Column: Looking for our candidate
My column from this week’s Carolinian at UNCG:
Looking for our candidate
2008 stances on LGBT issues not yet clear
by Matt Hill Comer, Don’t Ask (I’m Telling)
Issue date: 2/13/07 Section: Opinions
The 2008 presidential election is certainly starting up. By the time the election rolls around in November of that year, we are all going to be so sick and tired of the political drama we’ll thank [insert deity here] as if we were just saved from a near-death experience.
Among the many issues that Democratic candidates are talking about are, of course, those relating to the war in Iraq, foreign policy, Social Security and other welfare programs, budgetary issues and, my favorite, social justice issues.
Although some of the candidates are offering words of support on issues important to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, many of their positions and statements just do not go as far as they should in offering equality and justice for all Americans.
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., has noted that she supports civil unions, but not full marriage equality. Former senator John Edwards, D-N.C., said on a recent Meet the Press episode that while he is “just not there yet” on the issue of full marriage equality, he does support civil unions. Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., said that the federal Defense of Marriage Act should be amended to allow for civil unions, but he has not yet supported full marriage equality.
We all know that politicians walk an extremely fine line between standing up for what they believe and pleasing the public. Perhaps Clinton, Edwards and Dodd really do feel as though there should be marriage equality, but feel as though they can’t say that out of a fear of losing public support. It is certainly a tough spot to be in and it takes a truly courageous politician to stand up and state exactly what he or she believes without fear of repercussions.
On the military’s discriminatory, anti-gay “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, things are looking brighter. On the same Meet the Press episode, Edwards said, without any of the added pre-emptive, damage-control fluff, that openly gay and lesbian people should be allowed to serve our nation. When asked if he would be one to make that change if elected, Edwards responded with one word: “Absolutely.”
Edwards isn’t alone. Clinton also supports repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” In my opinion, her words now are just “too little, too late.” It is a shame that Clinton didn’t speak out against this policy the way she is now back during her husband’s administration. Perhaps she could have convinced him out of making that horribly misguided compromise with Congress in 1993.
For the shining new star of the Democratic Party, Sen. Barack Obama’s, D-Ill., record on LGBT equality is questionable. He hasn’t spoken on it much, but we do know a few things. He does support expanding possibilities for civil unions and he voted against a Constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.
As for employment non-discrimination and hate crimes legislation, Clinton and Edwards are totally on-board. Obama’s position isn’t clear.
As far as political rankings go for the leading contenders, Clinton and Obama are your best bets. The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the largest LGBT advocacy group in the nation, gave both Clinton and Obama a ranking of 89 out of 100 points in their “Congressional Scorecard” for the 109th Congress. When Edwards served during the 106th Congress, HRC gave him a ranking of 66 out of 100.
Skipping over to the other side of the aisle, there is only one possible Republican candidate who measures up to the Democrats on LGBT issues. Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani supports civil unions, wants to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” and stands against any “marriage amendment.” Consistently during his administration in New York, Giuliani made it clear that LGBT persons deserved equality in his government.
Although there are plenty of good things going on for LGBT people in the upcoming presidential elections, things could be better. It is a shame that politicians feel as though they can’t “come out” and say exactly what they feel. If they could, we might just be seeing more pro-active positions on these issues.
All this talk and guessing about our candidates’ positions is, however, nothing more than conjecture. It is astonishing that we are talking about an election almost two years before it takes place, but here we are doing it anyway. As time goes by and as the election draws closer, we’ll certainly come to learn more than enough to make our decisions on who can best ensure equality for the LGBT community. Until that time, we keep waiting and watching.
See the original Carolinian column on their site.
Matt, 22, is an LGBT journalist, activist and youth advocate currently living and working in Charlotte, N.C., where he serves as the Editor of Q-Notes, the Carolinas' LGBT news source. A native of Winston-Salem, N.C., Matt attended the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and is still continuing to pursue his bachelors degree. He is the Owner & Editor of InterstateQ.com and has been active in LGBT advocacy work since the age of 14.
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