Outreach & Inclusion is Our Mission
Stonewall DFL represents the DFL in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and represents the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in the DFL.
As the official 2SLGBTQIA+ outreach arm of the DFL, we participate in Pride and other events in every corner of the state – educating and registering voters, promoting our endorsed candidates, and creating a pipeline for 2SLGBTQIA+ people to get involved in the DFL Party.
We remind the Party of – and help it fulfill – its obligations of outreach and inclusion for Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual people.
Find out more about the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party here.
Belong to Something Greater!
Stonewall DFL members have voting privileges at all membership meetings and committee meetings; this includes voting for candidate endorsements.
The entire membership generally meets once or twice a year, electing the board of directors which meets monthly. Members are encouraged to be active with our six standing committees which meet with varying schedules. All meetings are public and guests are welcome.
Electing Champions for our Community
Stonewall DFL works for a safe and equitable Minnesota by endorsing and electing 2SLGBTQIA+ and allied candidates for public office and in the Minnesota DFL Party. Our endorsements are important to many Minnesotans who seek our advice in choosing candidates who will champion issues impacting the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
Read our just-released 2025 Voter Guide entitled "Municipal Elections Matter More Than Ever" now!
Community Resources
Finding resources that are 2SLGBTQIA+ accepting and friendly has long been a struggle for our community. It has become even harder to do so under a fascist federal government hell-bent on taking the rights of our community away. And as if it couldn't get any worse, due to the government shutdown, the federal government has decided that after November 1st, it will no longer distribute SNAP funds, even though they are legally allowed and obligated to.
People who identify as part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community are significantly more likely to live in poverty. While Stonewall DFL is not a service organization, we view it as part of our mission to ensure that our members and the queer community in Minnesota know about accepting and friendly services that can assist them in their time of need.
Below is a non-exhaustive list of resources to assist members of the queer community in Minnesota.
- The Minnesota Trans Resource Directory- Created and maintained by the Transgender, Intersex, and Gender-Expansive Revolutionary Resources and Services (TIGERRS), this directory has everything from food shelves to religious orgs, medical facilities, and hair salons for the trans and broader 2SLGBTQIA+ community. This is a statewide resource.
- Second Harvest Heartland's 'Find Food' Map- Enter your city, county, or address into their search tool to find food banks and other food resources near you. Please note that not all food shelves may be queer friendly.
- Community Resources from Twin Cities Pride
- Aliveness Project Food and Nutrition Services- Please note that you must become a member to access food and nutrition services through the Aliveness Project. See their website for more details.
- OutFront Minnesota
Social Media
The Somali community has always given much more to our state than it has asked for. It is deeply wrong and hurtful to continue to blame an entire community for the actions of a few. Stonewall DFL stands in solidarity with our deeply treasured Somali community, supports our wonderful DFL Somali Caucus, and continues to fight alongside a community that consistently stands with us when called upon.
About the awards--
Minnesota State Senator Allan Spear was one of the first openly gay Americans serving in elected office. He was in the Minnesota Senate from 1973 until 2001 and served as the body’s 7th President from 1993 until his retirement in 2001. Spear was instrumental in passing the 1993 Minnesota Human Rights Act, which guaranteed protection from discrimination in education, employment, and housing to LGBTQ Minnesotans.
In 2001, Stonewall DFL created the Allan Spear Award to honor elected officials, DFL party leaders, and activists who gave generously of their time in the fight for 2SLGBTQIA+ equality across Minnesota.
Rick Stafford was the first openly gay person to lead a state political party in the country, elected as DFL chair in 1993. He was a respected national leader on 2SLGBTQIA+ issues, including serving as chair of the LGBT caucus of the DNC. Dedicated to the DFL's farm and labor roots, he worked at all levels to build the party, advocate for its platform, and raise up new leaders. Rick passed away in 2017 and mentored much of the Democratic Party's current and emerging leadership - not just in Minnesota, but across the United States.
The Rick Stafford Award was created in 2019. This award honors 2SLGBTQIA+ leaders who have persistently worked to recruit and promote the leadership of people new to the DFL & Democratic Party.
The Megan J. Thomas Distinguished Service Award
Megan J. Thomas is a former two-time Chair of Stonewall DFL and has served in many other roles in the organization in her over 20 years of service. She currently serves as Stonewall's treasurer. Megan has additionally been a trailblazer outside of Stonewall DFL; She served as the first out 2SLGBTQIA+ Affirmative Action Officer (now Outreach and Inclusion Officer) for the State DFL.
The Megan J. Thomas Distinguished Service Award was created in 2023. The award recognizes Stonewall DFL leaders who have made a significant and unparalleled impact on the Stonewall DFL Caucus. Recipients of this award must have been a member of SDFL and part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
Nominations will close on Saturday, January 3rd, 2026, at 11:59 pm.
