Sacramento's Capital Political Action Committee (CAPPAC) was formed when Ronald Reagan was President. AIDS was beginning its rampage through our community. There were no state or federal laws protecting LGBT people from employment or housing discrimination. Domestic Partners didn't exist as LGBT relationships were not recognized. The idea of gay marriage was unthinkable.
The City of Sacramento, under the leadership of Mayor Anne Rudin, our City Council adopted a groundbreaking ban on employment and housing discrimination against gay people. A thriving group called "Pillars of the Community" attracted large monthly Friday night dinners, as local LGBT men and women wanting to have social contact outside of the bars.
In early 1988, a group of about twenty LGBT people who worked in and around the Legislature, most still closeted in their professions, decided Sacramento needed an LGBT political action committee to put our dollars into the political process in a concentrated, meaningful way. The first CAPPAC Dinner in 1988 was an exuberant celebration of our newfound voice in the fight for equality. Our late Congressman Robert Matsui introduced the honored keynote speaker, openly gay Massachusetts Congressman Barney Frank. That evening, which included a heart-rending drama, entitled "Sacramento Stories," which portrayed some of our struggles with rejection from family, gay-bashing and blatant discrimination, set the tone for Annual Dinners that have followed.
Even though CAPPAC has held dozens of fundraisers for individual candidates who support our LGBT community, the Annual Dinner has been the cornerstone of fundraising efforts. Since 1988, CAPPAC has raised more than $200,000 through the Annual Dinners. These dollars have been donated to candidates for local, legislative and statewide office, as well as many state Proposition campaigns.
Even as we celebrate our success in winning new freedoms, we recognize the coming challenges from the relentless efforts of those who would bar legal recognition of our rights or relationships. With your help, CAPPAC will continue to fight for our equal rights. |
