Timeline is a regular feature in each issue looking back to events and milestones that have helped us evolve into the community we are today.

Early May, 1988

Connecticut had the distinct honor of being represented by three gay delegates at the Democratic National Convention. John Bonelli and Carla Odiago, of Hartford, and Terry Beagle, of Tolland, traveled to Atlanta for the Democratic National Convention as Jesse Jackson delegates. Odiaga was elected as a Delegate At Large while Beagle and Bonelli were elected as alternates.

Bonelli cited the event as a tremendous achievement for the lesbian and gay community, hailing the Gay Delegate Project, facilitated by Beagle, as having registered at least 400 to 500 gay, lesbian and allied voters in the months prior to the Connecticut primary.  Gay voters accounted for much of the success Jesse Jackson saw in Connecticut. While Bonelli credited the gay community for helping to secure places for the three gay representatives of the Jackson delegation, voter turnout could have been higher.

“Overall I’m very pleased we are able to have three members of the lesbian and gay community representing Jesse Jackson,” Beagle said.  Odiago, however, was the only one who actually had a vote on the floor of the Convention.  

“We must realistically know we could have done a lot better,” said Beagle of the total gay and lesbian vote. According to Beagle, had gays and lesbians participated more progressively in the voting process, both he and Bonelli might have been elected full delegates at the District Caucuses.

In Atlanta, the delegates made sure that gay and lesbian issues were heard and acted upon. “I look forward not only to working with Jackson delegates but also with our progressive friends in the Dukakis delegation,” said Beagle. “Our main thrust must be that our issues are represented in the Democratic platform. Whoever’s the nominee must support those issues.”

The community was asked to make donations, as the three delegates counted on community assistance to help defray the costs of traveling to Atlanta.