| The Young Democrats of America convention provides ample learning experiences for all parties involved, but it also provides ample partying after the convention convenes for the day. The nightlife is always part of a good convention and provides some quality schmoozing time.
Thursday night was a gay night out for me. It was quite happy, and at the same time it involved the GLBT community. I had the pleasure of being invited to a GLBT meet and greet function at Bronx Bar & Grill for US Senate exploring candidate State Representative Rick Noriega. This would be my first opportunity to meet Mr. Noriega, so I gladly attended at the bequest of former State Representative, and now candidate for Travis County Tax Assessor, Glen Maxey. Other notables in attendance were Stonewall Democrats of Dallas County President Jesse Garcia, Stonewall Young Democrats of Dallas President Paul Tran, LULAC Dallas Rainbow Council VP Arturo Rivas, and representatives from the HRC, as well as the national Stonewall Democrats.
In a very warm room, both emotionally and temperature wise, Dallas’s finest GLBT activists crammed in to listen to an ally. I was very impressed to find that Mr. Noriega is a strong supporter of the gay community and has no problem stating so. During his speech he laid out why he should be our next Senator and what would change on his watch. In reference to the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy, the Afghanistan war veteran said, “I didn’t once look to my left or to my right on Jalalabad Road and worry about my fellow soldiers’ sexual orientation. My only worry was if they could fire their weapon.”
I had a chance to speak with Mr. Noriega for a few moments before his next event and I asked him if there was one thing he did not say in his speech or that he hasn’t said that needs to out in the blogosphere what it would be. “Happy birthday to my wife Melissa. I love you and I am sorry I didn’t get the chance to wish you well on your birthday,” sincerely stated the Representative, with the hopes of being let out of the dog house. Of course we had a second conversation which was a little more serious. “I am very flattered,” he said when I asked how much influence the campaign to draft him to run for Senate had on his decision.
I also had the chance to sit down with a small group of folks, which included Democratic candidate for US Congressional District 4, Glen Melancon, and automated calling guru, Ron Turner. Mr. Melancon told me is running again in 2008 against Congressman Ralph Hall so he can keep the momentum from 2006 going. Later in our conversation he said we needed to “get out the simple message of ‘the government serves you’ [the voter].”
Killing time in the “gayborhood” is quite easy, and something I had to do with two hours between events. Discussing life and events with the previously mentioned group took up a good chunk of time for me. Another hour was spent eating a deliciously prepared Brazilian chicken sandwich at Café Brazil. There is nothing quite like a large sub roll to soak up your whiskey sours from Bronx.
The 10 o’clock hour rolled around and I rolled my humidity laden body over to the nightclub Havana. The Stonewall Democrats hosted a mixer for the GLBT caucus of the Young Democrats of America. I met back up with Jesse, Arturo, and new friend Shannon Williamson. A much larger crowd enjoyed drinks and a buffet as Dallas’s finest gay officials took the floor to say a few words, as we watched from the big kids table. Sheriff Lupe Valdez, Dallas County Clerk Gary Fitzsimmons, and County Judge Jim Foster were all mingling with youngsters from around the country. Former Mayor Pro Tem John Loza welcomed “all of ya’ll to Dallas” and made sure to point out that having as many gay officials as the city does that it springs hope that Dallas will continue its claim as the “lavender heart of Texas.” My new colleague Shannon said she thought that “momentum was building” for the community, as well as for the social event we were witnessing. As a former Green Party member, she did seem disappointed we were stuck with our two party system in this country, but also realized that joining forced with Democrats was the right thing to do at this time in her life.
Throughout the evening, I learned in addition to my own endeavor of forming the Stonewall Democrats of Denton County this August, Paul Tran would also be attempting to form a Stonewall Young Democrats group at the University of North Texas in Denton, and Kris Banks just started a Stonewall Young Democrats of Houston. The youth movement is strong in this country, and especially strong among the gay community in Texas, as evident by last evening’s events.
Pictures from the Noriega event can be found here. |
