This past Thursday, Sept. 11, members of the GLBT community gathered at the home of Tom Felkner and Bob Lehman for a reception to welcome gubernatorial candidate Cruz Bustamante to San Diego. Over 40 people attended the event, which raised $15,000 for Bustamante’s campaign. The Lt. Governor is the only major Democrat running in the recall election — flooded with over 150 candidates — and is currently holding a lead in the polls over the top Republican candidate, actor-turned-politician Arnold Schwarzenegger.

“The truth of the matter is there is coalition building that needs to be done,” Nicole Murray-Ramirez said introducing the Lt. Governor. “One of the strongest coalitions that can be done is the people of color communities and the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. Coming together we can be very powerful in an election.”

Particularly in an election with so many candidates, a strong coalition between minority groups could prove powerful if the recall vote does succeed.

“It really is an attempt by the radical right wing to hijack the process of government,” said Maureen Steiner of the San Diego Democratic Party. “You have to vote no on the recall and vote yes on Bustamante because we have got to have a fall back position.”

Bustamante reminded those in attendance that he grew up in a very conservative community in the central valley, surrounded by those he referred to as the “pickup truck with gun racks style conservatives, not the suit and tie variety” many people are more familiar with. Despite coming from modest roots Bustamante focused on the idea that everyone is entitled to have an opportunity, which his detractors have labeled as a radical left wing agenda.

“Most of us want what everybody else wants,” Bustamante said. “That’s not something that’s radical. That’s the American Agenda. It’s why we have all of these democratic principals.”

Bustamante focused on the idea of growth and understanding that, despite differences, most minorities are still fighting discrimination.

“I was an altar boy for eight years, from a very Catholic Latino family,” Bustamante added. “You know people don’t understand why I supported domestic partner benefits. They don’t understand in many cases back home where I come from and I tell them that discrimination is discrimination is discrimination, and it’s important that we all grow and we all become inclusive.”

Bustamante highlighted his experience working with the Latino caucus and building early bridges between that group, the African-American community and the Asian community as well. He also noted that during his tenure as Assembly Speaker, he appointed more women, minorities and members of the GLBT community than any of his predecessors.

“I would ask you, vote no on proposition 54,” Bustamante said, ending his speech by reminding people of other important initiatives on the ballot. He went on to say, “Vote no on the recall. It’s a hijacking of democracy. It is the wrong thing to do. I already have friends who are organizing right now to recall the next Governor. It’s bad for the state of California and I hope that as you do that, as you do those two things, you will find it in you to vote yes on Bustamante.”