ALGBTICAL

February 2012

What are the official positions of the candidates who sought office in the 2012 elections? More specifically, what are their attitudes regarding LGBT issues?

Newt Gingrich opposes domestic partnership benefits for same-sex couples. He wants a constitutional amendment to protect the traditional family. He believes that same sex couples should have some sort of legal rights so that they can leave their estates to their partners or visit them in the hospital. Gingrich believes that homosexuality is a sin. He thinks that same sex couples should not be able to adopt children. He thinks that gays and lesbians should be able to teach as there are many good and decent people who happen to be gay and children will encounter them in everyday life.

Mitt Romney has created and acquired a reputation for being the most conservative candidate in the 2008 Presidential elections not only by taking a tough stand against gay and lesbian marriage but also opposing most of their petitions seeking rights for these groups. He is against the idea of letting gays and lesbians serve actively in the US Military. In addition, he has said that he would not support over-turning the 'Don't ask, don't tell' legislation. He has openly opposed same-sex marriage saying that it is the family which forms the basic foundation of America and therefore, it needs to be built further, protected and strengthened instead of being redefined. To this effect, Romney has expressed support for the Federal Marriage Amendment which would modify the US Constitution and prohibit same-sex marriage. He has expressed opposition for civil unions as well saying that he would want to see marriage limited to being between a man and a woman. He said he would support neither but if asked to choose between same-sex marriage and a civil union, he would choose the latter as being a lesser evil. Opposing the Supreme Court judgment on the matter, Mitt Romney strongly feels that same sex marriage would destroy not only the culture of America but would also irreparably damage the education system and thereby children. Although he personally believes that Americans should be respectful of all people and their sexual orientation, the long standing institution of marriage should be upheld and respected as being the only acceptable norm. He frequently told Republican audiences that every child has a 'right to have a mother and father' but also acknowledged that same-sex couples have a 'legitimate interest' in adopting children.

Rick Santorum has equated the issue of gay marriage to bestiality and pedophilia. He gave a pep talk to gay marriage opponents in Washington. He wants a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman and said he would support a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. He said he would restore “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” if military leaders advised him to. He prides himself on being a crusader for divisive social issues and for being decidedly anti-gay.

LINKS:

2012 Presidential Candidate Profiles
Seattle Times: Santorum on Same Sex Marriage Laws
Republican Candidates Differ on Gay Marriage Views

Rick Santorum Interviewed by Chris Wallace

December 2011

GOP Republican Presidential hopeful and Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann has been particularly vocal regarding her opposition to LGBT rights and has made numerous anti-gay remarks. She has signed an anti-gay pledge that states homosexuality is a choice. As a result, she has come under siege by young activists speaking on the behalf of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community.

She regards LGBT people as sick and dysfunctional. She is quoted as saying, “If you’re involved in the gay and lesbian lifestyle, it’s bondage. It is personal bondage, personal despair and personal enslavement.” And she has also said, “Don’t misunderstand. I am not here bashing people who are homosexuals, who are lesbians, who are bisexual, who are transgender. We need to have profound compassion for people who are dealing with the very real issue of sexual dysfunction in their life and sexual identity disorders.”

While stumping in Iowa, Bachmann went toe-to-toe with Jane Schmidt, a high school student who is the president of Waverly High School's Gay-Straight Alliance. Jane confronted the Presidential hopeful on her same-sex marriage stance and Bachmann replied, "We all have the same civil rights." To which Jane then asked, "Then, why can't same-sex couples get married?" "They can get married," Bachmann responded. "But they abide by the same law as everyone else. They can marry a man if they're a woman. Or they can marry a woman if they're a man."

A week later, while attending a book signing, Bachmann was approached by eight-year-old activist Elijah, probably coached by his mother, who told Bachmann: "My mommy's gay but she doesn't need fixing." Most likely Elijah’s comment stems from a statement Bachmann made in the past.

LINKS:

Bachman's Anti-Gay Comments

Bachmann's Top Ten Anti-Gay Quotes

Reprehensible Michele Bachmann

Bachmann Quotes

Bachmann on Jay Leno Show

LGBT Weekly Article on Bachmann

CBS News Report on Bachmann

Bachmann's Comments Ignorant of the Law

TAMMY BALDWIN
First Openly Lesbian Congress Woman

State Rep. Tammy Baldwin has made history by becoming the first openly gay first-time candidate ever elected to Congress, winning Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district seat over Josephine Musser.

While four openly gay men have served in the House, all disclosed their sexual orientation after first being elected to their posts. Baldwin also becomes the first lesbian to win a House election.

The 2nd district seat was vacated by moderate Republican Scott Klug. He successfully held onto this Democratic-leaning district, which includes Madison, for four terms by veering from his party's orthodoxy and working hard.

His retirement was expected to hand this seat to the Democrats, but that was thrown into some doubt as Baldwin's liberal politics and sexual orientation were expected to be a hard sell in conservative rural and suburban areas of the district.

A GOP primary that drew six hopefuls was won by state insurance commissioner Musser, a moderate who has Klug-like appeal.

