US Democrats’ LGBT campaign group faces possible closure due to funding crisis

Illustrated rainbow pride flag on a white background.

The National Stonewall Democrats, the main political LGBT lobbying organisation that’s affiliated with the Democratic Party, may close its doors unless it raises $30,000 (£18,600) before the end of the year.

The group’s Executive Director Jerame Davis sent out an email on Wednesday asking for donations to help resolve a budget deficit of more than $30,000.

Mr Davis said: “It’s no secret that we’ve struggled with fundraising over the past few years, but today we are at a crossroads and we’re turning to you – our members and supporters.”

He also told the Washington Blade that the organisation’s most-recent budget was between $130,000 (£80,600) and $140,000 (£86,800) compared from its 2008 budget of nearly $700,000 (£434,420).

Though Mr Davis says his group appeared debt-free by the end of July, it spent about $20,000 (£12,400) at this year’s Democratic National Convention.

Mr Davis is currently the only full-time staffer and says he has cut the budget to about $10,000 (£6,200) a month.

The National Stonewall Democrats was founded in 1999 by gay Massachusetts congressman Barney Frank.

The 72-year-old, who married his partner in July, is retiring from the US Congress after serving for more than 30 years in January 2013.

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