Dallas Sheriff to speak at Stonewall Bandquet

Dallas Sheriff Lupe Valdez (photo)

Dallas Sheriff Lupe Valdez will be the guest speaker at the Stonewall Democrats First Annual Awards Banquet, 6 p.m., September 23rd at the Radisson Hotel Market Square, across from the UTSA Downtown Campus.

Valdez, the first Democrat elected Sheriff in Dallas in 30 years is also the first Lesbian Latina to be elected in a County-side race.A native of San Antonio, Valdez graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School.

Bexar County Sheriff Ralph Lopez will introduce Valdez at the banquet. Lopez served as the Grand Marshal of the 2004 San Antonio Gay Pride Parade.

Three awards will be presented at the banquet. State Rep. Mike Villarreal will receive the Political Advocacy Award, the Rev. Dr. Ilene Dunn of Madison Square Presbyterian Church will receive the Community Leadership Award, and Charlie Gallimore, a chapter member, will be honored with the Volunteer Appreciation Award.

Founded in 2000, Stonewall Democrats San Antonio (SDSA) is an organization of Democrats that advocates for equality on behalf of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) persons.

The group educates candidates and elected officials on important issues affecting the LGBT community and encourages local LGBT Democrats to become more involved in the political process.SDSA has a political action committee (SDSA PAC) that is registered with the Texas Ethics Commission for the purpose of endorsing candidates for public office and making campaign contributions.

SDSA holds its monthly meetings at 6:30 pm on the 3rd Monday of each month at Grady’s Bar-B-Q, located at 6510 San Pedro. (at Jackson-Keller)Cost of the tickets for the event is $40 Seating is limited. For more information, contact Bryan Gerard at (210) 590-7030.

Noted political scientist Dr. Richard Gambitta will serve as master of ceremonies. Gambitta is the Director of the University of Texas at San Antonio’s (UTSA) Institute for Law and Public Affairs and recently retired as Chair of the UTSA Department of Political Science and Geography.

He received his M.A. and Ph.D. in political science from the Maxwell School of Syracuse University. Dr. Gambitta has received many teaching and achievement awards and has presented research in many countries in Europe, Asia and North America and at academic World Congresses.

He has served as an advisor to CNN and TBS and has written many feature articles for local newspapers including the San Antonio Express-News and La Prensa.