I have a dream … of breaking another barrier.

Barack Obama has broken the color barrier, by showing that an African American can speak for all Americans, not just members of his minority group.

I am from an even smaller minority, of Americans whose sexual orientation differs from the mainstream.

Like Barack, I do not seek to merely represent a minority. The issues I am working on affect us all — addressing global warming, seeking an end to costly and harmful military adventures abroad, securing universal health care as a basic human right.

And I do not just talk about the issues — I lead. I serve on two city committees, am webmaster for Jefferson County Democrats, and am registering young voters. I do not own a motor vehicle. I bicycle and walk everywhere, or use public transit. I am gathering signatures for a ballot measure for public power, in order to replace fossil fuels with electricity from renewable sources. As a Quaker, I am involved in challenging the outrageous sums devoted to military "solutions" and the war in Iraq. I recently submitted two resolutions — one to eliminate the death penalty in Washington and the other to offer full marriage equality to all — that were adopted unanimously by Jefferson County Democrats and sent on to Washington State Democrats.

Washington State Democrats have set an affirmative action goal for sexual minorities. That goal could of course be met the usual way — with gay and lesbian delegates from urban areas.

I am proposing something more radical — that you send me to Denver as a gay delegate from the small town and rural Olympic Peninsula. And in so doing, send a double message:

1) It is OK to be gay or lesbian in rural as well as urban America; and,
2) As Barack is demonstrating, it is OK for someone who belongs to a minority to aspire to community-wide leadership, not just representation of a minority group.

I am a lifelong Democrat (I cast my first vote for George McGovern) who just happens to be gay.

An affirmative action vote for me is not just a vote in support of sexual minorities, but a vote in support of breaking the remaining barriers to full equality for all human beings, regardless of superficial distinctions.


Andrew Reding

Webmaster, Jefferson County Democrats
Member, Alternative Energy Management Committee, City of Port Townsend
Member, Non-Motorized Transportation Advisory Board, City of Port Townsend
Member, Product Selection Guidelines Committee, Port Townsend Food Coop