Stonewall Democrats

Stonewall Democrats, also known in some states as LGBT Democrats, is the official caucus within the Democratic Party that advocates for issues that are relevant to LGBT Americans. The caucus primarily operates through individual state chapters supporting LGBT rights and affiliated with the Democratic Party. There are currently 31 statewide chapters that exist throughout the United States. The word "Stonewall" refers to the Stonewall riots of 1969, a pivotal event in the struggle for equal rights for LGBT people.

The first chapter of the LGBT Democrats, the Harvey Milk Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Democratic Club, was founded in the city of San Francisco in 1972. Since then, statewide chapters formed throughout the country. From 1982 to 1987, state and local LGBT Democratic groups in the United States coordinated their activities nationally through the Washington-based National Association of Gay and Lesbian Democratic Clubs. After the association closed, the groups communicated in 1995 through an online national network. The communication resulted in the groups' founding in 1996 of the Washington-based National Stonewall Democratic Federation to affiliate with the Democratic National Committee.

National Stonewall Democrats were a Washington, D.C.-based group affiliated founded in 1998 at a meeting in Kansas City, MO, organized by U.S. Rep. Barney Frank of Massachusetts. The group was incorporated in 1999.

The group described itself as "a grassroots force for social change within our movement and within our party." It had more than 90 chapters throughout the United States which focused on a variety of equality issues. The group also operated a political action committee (PAC) which coordinated campaign contributions and support from local chapters to endorse pro-equality Democrats in federal elections. Chapters throughout the country began chartering through them. Prior to 1996, LGBT Democratic clubs were not officially affiliated with the Democratic Party, and many operated independently.

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