Who will get the LGBT Vote?

Alright fellow lesbians, election day is upon us, let's go out and make history or maybe I should say herstory!

If your still having difficulty choosing which presidential candidate to vote for, below are some facts about where the main candidates and their running mates stand on issues of importance to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans community. And no matter what you decide, be sure to get out there and VOTE!

Barack Obama (Democratic Presidential Candidate):

• Being gay or lesbian is not a choice. (Nov 2007)
  
• Decisions about marriage should be left to the states. (Oct 2007)
• Homosexuality no more immoral than heterosexuality. (Oct 2007)
• Ok to expose 6-year-olds to gay couples; they know already. (Sep 2007)
• Has any marriage broken up because two gays hold hands? (Aug 2007)
• We need strong civil unions, not just weak civil unions. (Aug 2007)
• Legal rights for gays are conferred by state, not by church. (Aug 2007)
• Disentangle gay rights from the word "marriage". (Aug 2007)
• Gay marriage is less important that equal gay rights. (Aug 2007)
• Gay rights movement is somewhat like civil rights movement. (Aug 2007)
• Let each denominations decide on recognizing gay marriage. (Jul 2007)
• Supports health benefits for gay civil partners. (Oct 2006)
• Opposes gay marriage; supports civil union & gay equality. (Oct 2006)
• Marriage not a human right; non-discrimination is. (Oct 2004)
• Include sexual orientation in anti-discrimination laws. (Jul 1998)
  

Joe Biden (Democratic VP Candidate):

• Nobody asks if you're gay in a foxhole. (Jun 2007)
• Civil unions ok; gay marriage is probably inevitable. (Apr 2007)
• Voted NO on constitutional ban of same-sex marriage. (Jun 2006)
• Voted YES on adding sexual orientation to definition of hate crimes. (Jun 2002)
• Voted YES on expanding hate crimes to include sexual orientation. (Jun 2000)
• Voted YES on prohibiting same-sex marriage. (Sep 1996)
• Voted YES on prohibiting job discrimination by sexual orientation. (Sep 1996)
• Rated 78% by the HRC, indicating a pro-gay-rights stance. (Dec 2006)
  

John McCain (Republican Candidate):

• Don't ask, don't tell is working; don't tamper with it. (Jun 2007)
• Leave gay marriage to the states. (Jan 2007)
• 1994: No Senate hiring discrimination by sexual orientation. (Jan 2004)
• Would be “comfortable” with a gay president. (Dec 1999
• Ban on same-sex marriage is unRepublican; leave it to states. (Nov 2006)
• Voted NO on constitutional ban of same-sex marriage. (Jun 2006
• Voted NO on adding sexual orientation to definition of hate crimes. (Jun 2002)
• Voted NO on expanding hate crimes to include sexual orientation. (Jun 2000)
• Voted YES on prohibiting same-sex marriage. (Sep 1996)
• Voted NO on prohibiting job discrimination by sexual orientation. (Sep 1996)
• Rated 33% by the HRC, indicating a mixed record on gay rights. (Dec 2006)

Sarah Palin (Repulican VP Candidate):

• Opposes same-sex marriage.
• Supported 1998 Alaska state constitution amendment banning gay marriage.
• Vetoed a bill that barred same-sex partners from receiving state employee benefits under grounds of the constitutionality of the measure.
• Ties to conservative anti-gay groups like Family Research Council
  

If your looking for more information on qualified, committed, openly GLBT candidates running in your state, check out the Victory Fund.




Source:OnTheIssues.org

HRC Video on Alaskan GLBT reaction to Gov. Sarah Palin

The Human Rights Coalition PAC recently released a video of Alaskan lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered residents' views on Gov. Sarah Palin.

What are LGBT Alaskans saying?

• Sarah Palin and her church turned their fundamentalist ideaology into a political mission.
  
• Mayor Sarah Palin installed church associates into political positions.
  
• Her religious values intersected with her role at the state.
  
• Sarah Palin's church was picketing to remove gay children's literature from Wasilla library at the same time that Mayor Sarah Palin was "asking rhetorical questions of" (aka intimidating) the local librarian about banning books.
  
• Sarah Palin's church sponsored a gay conversion through prayer conference.
  

HRC President President Joe Solmonese says:

"Sarah Palin used the oldest trick in the book, citing her gay friend as a show of support for our community. I wonder how her friend feels about Palin being against hate crimes legislation, relationship recognition for same-sex couples, or Palin's belief that her sexuality is a choice. "

HRC PAC urges everyone to Come Out Against Sarah Palin!

Where Do the Top 2008 Presidential Candidates Stand on Gay and Lesbian Issues?

A good friend of mine asked me if I would blog about the 2008 presidential candidate's stance on GLBT issues. Since the elections seem to be weighing on many peoples minds lately, I decided to take on the task. However, since there are 5 major Democratic candidates and 7 major Republican ones, I decided to narrow my scope to the top 3 of the Democratic Party and the Top 4 of the Republican Party.

So let me introduce you to you our 7 players:
The top three Democratic candidates are: Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards,

The Top Four Republican candidates are: Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney, John McCain, and Mike Huckabee.

The main GLBT issues/questions for this upcoming 2008 election are as follows:

• Do the candidates Support or Oppose including sexual orientation and gender identity in the Employment Non-Discrimination Act?



• Do the candidates Support or Oppose funding for HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment through funding initiatives such as the Ryan White Act and the Early Treatment for HIV Act?



• Do the candidates Support or Oppose doing away with “Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell?”



