About
Liberty City Lesbian and Gay Democratic Club was founded in the Fall of 1994 by activists who wanted to build lesbian and gay power and involvement in the Democratic Party.
The following goals of Liberty City remain the primary objectives of the organization.
Register, educate and mobilize lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) voters
Elect openly LGBT candidates for public and party office
Support LGBT-friendly candidates and work to oust anti-gay office holders
Promote legislative issues of importance to the LGBT community
Provide a forum for LGBT voters to meet candidates and officeholders
Accomplishments
Despite being an all-volunteer organization, Liberty City's first fifteen years have seen a great many accomplishments.
In May of 1996, Liberty City hosted a national convention of gay and lesbian Democratic clubs. More than 100 people attended the two-day conference in Philadelphia, including Congressman Barney Frank and Presidential Advisor Richard Socaretes.
In June of 1996, Liberty City led a coalition of organizations in successfully stopping an attempt to place an anti-gay referendum on the city's November ballot by then-City Council President John Street.
In 1998, Liberty City helped lead a coalition of groups to successfully enact domestic partnership legislation in the City of Philadelphia.
Liberty City recruited and trained dozens of open lesbians and gay men to run for Democratic Committeeperson in Philadelphia in the May 1998 primary. Thirty-three of thirty-six openly gay candidates on the ballot were elected.
In December of 1999, nine Liberty City members were placed on Transition Team committees of Mayor John Street'. Members of the community served on Governor Rendell’s and the Mayor’s Transition Teams in 2002 and 2003.
In January of 2000, Liberty City successfully nominated and elected eight candidates for Delegate to the Democratic National Convention.
In the spring of 2002, Liberty City began its ‘precinct adoption’ program and handled all of the election-day get out the vote (GOTV) activities in Center City Philadelphia for Governor Rendell. Each election cycle Liberty City distributes 10-15 thousand of its endorsed candidate slate card to households in LGBT neighborhoods all over the city, as well as gay bars, bookstores and events.
In the beginning of 2004, Liberty City created a statewide organization, Liberty PA, to work on the upcoming presidental election. Through this work, they helped create new Stonewall chapters in Pittsburgh and Harrisburg.
Liberty City sent several members to the 2004 Democratic National Convention and one Co-Chair at the time, Renee Gilinger, was a member of the Pennsylvania Electoral College.
Liberty City has built a list of over LGBT voters in the Philadelphia area and all across the state.
In the spring of 2005, former Liberty City board member Ann Butchart was elected to the Court of Common Pleas, making her the first out elected official in Philadelphia.
In the spring of 2007, former Liberty City board member Dan Anders was appointed to the Court of Common Pleas by Governor Rendell in the middle of a successful campaign for that same office. This made Anders the second out elected official in Philadelphia.
In 2008, Liberty City Co-Chair Rue Landau was hired by Mayor Nutter to head the Philadelphia Human Relations Commission.
