We know that Sarah Palin can see Russia from her house, but what does she think of LGBT people? The Human Rights Campaign wondered the same thing and its Senior Media Center Manager, Michael Cole to Alaska to investigate.
Spoiler: Michael did not find Palin’s rumored gay friend.
h/t: HRC Back Story
By Rick Rosendall
First published September 25, 2008 in Bay Windows
When the stakes in an election are high and our chances of victory are quite good, we can become so invested in winning that we start making threats about what we’ll do if we lose – whether we are opposing Proposition 8 in California or supporting Barack Obama for President. I have heard things like, “I’ll boycott,” or “I’ll leave the country.” We should resist these impulses because they are untrue (how many would actually emigrate?), they waste energy, and they give comfort to our adversaries. Social conservatives would love to see LGBT folk disappear.
Consider the logical result of boycotting states that pass anti-gay ballot initiatives. Such a stance would already exclude us from three-fourths of the country, not to mention punishing friends in those states. Fortunately, a more proactive approach has gained strength in recent years, as statewide groups – members of the Equality Federation – improve advocacy and organizing to elect allies and eliminate discriminatory policies in the states.
Some states, of course, are further along than others in the fight for marriage equality. We stand a better chance this year of defeating California’s Proposition 8 than Arizona’s Proposition 102. It is perfectly reasonable for donors to direct greater support toward fights where we stand the best chance of winning. But our long-term success depends on building capacity across the country in addition to preserving our victories in Massachusetts and California. There is plenty of work for all of us, and no use for hand-wringing and crying doom. To help defeat anti-gay amendments to state constitutions, visit votenoprop102.com for Arizona, noonprop8.com for California, and votenoon2.com for Florida.
As for the presidential election, given the recklessness, dishonesty and desperation of the McCain campaign, and the appalling prospect of another four years of Republican residency at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, I have some sympathy for those who say they will do something dire if Obama loses. But their time would be better spent seeing that he doesn’t lose.
In many states the voter registration deadline is rapidly. Don’t be left out. The race between Barack Obama and John McCain is in a virtual dead heat. But, when it comes to LGBT civil rights, they are as different as night and day: Obama supports LGBT people being treated equally under the law while McCain has opposed every pro-LGBT piece of legislation that has come his way.
Go to Vote for Change to register to vote, request to vote absentee or find your polling location.
By Alex Blaze
Cross-posted at Bilerico
Patrick Sammon has an article up in the Washington Blade about why John McCain is good for LGBT people. I kid you not – even though he lied to The Advocate and said that LCR is focused first on LGBT rights in the Republican Party, he turns around and writes a column telling LGBT to vote for John McCain.
His reasons are hilarious, absolutely hilarious. But then he knows that he’s coming from an intellectually dishonest position in order to get new donors from the 23% of the LGBT community that voted for Bush in 2004 when LCR didn’t endorse him and that he has to push for a sub-par candidate.
His reasons and a few responses are after the jump.
I wanted to bump up this post by Vic Basile because with less than 50 days before election day Vic’s message is even more important than ever. This video from the Human Rights Campaign also underscores Vic’s message and makes clear what is at stake this election for LGBT voters.
By Vic Basile
Vic, a longtime GLBT activist, was the first executive director of the Human Rights Campaign and a co-founder of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund.
During the 2004 election, I wrote about doing all that I could to prevent my family and friends from voting for candidates who oppose equality for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender people. More importantly, I encouraged all of my GLBT brothers and sisters, as well as our straight allies, to do the same.
Of course, we can’t really stop our friends and families from voting for whomever they choose – it is, at least for them, a free and democratic country – but we can prevent them doing it without damaging our bonds of love, trust and friendship. The reality is that they can’t truly love or even respect us, and knowingly vote for candidates who work to deny us the same equality and freedoms they enjoy. The two are simply incompatible.
By Richard J. Rosendall
First published September 11, 2008 in Bay Windows
I’m sick of the phony reasons some gay people give for opposing Barack Obama. I am not talking about my friends in Log Cabin Republicans, who prefer John McCain for broader ideological reasons. I am talking about angry Hillary Clinton supporters.
For example, Sirius OutQ talk-radio host Larry Flick, still upset that Clinton had not won the Democratic nomination, slammed Obama on Aug. 28 for opposing same-sex marriage. Yet Clinton holds the same position on marriage — except that she would only repeal Article 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act, whereas Obama favors total repeal.
Flick challenged Sirius Left host Mark Thompson, an African American minister and activist with whom I’ve worked for years, on his support for Obama. Flick expressed outrage that Obama accepted help from “blatant, aggressive homophobes” Donnie McClurkin and Illinois state Sen. James Meeks. Yet Clinton enjoyed support from homophobic Bishop Eddie Long of Lithonia, Ga., and from former D.C. City Council member Vincent Orange, who as a mayoral candidate in 2006 called his opponents morally unfit for supporting marriage equality.
Elizabeth Birch, longtime LGBT activists and former Executive Director of the Human Rights Campaign talks about the stark differences between Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain on LGBT issues.
By Michael Crawford
I don’t want you to miss out on the electoral fun of saying buh-bye to the Bush/Cheney/McCain regime so make sure you are registered to vote.
Visit Vote for Change to register to vote, request to vote absentee, or find your polling location.
Click for registration deadlines for all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
By Michael Crawford
With little more than 50 days to go before election, we are coming down to the wire in being able to reach out to friends and families about why this election is so crucial to the LGBT community. The information that gets shared here on LGBT for Obama is a great resource to help explain why a vote for John McCain is a vote against LGBT people and our families.
So spread the word about why an Obama victory matters and get involved.
Tuesday
America: Yours, Mine, and Ours – Pt. 1 – Terrence Heath
LGBT Political Roundtable – The Republican Convention – Michael Crawford
Wednesday
The Chickens are Voting For Colonel Sanders – Joan Garry
Thursday
Obama Pledges ‘Equality for All’ - Michael Crawford
McCain: Impropriety and Double Standards We Can’t Believe In – Jeremy Hooper
LGBT Groups Step Up Campaign Efforts – Michael Crawford
Saturday
Did Sarah Palin Seek to Ban Gay Book? – Michael Crawford
Billy Jean King made it clear without a doubt that she is supporting Sen. Barack Obama for president.
Last Friday, a reporter from the New York Observer asked me what I thought about Sarah Palin. I told her I thought Sarah Palin was honest and real. I believe that. But, that in no way should be viewed as an endorsement of any kind. I oppose many of the positions of Sarah Palin, particularly those tied to the LGBT community. I am supporting Barack Obama and, in fact, I have lent my name to both Women for Obama and the Obama LGBT Steering and Policy Committee.
King is one of many openly LGBT celebrities who have publicly stated their strong support for Sen. Obama because of Obama’s strong support for LGBT civil rights.