• Do the candidates Support or Oppose including sexual orientation and gender identity in hate crime legislation, especially Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act of 2005?



• Do the candidates Support or Oppose same-sex civil unions and/or domestic partnerships?



• Do the candidates Support or Oppose same-sex marriage?



• Do the candidates Support or Oppose same-sex couples adopting children?



• Do the candidates Support or Oppose the Federal Marriage Amendment, which defines marriage as between a man and a woman only?

Okay, so lets begin...

Starting with the Democrats:

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton
Announced: 31 Sep. 2007
Age: 59
Occupation: Lawyer, U.S. Senator
Current Job / Position: Senator from New York
Residence: Chappaqua, NY
Hometown: Park Ridge, IL
Religion: United Methodist
Campaign Website







Hillary's stance on GLBT Issues:

• Supports transgender-inclusive ENDA


• Supports HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment


• Supports lifting military ban


• Supports transgender-inclusive hate crimes laws


• Supports Civil Unions


• Opposes Same-Sex Marriage


• Opposes Federal Marriage Amendment


• Supports Same-Sex Adoption

Sen. Barack Obama

Announced: 10 Feb. 2007
Age: 46
Occupation: Lawyer
Current Job / Position: Senator from Illinois
Residence: Chicago, IL
Hometown: Jakarta, Indonesia; Honolulu, HI
Religion: United Church of Christ
Campaign Website





Barack's stance on GLBT Issues:

• Supports transgender-inclusive ENDA


• Supports HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment


• Supports lifting military ban


• Supports transgender-inclusive hate crimes laws


• Supports Civil Unions


• Opposes Same-Sex Marriage


• Opposes Federal Marriage Amendment


• Supports Same-Sex Adoption

Former Sen. John Edwards
Announced: 28 Dec. 2006
Age: 54
Occupation: Trial Lawyer (litigation record)
Current Job / Position: Trial Lawyer, Director of the Center on Poverty, Work and Opportunity
Residence: Chapel Hill, NC
Hometown: Robbins, NC
Religion: Methodist
Campaign Website






John's stance on GLBT Issues:

• Supports transgender-inclusive ENDA


• Supports HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment


• Supports lifting military ban


• Supports transgender-inclusive hate crimes laws


• Supports Civil Unions


• Opposes Same-Sex Marriage


• Opposes Federal Marriage Amendment


• Supports Same-Sex Adoption

And now for the the Republican Candidates:

Former Mayor Rudolph W. "Rudy" Giuliani
Announced: 5 February 2007
Age: 63
Occupation: Lawyer
Current Job / Position: Businessman, Consultant
Residence: New York
Hometown: Brooklyn
Religion: Catholic
Campaign Website






Rudy's stance on GLBT Issues:

• Unknown if he Supports transgender inclusive ENDA. (Supports sexual orientation inclusion, unclear about gender identity/transgender inclusion.)


• Opposes HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment


• Opposes lifting military ban (He said the issue should not be revisited during a time of war.)


• Unknown if he supports transgender inclusive hate crimes laws. (Supports sexual orientation inclusion, unclear about gender identity/transgender inclusion.)


• Supports Civil Unions


• Opposes Same-Sex Marriage


• Opposes Federal Marriage Amendment


• Unknown if he supports Same-Sex Adoption

Former Governor Mitt Romney
Announced: 13 February 2007
Age: 60
Occupation: Businessman
Current Job / Position: Candidate
Residence: MA
Hometown: Detroit, MI
Religion: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon)
Campaign Website

Mitt's stance on GLBT Issues:

• Opposes transgender-inclusive ENDA


• Opposes HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment


• Opposes lifting military ban


• Opposes transgender-inclusive hate crimes laws (When Mitt Romney ran for Senate in 1994, he favored a federal nondiscrimination law for gays and lesbians, but after his term as Massachusetts governor, he now says he no longer favors nondiscrimination laws for gays and lesbians.)


• Opposes Civil Unions


• Opposes Same-Sex Marriage


• Supports Federal Marriage Amendment


• Opposes Same-Sex Adoption

Sen. John McCain
Announced: 28 February 2007
Age: 71
Occupation: Military Officer, Politician
Current Job / Position: Senator from Arizona
Residence: AZ
Hometown: Coco-Solo, Panama Canal Zone
Religion: Baptist
Campaign Website






John's stance on GLBT Issues:

• Opposes transgender-inclusive ENDA


• Opposes HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment


• Opposes lifting military ban


• Opposes transgender-inclusive hate crimes laws


• Opposes Civil Unions


• Opposes Same-Sex Marriage


• Opposes Federal Marriage Amendment


• Unknown if he supports or Opposes Same-Sex Adoption

Former Governor Mike Huckabee
Announced: 28 January 2007
Age: 52
Occupation: Businessman, Baptist Minister
Current Job / Position: Candidate
Residence: North Little Rock, AK
Hometown: Hope, AK
Religion: Southern Baptist
Campaign Website







Mike's stance on GLBT Issues:

• Unknown if he Supports or Opposes transgender-inclusive ENDA


• Unknown if he Supports or Opposes HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment


• Opposes lifting military ban


• Opposes transgender-inclusive hate crimes laws


• Opposes Civil Unions


• Opposes Same-Sex Marriage


• Supports Federal Marriage Amendment


• Unknown if he supports or Opposes Same-Sex Adoption

If your still confused about who to vote for, I found this great website that matches your own political positions with the Presidential candidate that most closely matches your views. You can find this site at www.2008smartselect.com.


Most of the information above was gathered from the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force's website, The Washington Post, and the individual candidate's websites.