In 1971 , Foster , along with Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon , transformed the SIR Political Action Committee into the Alice B. Toklas Memorial Democratic Club . The Toklas club was the first gay Democratic club in country . Also in 1971 , Foster was instrumental in convincing Richard Hongisto to run for sheriff and in delivering gay votes to his winning campaign . It became a truism of San Francisco politics that , as long-time activist José Sarria had put it , " nobody ran for anything in San Francisco without knocking on the door of the gay community . " In 1972 , after the Toklas club delivered one-third of the signatures needed to secure George McGovern the first position on the California Democratic primary ballot , Foster was added to the list of speakers at the 1972 Democratic National Convention . Originally , Foster had been given a prime time speaking slot , but George McGovern 's campaign manager , future U.S. Senator and presidential candidate Gary Hart , changed it to a 3:00 a.m. speaking slot . The campaign had decided they needed to tone down their radical image . He and fellow delegate Madeline Davis were the first openly LGBT people ever to address a national party convention . He called upon the Democratic Party to add a gay rights plank to the party platform , saying : We do not come to you begging your understanding or pleading your tolerance . We come to you affirming our pride in our lifestyle , affirming the validity of our right to seek and to maintain meaningful emotional relationships and affirming our right to participate in the life of this country on an equal basis with every citizen . Foster and other gay rights activists got a minority report to the floor , but the plank was defeated
1972 Democratic National Convention
1972 Democratic National Convention
Jim Foster (activist)