1. Marylanders for Marriage Equality urgently needs donations/loans for its Baltimore and Silver Spring offices. Email David Turley ASAP: david@mdfme.org and share a picture with us of your donation!

• -Tables
• -Chairs
• -Desks
• -Phones
• -Computers
• -Refrigerators
• -Trash cans
• -Printers
• -Photocopiers
• -Extension Cords
• -Power Strips

2. Educating MD’s Kids (the DREAM Act coalition) will be conducting trainings for volunteers able to present their message to organizations of likely voters (PTAs, democratic clubs, etc…). Attend the May 24th Membership Meeting to learn more.

3. Montgomery Women do a First Friday Power Breakfast the 1st Friday of every month. Attend June 1st’s and meet other emerging and existing leaders in the county.

4. Get out the Youth Vote: Know anyone coming home for the summer? Remind them to register for an absentee ballot! Want to actually register voters yourself? You need to get certified!

Help MCYD get out the vote!

A call to action from Matt Nisenoff, one of MCYD’s co-chairs of the Bylaws Committee:

I am involved with the Montgomery County Young Democrats because I believe that action counts. Being involved in the political process is a civic duty which I take pride in. I also find it fun to do. I am quite humbled and pleased to be asked to co-chair the Bylaws Committee. I hope that my experience in helping with this process with other Democratic groups will be of some value to the MCYD. Of course, I need your help. In the democratic tradition of openness, I am relying on you, my fellow members, to make the Bylaws process a successful one.

Young Dems with Congressman Sarbanes

MCYD recently participated in a visit coordinated by Dan Ewald, Programming Director from the Baltimore County Young Democrats, to several of Maryland’s Congressional Delegations at their offices in Washington DC.

The event was attended by a dozen other Young Democrats from across the Great State of Maryland, including MCYD’s Max Etin, Laurie Ann Sayles, and Matt Nisenoff.

Matt shares his thoughts on the experience:

Dan [...] did an outstanding job of it.

We were honored to meet with Congressman Elijah E. Cummings, who represents Baltimore City, Baltimore County and Howard County; Congressman John Sarbanes, who represents portions of Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City, Baltimore County and Howard County (and with redistricting will include a part of Montgomery County); and Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger, who represents parts of Baltimore City as well as Baltimore, Anne Arundel, Harford and Howard Counties.

All were generous with their time and spoke eloquently on issues they are currently facing and how the force of those outside of Congress is particularly important in moving forward with issues in the current political atmosphere.

It was an honor to meet with these members of Congress. Their staffs were professional, helpful and informative, and their support on the visit was appreciated.  The tours of House and watching part of the days session rounded out an experience that we will appreciated.

One of the perks of being a member of the Montgomery  County Young Democrats is incredible access to elected officials in the region.

Not a member yet? Register online today at mcyd.org/register and attend our May 24th Membership Meeting in Silver Spring to get connected.

Governor O'Malley and MCYD member Valeria Carranza at Human Rights Campaign Reception for Marriage Equality

Member of the Montgomery County Young Democrats, Valeria Carranza, attended the Human Rights Campaign historic celebration with marriage equality champions, Washington Governor Chris Gregoire and Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley on Friday, April 27th.

Earlier this year, Montgomery County Young Democrats collaborated with Marylanders for Marriage Equality to ensure that Maryland passed the Civil Marriage Protection Act. As Governor O’Malley told marriage equality fighters attending the Human Rights campaign celebration, “We must work together to protect freedom and human dignity.”

Interested in supporting issues like these with MCYD? Join the Issues Committee and help educate and advocate in Montgomery County. Contact Nik Sushka at nik.sushka@mcyd.org for more information.

MCYD will be analyzing the primary results at our April membership meeting with special guests. RSVP for the April 24th membership meeting–and support the Montgomery County Young Dems!

Minutes in Review

4.24.2012 Membership Meeting Minutes IN REVIEW

Approved Minutes

3.22.2012 Membership Meeting Minutes APPROVED

2.28.2012 Membership Meeting Minutes APPROVED

1.24.2012 Membership Meeting Minutes APPROVED

D14's Delegate Anne Kaiser celebrates Civil Marriage passage

Last night in Annapolis, history was made. And the Montgomery County Young Dems helped make it happen.

For months, Young Dems have been making phone calls all over the state, encouraging people to contact their electeds and vote for equal rights for GLBT Marylanders. We’ve been lobbying in Annapolis, and we campaigned to elect officials who were supporters in the first place.

It all paid off last night, when 70 Democrats and 2 Republicans voted to pass the Civil Marriage Protection Act HB 438. The bill moves now to the Senate, where it is fully expected to pass on to Governor O’Malley, a vocal and active supporter.

The MCYD are especially happy for the 8 openly gay delegates and senator who will now be able to have their relationships officially recognized in the state of Maryland, if they wish, including Montgomery County’s own Bonnie Cullison, Anne Kaiser, Rich Madaleno, and Heather Mizeur.

The fight isn’t over: there will almost certainly be a referendum in November. Young Dems can play a crucial role in helping register our peers to vote and get them out for early voting and on November 6th.

Montgomery County Young Dems weekly phone banks helped pass the historic vote

The new executive board ran on a five-point plan of making MCYD more transparent, intentional, effective, inclusive, and empowering. “One of our biggest challenges during our next two years will be to create a model organization that truly reflects and represents the active, passionate, and hard-working community of young Democrats here in Montgomery County,” said newly elected President Dave Kunes. “Montgomery County needs to do its part to activate new voters to help address the steep dropoff in young registered Democrats the state has seen since June of 2010. The executive board and membership are dedicated to work tirelessly with all the past, current, and future members of MCYD to ensure that we are heard.”

Montgomery County Young Democrats holds monthly membership meetings. For media inquiries, contact Director of Communications Abe Saffer at Abe.Saffer@MCYD.org

MCYD is a 501(c)(4) organization that offers a voice for young people who seek progressive change in order to secure a just and stable future for all of the county’s residents.

MCYD members live, work, or go to school in Montgomery County and are the age of 39 or younger. But we always welcome the involvement and support of the “Young-at-Heart.”

“Fifteen thousand service members have been discharged because of their sexual orientation,” said Barbara Henderson, president of the County chapter of the Young Democrats.

“Before [President Bill] Clinton, it wasn’t illegal to be gay in the military,” she added, saying that many of the Democrats she knew were “flabbergasted” by the policy.

The party, at Dogfish Head Alehouse, marked the end of a nationwide struggle by gay rights advocacy groups to repeal the policy. Locally, some of the MCYD members sent letters to the President and Congress lobbying for a repeal of the law.

The law, enacted on Dec. 21, 1993, barred gay, lesbian or bisexual people from serving openly in the military. If a soldier disclosed that they were gay while serving, they would be discharged.

The happy hour was sponsored by the LGBT caucus of the Young Democrats of Maryland and the Service members Legal Defence Network. Donations were collected to raise funds for Soldiers’ Angels

Henderson said that although the fight against Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell may be over, there is still plenty of work to be done to bring about true equality.

“Nationally, we’re taking the fight to the Defence of Marriage Act,” she said. That act, also enacted by President Clinton, defines marriage as a legal union between a man and a woman.

“And right here in Maryland, we’re in the fight for marriage equality,” she said.

Written by Nathan Carrick of the Gaithersburg Patch.