New NC Political Action Committee for LGBT Advocacy: NC Advocacy Coalition
Submitted by Lance on Mon, 06/05/2006 - 7:12am
Great news from a fellow NC blogger, Matt Hill Comer! The text of the press release follows.
Winston-Salem, NC - A group of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) activists and allied supporters of LGBT equality publicly announced the formation of a new state and local political action committee on June 5, 2006. The North Carolina Advocacy Coalition (NCAC), a Section 527 Qualified State & Local Political Action Committee (PAC) was officially established on May 8, 2006, with a focus on grassroots advocacy, local awareness, community activism, voter education and the promotion of issues and candidates important to LGBT and allied North Carolinians. These commitments, as well as the group’s strong and continuing focus on youth and the 18 to 24 year old voting demographic make NCAC a truly unique organization.
“The LGBT and allied community of North Carolina is completely covered in the General Assembly and on legislative issues by the exquisite service and work being done by Equality North Carolina, our state’s premier LGBT lobbying and advocacy group,” says NCAC Executive Director & Co-founder Matt Hill Comer, “We plan to work with Equality NC, as well as other LGBT groups across the state, in order to motivate the community from the base up, especially in regard to the age demographic least likely to vote: 18 to 24 year olds.”
NCAC has begun drafting questionnaires and surveys for several political races in the Mid-term election season, including certain NC Senate and House districts, Boards of Education and local governments. The group hopes to send out these questionnaires and surveys soon.
For now, the group is searching to build its Interim Board of Directors, which will later choose the first official members of the NCAC Board. The group is also accepting applications for two vacant Executive staff positions: Executive Vice-Director of Development and Treasurer. Applications for those positions are due no later than June 30, 2006, and can be found on the group’s website – www.ncadvocacycoalition.org. NCAC is also planning the implementation of its Grassroots Regional Organizing Campaign for areas across the state and is currently looking for individuals willing to serve as Regional Coordinators.
North Carolina Advocacy Coalition is a state-wide political action committee focused on the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and their allied supporters. More information on NCAC is available at www.ncadvocacycoalition.org, by phone at 336-391-9528 or by email at ncadvocacy@gmail.com.
Congratulations and Good luck
Let me know what I can do to help.
Hyporcisy On 527s and Issue Advocacy
Do I detect a little bit of hypocrisy here at BlueNC.?
Yesterday Angilco went on a rant against Art Pope for funding, with full public disclosure, a 527, the Republican Legislate Majority of NC (RLM), that did issue advocacy highlighting the legislative records of Republicans, such Richard Morgan, that voted for and with the corrupt Democratic Speaker Jim Black. (That was month old news by the way.)
Angilco ignores the fact that both Richard Morgan and Jim Black had used 527s in North Carolina before RLM was ever formed, that Art Pope and his allies were simply fighting fire with fire. And of course the national grand daddy of 527s is left wing George Soros, who among other groups supported a 527 called the Republican Mainstreet Partnership.
Now, LGBT is starting a Section 527, the NC Advocacy Coalition, and that is called “great news.”
So I guess BlueNC progressives really are not against all 527s and issues advocacy in general. They are fine as long as they are used to support progressive issues and Democrats. It is only when the Art Pope and conservatives use them that they are bad? I can just see it that if the progressives ever were to get in power, they would then say that only good progressive candidates are entitled to public campaign financing, and the bad conservatives just need to stuff their first amendment free speech rights up their (expletives deleted.)
SocratesGOP
It isn't a matter of using 527s
It's a matter of using them illegally.
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Vote Democratic, the ass you save may be your own.
Socrates, I think you don't understand
I appreciate your zeal, but to determine which 527s are helpful and which ones aren't, I do the smell test.
Swift Boat Veterans for Truth didn't pass the smell test.
Americans Coming Together didn't pass the smell test.
Art Pope is as stinky as the both of them.
A 527 is a tool with no inherent good or ill qualities. It's how the tool is used that matters. And, oh Jeebus, do a lot of those right wingers like to lie.
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Matt! Good going! Getting out the 18-24 GLBT vote is very important for a demographic that's getting thrown under the bus by all Republicans and too many Democrats. Keep the pressure on, and one day folks'll look back at GLBT discrimination the way they do racial and gender discrimination.
Scrutiny Hooligans - http://www.scrutinyhooligans.us
Socrates,
You might also notice that there's no person here named "BlueNC." I authored this post, and I think Anglico authored the other one you're talking about. I've never taken an issue on 527s generally, because I don't feel qualified to do so. I'm not even really sure what makes a 527 a 527. I do think, though, that the NCAC will probably be doing important work to help out a group that most people think it's OK to discriminate against. That is great news.
slightly confused
In the second paragraph, they state they will work with Equality NC and not compete with it. However, I am confused at what the difference will be with the new group. Is it so Equality NC can spend more time on lobbying and this new group spend more time on voter education and outreach?
The difference
AS quoted on our website, NCAC's focus lies with "grassroots advocacy, local awareness, community activism, voter education and the promotion of issues and candidates important to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and allied North Carolinians."
EqualityNC does a great job at the legislature and we do not want to take away from their efforts. We simply want to add to them by reaching out to the base and focusing on grassroots activism. This will help the entire movement for equality in North Carolina by opening up new ways in which to reach out to people and gain support.
Check out our website, especially our "About Us" section at http://www.ncadvocacycoalition.org/node/3
Matt Hill Comer
MattHillNC.com | The Q-triad Blog
http://www.matthillnc.com
Matt Comer
www.InterstateQ.com
Thanks for posting the press
Thanks for posting the press release Lance.
Sacrates... As long as I am heading up NCAC, I vow to never let it get embroiled in any illegal activities whatsoever. NCAC is an organization that will lead and work with integrity. NCAC is also an organization that is for the people... not the politicians. As long as I head up this group, our mission and focus will be guided by what our supporters and members need in our current political climate. I will not let politicians use my group to further their own agendas. Our mission and focus on grassroots advocacy, outreach, voter participation and equality for LGBT North Carolinians is too important.
If you ever want to check up on what we are doing or what our organization is taking in, just call me at 336.391.9528 or email us at ncadvocacy@gmail.com. I have already made the people I am working with aware of the fact that NCAC's activities and information about our group will be easily accessible by North Carolinians. Integrity is the most vital and moral component of society, religion, politics, community, etc. It is a shame some of our leaders have lost it.
Matt Hill Comer
MattHillNC.com | The Q-triad Blog
http://www.matthillnc.com
Matt Comer
www.InterstateQ.com
To Mark
I should have put this in my other comment: Thanks for the support Mark. I'm sure our paths will cross in the next few months.
We are hoping to have some sort of "founding reception" or open house sometime in late July or early August. I'd love for you to attend.
You can stay up to date with what we are doing by signing up for an account on our website (we use Drupal, just like BlueNC) which will let you receive our weekly email updates: ncadvocacycoalition.org/user/register
Matt Hill Comer
MattHillNC.com | The Q-triad Blog
http://www.matthillnc.com
Matt Comer
www.InterstateQ.com