US Presidential Candidates on LGBT
What the US candidates think of homosexuals in America
Feb 8, 2008
The air is rife with politics, and the gay community is breathing it all in. As a constituency with multiple rights at stake in the November election, the LGBT Americans are paying close attention to the candidates that will best represent them for the next four years.
The Republicans
Unfortunately for those Americans who are gay and Republican, a presidential pick in the GOP race will not be an act that will benefit you or your fellow homosexuals and trans friends in any way, shape or form. The front runner, John McCain, is running on a religious platforms – to be sure, they are not known as the Religious Right without reason – which informs his politics and their stances on the issues.
McCain and the Military
When the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy was imposed in 1993, McCain was said, “I remain opposed to the open expression of homosexuality in the U.S. military.” Today McCain maintains that gay troops pose “an intolerable risk” to national security. Within the last three years or so, he has also publicly announced his support for initiatives to ban gay marriages state-by-state, as well as deny government benefits to unmarried couples. Even if the LGBT community acknowledges the improbability of gaining complete marriage rights in the near future, most agree that even civil union benefits would suffice. Under a McCain administration, this would be impossible.
The Democrats
For the majority of LGBT voters who are registered Democrat, this voting season is looking better than it ever has in the past. Both of our front-runners are behind the gay community, even if gay marriage is not in the cards. The two candidates with nomination potential, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, both support civil unions and a repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” An anti-discrimination law at the federal level is backed by both as well.
Clinton and Obama Love the Gays
Last August both candidates attended an event hosted by the gay cable channel Logo where they were both adamant about the bravery of the gay soldiers serving in our military, the need for adoption rights for same-sex couples, and the challenge of helping at-risk, homeless gay teenagers. At this point on the campaign trail, however, Clinton has received more endorsements from gay officials and organizations including speaker of the New York City Council, Christine Quinn, Senator Thomas Duane, and the gay newspaper, The New York Blade.
Obama has recently been quite vocal about the rights of LGBT Americans, however, including the topic of homophobia in his address last week at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. “We have scorned our gay brothers and sisters instead of embracing them,” he said, warning against homophobic sentiments. One of the most remarkable parts of this speech was that Obama was speaking to an audience that was non-gay to the extreme. No other presidential candidate has been known to bring up such controversial issues in such a venue without being prompted to do so.
Keep your ears peeled as the elections move forward to see where the candidates stand – you never know what may change.
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