important strides toward inclusion, however
much more must be done. Too many people in the party remain hostile to gay and lesbian civil rights. Log
Cabin will confront the radical right's bigotry head-on as we join the majority of Republicans who believe
inclusion wins. Aside from working within the party for change, Log Cabin continues building new alliances in
the gay and lesbian community.
| Lambda Legal www.lambdalegal.org |
Lambda Legal is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians,
gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and those with HIV through impact litigation, education and public
policy work.
Whether it’s making a future with your partner or making the grade at school, Lambda Legal leads the fight
so all of us can live our lives and pursue our dreams without having to face barriers because we’re gay,
lesbian, bisexual, transgender or have HIV.
Lambda Legal carries out its legal work principally through test cases selected for the likelihood of their
success in establishing positive legal precedents that will affect lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender
people and those with HIV.
Lambda Legal pursues litigation in all parts of the country, in every area of the law that affects communities
we represent, such as: discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations and the military; HIV-
related discrimination and public policy issues; parenting and relationship issues; equal marriage rights; equal
employment and domestic partnership benefits; “sodomy” law challenges; immigration issues; antigay
initiatives; and free speech and equal protection rights.
gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and those with HIV through impact litigation, education and public
policy work.
Whether it’s making a future with your partner or making the grade at school, Lambda Legal leads the fight
so all of us can live our lives and pursue our dreams without having to face barriers because we’re gay,
lesbian, bisexual, transgender or have HIV.
Lambda Legal carries out its legal work principally through test cases selected for the likelihood of their
success in establishing positive legal precedents that will affect lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender
people and those with HIV.
Lambda Legal pursues litigation in all parts of the country, in every area of the law that affects communities
we represent, such as: discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations and the military; HIV-
related discrimination and public policy issues; parenting and relationship issues; equal marriage rights; equal
employment and domestic partnership benefits; “sodomy” law challenges; immigration issues; antigay
initiatives; and free speech and equal protection rights.
| The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund www.victoryfund.org |
Since 1991, The Gay & Lesbian Victory fund and Leadership Institute has helped hundreds of openly
LGBT candidates win election to local, state and federal offices. Through world-class programs and
nonpartisan training, they provide new leaders with the skills and contacts they need to make the most of
their influence and access.
The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund provides strategic, technical and financial support to openly LGBT
candidates and officials. It is the only national organization committed to increasing the number of openly
LGBT public officials at all levels of government. Victory Fund support is acknowledged as the
determinative factor in the successful election or appointment of endorsed LGBT candidates. The Victory
Fund is the nation’s largest LGBT political action committee and one of the nation’s largest non-connected
PACs.
The Gay & Lesbian Leadership Institute ensures that openly LGBT Americans are not excluded from –
and are equipped with the skills they need to prevail in – the electoral process. The Leadership Institute
does this by sponsoring qualified LGBT leaders’ participation in the executive programs at Harvard’s
Kennedy School of Government, as well as by offering nonpartisan training and international professional
networking opportunities.
Earlier this year I had the opportunity to interview Brian Johnson, Chairman of the Board of Directors of
the Gay & Victory Fund. Scroll down and here his engaging interview!
LGBT candidates win election to local, state and federal offices. Through world-class programs and
nonpartisan training, they provide new leaders with the skills and contacts they need to make the most of
their influence and access.
The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund provides strategic, technical and financial support to openly LGBT
candidates and officials. It is the only national organization committed to increasing the number of openly
LGBT public officials at all levels of government. Victory Fund support is acknowledged as the
determinative factor in the successful election or appointment of endorsed LGBT candidates. The Victory
Fund is the nation’s largest LGBT political action committee and one of the nation’s largest non-connected
PACs.
The Gay & Lesbian Leadership Institute ensures that openly LGBT Americans are not excluded from –
and are equipped with the skills they need to prevail in – the electoral process. The Leadership Institute
does this by sponsoring qualified LGBT leaders’ participation in the executive programs at Harvard’s
Kennedy School of Government, as well as by offering nonpartisan training and international professional
networking opportunities.
Earlier this year I had the opportunity to interview Brian Johnson, Chairman of the Board of Directors of
the Gay & Victory Fund. Scroll down and here his engaging interview!
| Yes, You Can Make A Difference!! |
The art of making a difference is often a subtle technique with monumental repercussions. Changing the
political, legal, and socioeconomic path of society takes patience, dedication, and a degree of faith that
surpasses human understanding.
You must be able to conceive a victory in order for you to achieve it. So if you believe your efforts will
not be enough to impact change, then it won’t. Alternatively, if the core of your inner being genuinely
believes that your efforts will indeed cause revolutionary change, then it will.
Remember, there is truth in your conviction which powers your words that drives your attitudes that will
eventually formulate your actions.
Herndon Davis is an author, lecturer, and TV/Radio Host. He can be reached directly at www.
herndondavis.com
Copyrighted 2006
political, legal, and socioeconomic path of society takes patience, dedication, and a degree of faith that
surpasses human understanding.
You must be able to conceive a victory in order for you to achieve it. So if you believe your efforts will
not be enough to impact change, then it won’t. Alternatively, if the core of your inner being genuinely
believes that your efforts will indeed cause revolutionary change, then it will.
Remember, there is truth in your conviction which powers your words that drives your attitudes that will
eventually formulate your actions.
Herndon Davis is an author, lecturer, and TV/Radio Host. He can be reached directly at www.
herndondavis.com
Copyrighted 2006
Iraq War
Economy
Gas Prices
Environment
Same-Gender Marriage
Education Reform
Crime
HIV/AIDS
Poverty
Immigration
Stem Cell Research
Election Reform
Economy
Gas Prices
Environment
Same-Gender Marriage
Education Reform
Crime
HIV/AIDS
Poverty
Immigration
Stem Cell Research
Election Reform
