Liberty PA Targets Santorum

June 14, 2005

WASHINGTON, DC — The National Stonewall Democrats and a Pennsylvania political action group, Liberty PA, have formed a partnership to defeat Republican Senator Rick Santorum in 2006.

Santorum has been one of the most outspoken supporters of a federal amendment to ban same-sex marriage.

The ideological agenda of Rick Santorum continues to neglect Pennsylvanians and threaten families throughout the United States, said Eric Stern, NSD Executive Director.

This partnership is the vehicle for LGBT Americans and our allies to come together to defeat Rick Santorum in 2006. It allows individuals from across the country to connect with grassroots efforts already underway in Pennsylvania.

Stern said that the new partnership dramatically departs from traditional outreach utilized by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender organizations in the past.

Liberty PA is the only statewide organization with a network of activists in each geographic region of Pennsylvania.

The two groups also announced on Tuesday that veteran political operative Renee Gilinger will serve as State Director for the coordinated efforts beginning immediately.

Gilinger's experience includes work with the campaigns of Governor Ed Rendell, Philadelphia Mayor John Street and as Pennsylvania State Director for the Young Voter Alliance in 2004.

So many times, national organizations have made the mistake of moving their resources into a state without first understanding the needs of local residents, said Gilinger in a statement.

Liberty PA is an organization comprised of local folks who know the local issues. By partnering with existing efforts in our neighborhoods, National Stonewall Democrats is helping build the infrastructure our state needs to win battles beyond 2006.

The partnership hopes to increase voter turnout in precincts that maintain a high registration of Democratic voters but retain a low turnout average, as well as precincts that maintain a high concentration of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender voters.