National Stonewall Democrats stunner

Stonewall Review Gay NewsBoard member Raymond Buckley under criminal investigation

The Union Leader reported minutes ago that Raymond Buckley, a member of the board of directors of the National Stonewall Democrats, is under criminal investigation following a complaint related to pornography. The article does not specify whether the pornography in question involves underage subjects. Buckley, who had been a candidate for the position of Chair of the New Hampshire Democratic Party in party elections later this spring, withdrew from that race earlier today.

In his capacity as an NSD board member, Buckley had chaired the board's Elected and Party Officials committee. Buckley had for some time been subjected to internal criticism for his failure to turn the committee into an effective liaison to these communities, as detailed in the Stonewall Review's premium newsletter in August 2005. Buckley's poor performance as the committee's Chair led one NSD insider to refer to the committee as a WOMBAT –- Waste Of Money, Brains, And Time.

Buckley has also been criticized and viewed with suspicion because of his support for right-wing Senator Joe Lieberman and because of his close affiliation with the conservative Democratic Leadership Council. Buckley also opposed expansion of the early presidential primary calendar to diverse states like Nevada and South Carolina -- a stance he could have been expected to take in his capacity as a New Hampshire Democratic Party official -- but he offended Democratic activists across the country by providing rationales for his opposition that appeared to some as patronizing toward ethnic minorities and as thinly-veiled racism.

At this writing, Buckley is still listed on the National Stonewall Democrats web site as an at-large board member. It is not clear if he has resigned or if his resignation has been demanded. It is not even clear if board members are aware of this unfolding story.

The Stonewall Review will speculate that an enterprising journalist will soon Google Buckley's name and quickly make the unpleasant connection between a criminal accusation involving pornography and a group that bills itself as America’s only grassroots Democratic lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender organization.

Buckley, who is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, nevertheless should resign or be removed from the National Stonewall Democrats board of directors immediately. Buckley's board seat does not belong to him; he holds it in trust on behalf of the members of the National Stonewall Democrats, and their interests must be protected. NSD officers should move quickly to secure Buckley's exit from the board, and they should remove all references to his name from the organization's web site.

The Union Leader article is at www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Buckley+quits+race+for+state+Dem+chair&articleId=24ab4962-1f16-453b-8fe3-1d0a03085723 .

The National Stonewall Democrats board roster is at www.stonewalldemocrats.org/2005/05/about_us.php#more .