Jim Graham wrote, "Brian are you sure that the Stonewall Caucus is
'part of the DFL'? Has there been a formal action by the State DFL to do so?
More
importantly has the Stonewall Caucus decided to give up its independence to
subordinate itself to the DFL? I had always thought of the Caucus as an
independent organization made up of DFLers. Not being a party insider,
though a Democrat, I might be wrong. If you could , supply us with a little
documentation. Some other Stonewall folks chime in on this. Are you an
independent organization to support Gay issues, or are you just an arm of
the DFL?"
[BRM] Sure. I am a member of the Stonewall DFL Caucus, but I do not
speak for it, so I will offer my "documentation" unofficially. Here is the
basis for my understanding:
The quote that "the Stonewall DFL Caucus IS PART OF THE DFL"
(capitalization in original) was not mine. It comes from Megan Thomas, the
Caucus's elected chair, in an earlier post that she signed in that capacity.
The Stonewall DFL Caucus is chartered by the State DFL Central
Committee under the State Party's constitution (art. III, sec. 13), which
provides that "any club, association, or organization using the initials DFL
or the name Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party must submit its charter for
approval to the DFL central committee having jurisdiction." Like all major
political parties, under state law (Minnesota Statutes, section 202A.11,
subd. 2), the DFL Party can control the use of its name.
The Stonewall Caucus's website at http://www.stonewalldfl.org/
identifies it as "the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Friends Caucus of
the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party of Minnesota."
The Stonewall Caucus *is* the DFL Party, and the whole DFL
Party--including the City organization--is present when the Stonewall Caucus
is there. The analogy that comes to mind is that having separate booths (or
separate sponsorship of the same booth) for the Stonewall DFL Caucus and the
City DFL Party would be like having separate booths (or sponsorships) for
the City DFL Executive Committee and the City DFL Central Committee. They
are the same organization, and each is present wherever the other is
present.
BRM
Brian Melendez, Chair,
Minneapolis DFL Party
St. Anthony West (Ward 3)
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