As LGBT organizations kick their electoral efforts into high gear, a number of groups are sponsoring training sessions to recruit and strengthen the skills of volunteers. The efforts are a great chance for you to learn how to get engage with campaigns in your local community, meet new and make a difference in the fight for LGBT equality.

Here are some upcoming trainings:

NJ/NY – September 13

Organizations in New Jersey, including Garden State Equality, are holding a day of campaign training for volunteers for Barack Obama and Democratic Congressional candidates on Saturday, September 13 from 9am-1pm. The training will take place at Montclair State University, University Hall, 7th floor, One Normal Avenue, Montclair, New Jersey, a close-in suburb of Manhattan. You can take an NJ Transit train from Penn Station in Manhattan directly to the campus and back.

The training is free and breakfast will be provided. Please arrive Saturday at 8:30 am to register.

The speakers will include New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine, U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg, U.S. House candidates Dennis Shulman and Linda Stender, Newark Mayor Cory Booker and several others.

The training is coordinated by BlueWaveNJ PAC. The program will include training on:

Cleveland, OH – September 20-21 and

Long Island (Huntington), New York – September 20 – 21

The Human Rights Campaign presents Camp Equality™, an intensive, 2-day interactive training program that combines lectures, discussions, and real-life simulations. Camp Equality™ teaches both advanced and fundamental skills to help strengthen the impact our community has on the 2008 elections. Click here to register for a Camp Equality™ near you.

At the two-day training, you’ll have the opportunity to choose one of two tracks:

Advanced Track: Working on a Campaign: This track is designed for you if you are one of our more experienced campaign volunteers. This track teaches participants the modern mechanics of organizing for political campaigns. During your sessions you will learn advanced techniques of targeting, organizing, media relations, volunteer coordination, Get Out the Vote, and the latest campaign technology.

Fundamentals Track: Working on a Campaign: This track is designed for you if you want to learn the step by step fundamentals necessary to be successful at the grassroots level. Topics will include: planning, volunteer recruitment, field, planning events, canvassing, earned media, and even writing a blog. You will learn the basic skills that are essential to putting your local issue or political campaign in the best position to win.

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After her amazing speech at the Democratic Convention and her appearance at the LGBT Delegate Luncheon, Michelle Obama will travel to Los Angeles for a fundraiser benefiting the Obama Victory Fund.

9/3/08 – Los Angeles, CA
The home of Bryan Lourd
An Event Benefiting The Obama Victory Fund with Michelle Obama
5:30 PM – VIP Reception
6:00 PM – General Reception
Minimum Contribution: $1,000 per person
Suggested Contribution: $2,300 per person
Co-Host Raise/Write: $25,000

Click here to attend

Click to here find information on other upcoming events.

Many LGBT delegates, journalists, bloggers and support teams are busy making last minute plans for the Democratic National Convention in Denver.  Following is a recent listing of LGBT specific events, as well as the Convention primetime themes.

(Last updated: August 18, 2008)

Sunday, August 24
10:00am-11:30am Stonewall Democrats Brunch Renaissance Hotel 3801 Quebec St, Denver, CO 80207 Stonewall Democrats $28

6:00-9:00pm Create Change Cocktail Reception Lannie’s Clocktower Cabaret, 1601 Arapahoe Street, Denver, CO 80204 The Task Force VIP $175, General $75

7:30-10:00pm Cocktail & Desert Reception The Westin Tabor Center, Augusta Room Stonewall Democrats & Matthew Shepard Foundation $20

Monday, August 25
12:00-2:00pm LGBT Caucus Meeting Colorado Convention Center, 700 14th St Denver, CO 80202

2:00-4:00pm Stonewall Democrats Tea Party The Pinnacle Club by the Grand Hyatt Stonewall Democrats $25/Free for Delegates

4:00pm-6:00pm Celebrating Diversity Reception Westin Tabor Center 1672 Lawrence Street Denver, CO 80202 HRC & NBJC

Convention Prime Time Theme – One Nation
Headline prime-time speaker: Michelle Obama
Featured speakers: Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Senator Claire McCaskill, Maya Soetoro-Ng and Craig Robinson
Tribute to Senator Edward Kennedy
Mayor John Hickenlooper and a video segment introducing delegates and other Convention attendees to the natural beauty and strong voices of leadership in the Mountain West

Tuesday, August 26
12:00pm-2:00pm Lunch for LGBT Delegates Rep. Baldwin, Rep. Frank, the Victory Fund, and Human Rights Campaign Sheraton Hotel, 1550 Court Place, Denver, CO 80202

7:30pm Human Rights Campaign Rock to Win concert with Melissa Etheridge, Cyndi Lauper, Rufus Wainwright and Margaret Cho, Fillmore Auditorium, 1510 Clarkson St Denver, CO 80218

Convention Prime Time Theme – Renewing America’s Promise
Headline prime-time speaker: Senator Hillary Clinton
Keynote Address: Mark Warner, former Governor of Virginia
Featured speakers: Governors Napolitano, Patrick, Rendell, Schweitzer, Sebelius and Strickland; Senator Bob Casey, Jr. and Federico Peña

Wednesday, August 27
9:00am-10:00 am Big Tent panel discussion on LGBT Issues in 2008: What a Difference Four Years Makes. Human Rights Campaign will be hosting a 50-minute, panel session on LGBT issues in the 2008 election at The Big Tent on Wednesday, August 27 at 9 AM (MT). Panelists include: Celinda Lake, Arizona Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (Del.) and Jonathan Capehart.

12:00pm-2:00pm LGBT Caucus Colorado Convention Center, 700 14th St Denver, CO 80202

Convention Prime Time Theme – Securing America’s Future
Headline prime-time speaker: Barack Obama’s Vice Presidential Nominee.
Featured speakers: Former President Bill Clinton; Governor Bill Richardson; Senators Evan Bayh, Joe Biden, Jay Rockefeller and Ken Salazar; Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid; House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn; Representative Patrick Murphy (D-PA) and Iraq War veteran Tammy Duckworth.

Thursday, August 28

Convention Prime Time Theme – Change You Can Believe In
Barack Obama’s acceptance speech: On Thursday night, the DNCC will throw open the doors of the Convention and move to INVESCO Field at Mile High so that more Americans can be a part of the fourth night of the Convention as Barack Obama accepts the Democratic nomination.

The Obama campaign recently announced that former supporters of the Clinton presidential are joining the Obama campaign’s LGBT steering and policy committee. Rep. Tammy Baldwin D-WI, former head of the Clinton campaign’s LGBT committee, was invited to join the Obama committee as co-chair alongside sitting chair Tobias Wolff, a law professor at the University of Pennsylvania.

From the Washington Blade:

Baldwin told the Blade that she was interested in joining Obama’s committee because “the contrast is stark” between Obama and Republican presidential hopeful John McCain on gay issues.

“It matters to LGBT people in America who wins the next election,” she said.

Baldwin said she feels “a special role” in communicating the difference between Obama and McCain to the gay voters — and highlighting this contrast will be a primary goal of Obama’s committee.

The Obama LGBT steering and policy committee currently has about 100 community leaders and other activists with strong backgrounds in LGBT civil rights and grassroots organizing.

Other Clinton supporters joining the committee include:

• Mandy Carter, an African-American lesbian North Carolina activist
• Jesse Garcia, president of the Dallas Stonewall Democrats
• H. Alexander Robinson, CEO of National Black Justice Coalition