posted Jun 13, 2011, 4:46 PM by Karl-Thomas Musselman  [ updated Jun 14, 2011, 9:18 PM] An Important Message from the Stonewall Democrats of Austin-Â
There’s nothing more important than to have a seat at the table when decisions are made that effect you. Council Member Randi Shade has been a needed voice for LGBT Austinites for the past three years.  Most importantly, our youth need to see impressive role models in positions of leadership and esteem.  Our openly lesbian Council Member is a beacon that let LGBT folks nationally know that Austin is the kind of place to make their home. Vote to re-elect Randi Shade: not just for her policy leadership, but for keeping her as a role model for our LGBT youth.
You can also check out this excellent piece from the Gay Place in The Austin Chronicle about her work on Hate Crimes and QueerBomb:Â http://www.austinchronicle.com/columns/2011-05-06/gay-place/
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Randi ensured that the Austin Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce became eligible for City funding like other minority (African-American, Hispanic, and Asian) chambers of commerce, and also ensured AGLCC participation in the stakeholder group charged with modifying the City's approach to cost-benefit analysis of economic incentive proposals.  Randi co-sponsored Austin's Hate Crimes Task Force and has been actively involved in promoting LGBT awareness within the public safety community. Randi participates in Police Academy training each year to talk with cadets about LGBT sensitivity and particular issues in the community. She also promotes diversity hiring to increase LGBT Police, Fire, and EMS employees and supports their internal LGBT employee networks. Randi has nominated LGBT citizens to serve on City boards, commissions and task forces to ensure that the LGBT community is included in all City conversations. Randi secured and presented Queerbomb's proclamation and also helped the event's organizers secure permits to make it happen. Randi co-sponsored Austin PRIDE, as well, and encouraged active participation among City employees at all levels. Randi worked with ACC's Equality Now group to secure a proclamation for their Harvey Milk celebration, as well as space on the City Hall plaza for their event. Randi has done the same in support of the annual Transgender Memorial Service. Randi is active on LGBT issues over at the Capitol. She supported Texas HB 665, adding sexual orientation and gender identity to the state's non-discrimination act. Randi also testified in favor of removing the restriction in Texas that a child's birth certificate list only one man and one woman. Randi worked with the City's Human Resources Department to update its policies to make sure COBRA benefits were extended to domestic partners of City Employees.  Randi's partner Kayla is the national board president of Out & Equal Workplace, a non-profit focused on workplace equality regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, and Randi helped recruit the annual 2,500+ attendee national summit to Austin. Randi and Kayla are frequent volunteers and strong financial supporters on a local and national level for groups like HRC, Equality Texas, and Atticus Circle. Randi and Kayla are also parents, raising two children, including their daughter Emme who Randi gave birth to just 8 weeks after being sworn in to office.  As a family they are actively and openly involved in a number of issues related to same-sex parents and their families. On Mother's Day, they also celebrated the 7 year anniversary of their commitment celebration.Â
Randi Shade has worked hard to make sure that LGBT folks are included at City Hall, and she has been a visible leader of the LGBT community for many years. Â
Remember: Vote this Saturday between 7 AM and 7 PM. Look up your voting location here:Â http://www.traviscountytax.org/showVoterNameSearch.do
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