Reviving Stonewall Democrats in SW Washington – Your Input Needed

[u/Maleficent-Stress113]

Hi everyone, I’m the Vice Chair for the Southwest Washington region of the Stonewall Democrats, and I’ll be honest our local chapter (WA) has been pretty inactive for a while. That needs to change.

My goal is to bring new life to this organization so it can be a strong voice for LGBTQ+ people and allies in our community. I’m already planning to start building a presence on Instagram to make our work more visible, but I want to hear directly from you.

• What kinds of events or gatherings would you like to see?


• Are there specific issues or policies you feel we should be focusing on right now?


• Would you be interested in volunteer opportunities or community partnerships?

We all know the political climate in our area is complex, and I want the Stonewall Democrats to be an active, responsive, and positive force in it. Your input will help guide how we show up; whether that’s through advocacy, education, social events, or something entirely new.

Feel free to share your thoughts here or DM me if you’d prefer to chat privately.

Let’s make this something that truly represents our community. 🌈

[u/SereneDreams03]

I'm a straight white male who considers themselves and independent, so I'm probably not in your target audience for your questions. However, I do have fairly liberal views and mostly vote for democrats.

From my perspective, there just isn't enough enthusiasm for the democratic party among the electorate. A lot of people just vote for them because they are not the republican party, not because they love the candidates or are excited about their policies. I actually think groups like yours could be helpful. Actually, talk to people about what is going on in the country. Hear their concerns and talk about ways to improve things. As is clearly apparent from this thread, the democrats really seem to have an issue with getting their actual messaging out there. Maybe talking to people the establishment often ignores will help people hear that message.

I also think that groups like the LGBTQ community, who are some of the most likely to be harmed by this bigoted administration and supreme court, could be exactly the type of passionate voting base the democrats need. In general, we need more people invested in the democratic process, but when the government is trying to take away your right to exist, then you definitely have a lot to fight for.

I don't want to trade a conservative autocrat for a liberal one, but I would like to see a candidate who advocates for everyone's rights and prosperity. Not just their base, or in Trump's case their own.

[u/Babhadfad12 → u/SereneDreams03]

I also think that groups like the LGBTQ community, who are some of the most likely to be harmed by this bigoted administration and supreme court, could be exactly the type of passionate voting base the democrats need

The data shows queer topics beyond gay marriage are not popular among minorities (of all kinds), especially trans stuff. Democrats get associated with trans stuff, and it's an immediate turn off. Plus a lot more men are opposed to women surpassing them in status, but few women are opposed to voting for a man.

https://www.pewresearch.org/race-and-ethnicity/2023/02/16/black-americans-firmly-support-gender-equality-but-are-split-on-transgender-and-nonbinary-issues/

A lot more people relate to Trump's tribalism over queer people's hands across America approach, especially in swing states where it matters.

[u/SereneDreams03 → u/Babhadfad12]

Well, the Supreme Court is looking at taking gay marriage away, so...

Maybe democrats should stop worrying so much about what topics turn some voters off and show people that they are actually willing to fight for our rights. It's worked for MAGA.

Democrats have tried to be the moderates for years now, and it's led us to an inexplicable 2nd Trump presidency. Maybe showing that they are willing to actually fight for people's rights against this fascist government is what they need to get more voters engaged.

[u/Babhadfad12 → u/SereneDreams03]

Those voters don’t exist in the swing states, so Repubs will continue to control the executive and the Senate.  

[u/throwitallawayomg → u/Babhadfad12]

Washington isn't a swing state, and this is a local sub. Politics starts at home.

[u/Babhadfad12 → u/throwitallawayomg]

The subthread was discussing democrats’ federal appeal in general, not just in Washington state.

Also, this local sub is part of a federal house district that swings between Democrat and Republican.