On the campaign trail, Baldwin tried to focus the spotlight on the issues rather than her sexual orientation. She stuck with traditional Democratic themes such as universal health coverage.

Musser portrayed her opponent as a single issue candidate. But Baldwin denied the charge, pointing to her work on prisons, health and campaign finance reform issues.

A former nurse and health care consultant, Musser also spoke about health care reform. Like her Democratic challenger, she is pro-choice.

Musser diverged dramatically with the more conservative side of her party on several key issues: She said she supports a ban on some types of late-term abortions only if there are exceptions for the life and health of the mother; she opposes a constitutional amendment barring flag desecration; and she would not support legislation to ban gay marriage.

The Republican candidate was known during the campaign as being blunt and a self-described "difficult person to manage," having gone through four campaign managers over the course of the race.

The race for Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district was one of the few match-ups this year between two women.

LINKS:

"If you dream of a world in which you can put your partner's picture on your desk, then put her picture on your desk...and you will live in such a world. And if you dream of a world in which you can walk down the street holding your partner's hand, then hold her hands...and you will live in such a world. If you dream of a world in which there are more openly gay elected officials, then run for office...and you will live in such a world. And if you dream of a world in which you can take your partner to the office party, even if your office is the US House of Representatives, then take her to the party. I do, and now I live in such a world. Remember, there are two things that keep us oppressed --- them and us. We are half of the equation."

Support for LGBT Community

"While we have come a long way since the Stonewall riots in 1969, we still have a lot of work to do. Too often, the issue of LGBT rights is exploited by those seeking to divide us. But at its core, this issue is about who we are as Americans. It's about whether this nation is going to live up to its founding promise of equality by treating all its citizens with dignity and respect."
-Barack Obama, June 1, 2007

Here is an overview of President Obama's agenda regarding gay and lesbian rights, as stated on the official White House website:

Expand Hate Crimes Statutes: In 2004, crimes against LGBT Americans constituted the third-highest category of hate crime reported and made up more than 15 percent of such crimes. President Obama cosponsored legislation that would expand federal jurisdiction to include violent hate crimes perpetrated because of race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or physical disability. As a state senator, President Obama passed tough legislation that made hate crimes and conspiracy to commit them against the law.

Fight Workplace Discrimination: President Obama supports the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and believes that our anti-discrimination employment laws should be expanded to include sexual orientation and gender identity. While an increasing number of employers have extended benefits to their employees' domestic partners, discrimination based on sexual orientation in the workplace occurs with no federal legal remedy. The President also sponsored legislation in the Illinois State Senate that would ban employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

Support Full Civil Unions and Federal Rights for LGBT Couples: President Obama supports full civil unions that give same-sex couples legal rights and privileges equal to those of married couples. Obama also believes we need to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and enact legislation that would ensure that the 1,100+ federal legal rights and benefits currently provided on the basis of marital status are extended to same-sex couples in civil unions and other legally-recognized unions. These rights and benefits include the right to assist a loved one in times of emergency, the right to equal health insurance and other employment benefits, and property rights.

Oppose a Constitutional Ban on Same-Sex Marriage: President Obama voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment in 2006 which would have defined marriage as between a man and a woman and prevented judicial extension of marriage-like rights to same-sex or other unmarried couples.

Repeal Don't Ask-Don't Tell: President Obama agrees with former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff John Shalikashvili and other military experts that we need to repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. The key test for military service should be patriotism, a sense of duty, and a willingness to serve. Discrimination should be prohibited. The U.S. government has spent millions of dollars replacing troops kicked out of the military because of their sexual orientation. Additionally, more than 300 language experts have been fired under this policy, including more than 50 who are fluent in Arabic. The President will work with military leaders to repeal the current policy and ensure it helps accomplish our national defense goals.

Expand Adoption Rights: President Obama believes that we must ensure adoption rights for all couples and individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation. He thinks that a child will benefit from a healthy and loving home, whether the parents are gay or not.

Promote AIDS Prevention: In the first year of his presidency, President Obama will develop and begin to implement a comprehensive national HIV/AIDS strategy that includes all federal agencies. The strategy will be designed to reduce HIV infections, increase access to care and reduce HIV-related health disparities. The President will support common sense approaches including age-appropriate sex education that includes information about contraception, combating infection within our prison population through education and contraception, and distributing contraceptives through our public health system. The President also supports lifting the federal ban on needle exchange, which could dramatically reduce rates of infection among drug users. President Obama has also been willing to confront the stigma -- too often tied to homophobia -- that continues to surround HIV/AIDS.

Empower Women to Prevent HIV/AIDS: In the United States, the percentage of women diagnosed with AIDS has quadrupled over the last 20 years. Today, women account for more than one quarter of all new HIV/AIDS diagnoses. President Obama introduced the Microbicide Development Act, which will accelerate the development of products that empower women in the battle against AIDS. Microbicides are a class of products currently under development that women apply topically to prevent transmission of HIV and other infections.

