[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 77 (Wednesday, June 6, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1031]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


         25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GERTRUDE STEIN DEMOCRATIC CLUB

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 6, 2001

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise, from time to time, to acknowledge 
the accomplishments and milestones of the citizens and organizations of 
the District of Columbia, whom I have the honor to represent in 
Congress. As a life-long advocate for civil rights, I am particularly 
proud to have within my constituency some of the oldest and most 
established Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered civil rights 
organizations in the United States.
  These organizations work tirelessly, despite the triple scourges of 
racism, homophobia, and taxation without representation which belabor 
the District of Columbia, to extend, without regard to race, sex, 
religion, national origin, sexual orientation and gender those civil 
and political rights which are taken for granted by some Americans to 
all Americans, especially those Americans residing within the four 
quadrants of the District of Columbia.
  Today I take particular pleasure in acknowledging the Gertrude Stein 
Democratic Club, one of America's oldest partisan Lesbian, Gay, 
Bisexual, and Transgendered civil rights organizations on the occasion 
of its twenty-fifth anniversary, this Thursday, June 7, 2001.
  In 1976, my constituents, Paul Kuntzler, Richard Maulsby, and Dr. 
Franklin E. Kameny, founded the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club. Since 
its founding, the Stein Club has become a powerful and respected 
participant in the political life of the District of Columbia. The 
Gertrude Stein Club ceaselessly fights not only for human and civil 
rights, but for the inclusion and acceptance of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual 
and Transgendered persons within the political process of the District 
and the Nation.
  The Club's success is reflected among its members who now hold, and 
have held, responsible government positions. These include: D.C. 
Councilmember Jim Graham; the Director of the D.C. Office of Boards and 
Commissions, Ronald Kin; Mayor Anthony Williams's Gay Community 
Liaison; Philip Pannell, and former White House Counsel Karen 
Tramontano.
  The Gertrude Stein Democratic Club has always been at the forefront 
of efforts on behalf of human rights, domestic partnership, HIV 
services, hate crimes, employment non-discrimination,
  As part of their 25th anniversary celebration, the Gertrude Stein 
Democratic Club will honor two outstanding gay leaders: Andrew Tobias, 
Treasurer of the Democratic National Committee; and Paul Yandura, 
Executive Director of the National Stonewall Democratic Federation. 
Andrew Tobias enjoyed a national reputation for his work in the gay and 
lesbian community and for the Democratic Party. He is an author and 
financier who has helped the lives of millions of Americans with his 
sound financial advice, Mr. Tobias is a true renaissance man and ``The 
Best Little Boy in the World.'' My constituent, Paul Yandura, despite 
his youth, is a seasoned veteran of national politics. Mr. Yandura 
served in the Clinton/Gore Administration, in both political and 
executive capacities responsible for constituency outreach, public/
media relations, event production and he advised the President on a 
variety of policy issues which included E-Commerce, HIV/AIDS, fair 
housing and LGBT civil rights.
  Mr. Speaker, this week that marks the 25th Anniversary of the 
Gertrude Stein Democratic Club, also marks the 20th Anniversary of the 
discernment of an illness which we now know as AIDS. On Friday, June 5, 
1981 the Center for Disease Control published in the Morbidity and 
Morality Weekly Report an article on five gay angelino men in their 
late twenties and early thirties who contracted Pneumocystis carinii 
pneumonia. In the twenty years hence we, both as Americans and as 
Members of Congress, have been remiss in our duties. While we have 
passed much legislation, we have failed to enact The Employment Non-
Discrimination Act and the Hate Crimes Prevention Act; we have not 
stopped the dizzying spiral of prescription drug costs, and the 
District of Columbia still has not voting representation in Congress.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask the House both to join me in congratulating the 
Gertrude Stein Democratic Club on its 25th Anniversary and to join me 
in re-doubling our efforts to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination 
and Hate Crimes Prevention Act, to provide affordable access to 
prescription drugs for all Americans who need them, and to bring some 
measure of democracy to the citizens of the District of Columbia during 
this Congress.

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