DNC 2020: A chance to share our s // By JOE SOLMONESE Chief Executive Officer of the 2020 Democratic National Convention Committee.
This summer, I moved to Milwaukee to spend the next year planning the 2020 Democratic National Convention right here in the Badger State.
I
came to Milwaukee for the first time in 2004 to help elect Congresswoman Gwen Moore, and I was back here again in 2012 – because like every other gay man in America, I answered the call to campaign for Senator Tammy Baldwin.
Over the past few months, as I’ve walked around this city, toured the venues, and met with leaders and citizens alike, I’ve been reminded of why I fell in love with Milwaukee in the first place. The excitement and the collaborative spirit here is palpable. It’s the honor of my life to serve as CEO of this convention, and I look forward to continuing to build what we hope will be the most successful convention in recent memory. I knew when I accepted this job that it would not be easy. But I wouldn’t have said yes if I didn’t think we could create something spectacular. It’s going to be big and complex, but I love big and complex. Because that describes just about every challenge I’ve taken on throughout my whole career.
Focused on human rights I was president of the Human Rights Campaign, the country’s biggest LGBTQ organization, as we fought for marriage equality. I led
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EMILY’s List as we worked to elect more women across the country. And last year, I served as transition chair of Planned Parenthood while they searched for a new CEO, managing the day-to-day operations of an organization under constant attack. But my fight for Democratic values really began in the 80s. I came out as gay during the darkest days of the AIDS epidemic. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned in my life, it’s that activism is the daughter of adversity. I knew I needed to make a difference. And that experience propelled me into the world of electoral politics, where I first cut my teeth as a staffer on Michael Dukakis’ presidential campaign.
Convention experience
I’m also no stranger to conventions. In fact, I have been to every single Democratic convention since 1988. Remember 1988? Neither Bush had been president yet. A portable CD player cost $400. George Lucas told Congress that people who alter films for profit are barbarians. And the most innovative and unstoppable juggernaut