LINKS:

HYPOCRITICAL ANTI-GAY POLITICIANS
Anti-Gay Politicians Caught Being Gay

As Shakespeare once said, "Me thinkest thou dost protesteth too much." In a similar vein, once we start hearing some self-righteous politician or demagogue proclaiming just a little too loudly the sinfulness of homosexuality, be on the lookout for a closeted (or should we say cowardly) public official dripping with all manner of hypocrisy. The occurrence of such acts is now so commonplace, media outlets are easily able to assemble top ten lists of the most egregious anti-gay activists who have been caught in the act of being gay. These are the twisted lawmakers who campaign against gay rights in public, but who are, in fact, gay (and who generally enjoy the rights they're publicly against, thanks to their power and privilege).

LINKS:

Ranker: Top Ten Anti-Gay Politicians Caught Being Gay
AlterNet: Conservative Hall of Shame
365 Gay: Top Ten Anti-Gay Politicians
Outrage: Documentary Outs Anti-Gay Politicians Who Are Secretly Gay

HATE TALK FROM OKLAHOMA LAWMAKER
Comments From State Rep. Sally Kern

"I honestly think it's the biggest threat our nation has, even more so than terrorism or Islam."
-SALLY KERN, Oklahoma State Representative

Message From Joe Solmonese, HRC President

That's from an Oklahoma lawmaker's speech about gay people. You heard right. A secret recording has just emerged of State Rep. Sally Kern speaking to a Republican group in January, where she equates both sexual orientation and religion with terrorism.

It’s official that Patricia Todd will serve as the first openly gay legislator in the State of Alabama.

On July 18, 2006 Patricia Todd won the Democratic primary election runoff, beating out Gaynell Hendricks to replace retiring Rep. George Perdue for House District 54. Since there is no Republican challenger for the seat, Todd is the apparent winner.

Patricia Todd will be the first openly gay state legislator in Alabama in obtaining a state House seat representing parts of Birmingham. The district includes part of downtown Birmingham and all or part of the city's East Thomas, Fountain Heights, Druid Hills, Forest Park and Crestwood neighborhoods. It also includes part of Irondale.

In the June 6 primary election, Alabama voters overwhelmingly approved a state constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. Ironically, on the same day Patricia Todd came one step closer to becoming the first openly gay member of the Alabama Legislature.

The massive vote for the anti-gay marriage amendment did not make her victory bittersweet, she said. "We knew the marriage amendment was going to pass overwhelmingly. It was not surprising. It was just a matter of how big the margin was going to be," Todd said.

Todd was upbeat on her chances for victory in the runoff, noting that she has been endorsed by two of her primary competitors. She also theorized that some gay voters in her Birmingham-based district crossed over to vote in the Republican primary to help defeat Roy Moore's bid for the GOP gubernatorial nomination.

Moore, an outspoken gay rights opponent ousted as Alabama's chief justice for refusing to remove a monument of the Ten Commandments, was easily defeated by incumbent Gov. Bob Riley, receiving only 33 percent of the vote.

Todd was endorsed by the national Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, likely the most significant involvement from national gay rights groups in the Alabama election.

Including Alabama, 17 states now ban gay marriage in their constitutions. Passage of Alabama's amendment will "enshrine a firewall of protection of the definition of marriage" in Alabama's constitution, said John Giles, president of the Christian Coalition of Alabama. Giles' group spent $15,000 to print and distribute literature supporting the ban on gay marriage. One brochure claimed that allowing gay couples to marry would cause "the health care system to stagger and collapse," and called for Alabama voters to set an example for voters elsewhere because "other states and nations are watching our march toward homosexual marriage and will follow our lead."

LESBIAN WINS HISTORIC RACE IN ALABAMA
Patricia Todd Becomes First Openly Gay Official in State's History

by Denis Dison / July 18, 2006

Patricia Todd made history when voters in Alabama’s 54th legislative district voted to send the Democrat to the State House, marking the first time ever that legislature will include an openly gay Representative. The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, the nation’s largest gay and lesbian political action committee, endorsed Todd and helped raise tens of thousands of dollars from its national network of donors to help fund her campaign. Todd has no Republican opponent in the general election in November.

“The road to equality in Alabama is a mile shorter today,” said Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Victory Fund. “Gays and lesbians in Alabama will now have what all Americans deserve--a voice and a vote. Alabama knows well what a single voice can accomplish. We applaud Patricia’s courage in stepping up to be heard,” Wolfe said.

In other elections, Victory-endorsed candidate Rep. Karla Drenner won her Democratic primary to advance to the general election in November. Drenner is Georgia’s only openly gay state legislator. Allen Thornell, a Victory endorsee who is seeking election to the Georgia state House, advanced to a runoff in his Democratic primary election.

“Karla‘s voice in the Georgia legislature is vitally important. We’re working hard both to make sure she stays there and to help elect Allen Thornell to join her,” Wolfe said. Thornell would be the first openly gay man in the Georgia legislature.

The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund provides strategic, technical and financial support to openly LGBT candidates and officials. It’s the only national organization solely committed to increasing the number of openly LGBT public officials at federal, state and local levels of government. Victory is the nation’s largest LGBT political action committee and one of the nation’s largest non-connected PACs. In 14 years, Victory has helped the number of openly LGBT officials grow from 49 to more than 350.