Ellison, Walz garner gay Democrats’ support in new online effort

The National Stonewall Democrats, the LGBT affiliate within the Democratic Party, has launched an online campaign called ElectEquality which will offer organizing support to 10 candidates. Reps. Keith Ellison and Tim Walz have been selected by the organization as two of 30 candidates who “stood out” on LGBT issues in Congress; they’re vying to be among the final 10 candidates voted upon by members to receive the group’s help.

“The candidates who are selected will be the beneficiaries of a coordinated online and offline campaign, including our placing a full-time organizer to work with our local chapter to organize LGBT volunteers and turnout,” Matt McKeon of the National Stonewall Democrats told the Minnesota Independent in an email Friday.

The group lists the LGBT accomplishments of each candidate.

It notes that “Ellison is a Cosponsor of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, the Student Non-Discrimination Act, the Military Readiness Enhancement Act of 2009, which would repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” and the Respect for Marriage Act, which would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act.”

And Walz “is the highest ranking enlisted soldier ever to serve in Congress, and his legislative priorities include veterans’ issues. In Congress, Representative Walz is a Cosponsor of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and the Military Readiness Enhancement Act of 2009, which would repeal ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’”