Documents show ugly divide...

Are DNC’s Black Leaders Anti-Gay?

Internal emails indicate a race-based culture war within the Democratic National Committee.

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The game playing DNC finds itself in even more scandal this fine Thursday. The Washington Blade published an email exchange in which an unidentified National Stonewall Democrat rails against Chief of Staff Leah Daughtry (pictured) for her “bigotry”. The email, sent to Gay and Lesbian Leadership Council leader Brian Bond, reads: “Imagine what [DNC Chair Howard] Dean could do if people like Leah were confronted for their bigotry and fired.”

The stink began in 2006, when Alabaman lesbian politician Patricia Todd won the Democratic primary in a race for a House seat. Alabama Democratic Conference’s black Chair Joe Reed allegedly tried to block Todd’s nomination, but ended up being overruled. Reed’s opposition, however, highlights growing tensions within the DNC body:

The initial e-mail written by the Stonewall Democrats official on Aug. 26, 2006, says, “Just a quick update … Patricia Todd has won in Alabama. The Alabama Democratic Party threw out the challenge by her opponent about 20 minutes ago.”

Bond replied to the Stonewall Democrats official’s e-mail in a message sent about 30 minutes later.

“Told you it would work out. Although I was getting nervous. This is the exact reason why we need greater glbt rep on state committees and more people of color representing the glbt community.”

The Stonewall Democrats official replied to Bond, taking issue with his phrasing.

“It didn’t exactly ‘work out.’ We – and especially the [Gay & Lesbian] Victory Fund – spent MUCH time working on this. That being said, the party only narrowly upheld Patricia’s victory with Dr. Reed walking up and down the aisle standing directly in front of each person and staring them in the face as they did.

“The party needs to shun the divisive politics of people like Dr. Reed, and yes Leah Daughtry, whose only loyalty are to themselves and not the Democratic Party or the American Family. They are a cancerous sore who have ailed our operations for too long.”

Governor Dean defended pentecostal minister Daughtry, writing:

Anyone who truly knows Leah and her values appreciates her deep commitment to fighting for fairness and equality for everyone regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation or gender identity, and any insinuation otherwise is irresponsible and despicable.

Some accuse Daughtry of despicable behavior – homophobia.

Longtime Democratic operative Donna Brazile’s name also comes up. Brian Bond, who testified this week in the ongoing discrimination lawsuit filed by Donald Hitchcock, contradicted official DNC reports by saying that Brazile opposed a mandatory amount of LGBT delegates for the 2008 national convention.

Bond is asked whether Democratic Party strategist Donna Brazile opposes mandatory counts for gay and lesbian delegates to the 2008 convention.

Bond says Brazile opposed such requirements for gay delegates, but supported voluntary goals.

“She did not have a problem with numerical goals on this,” he says in the transcript. “She did have problems with it being included in sanction language, legal language, whatever, of affirmative action, as best I understand.”

Bond’s testimony appears to contradict 2006 reports in the Blade and elsewhere about Brazile’s position.

This is but the beginning in what will no doubt be a gruesome discovery process.

If you’re just joining the fun, we suggest you catch up with our handy “Who’s Who in the DNC Discrimination Suit”.

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