Q-Notes, Carolinas LGBT newspaper, endorses John Edwards for President before S.C. January primary
by Matt | December 28th, 2007 |Q-Notes the premier LGBT news source of North and South Carolina, has announced that they will endorse former North 
Carolina Sen. John Edwards for President.
Statement from the Editorial Board of Q-Notes:
“After a series of meetings between the editors, the staff and the publisher, Q-Notes has endorsed John Edwards for President. His concrete, progressive policy positions (including steadfast support for pro-LGBT issues), his commitment to returning power to the people from moneyed special interests, his outstanding polling strength against the Republicans and his positive impact for down-ticket candidates nationwide combine to make him the best candidate in the race.
Q-Notes encourages all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender voters to support John Edwards in the primaries and beyond.”
I am proud to be a part of this editorial staff and I’m happy to say that John Edwards is our endorsed candidate.
Stay tuned to the Jan. 12 issue of Q-Notes for the full endorsement.
More from Eric Stern of Out for Edwards:
Q-Notes Endorses John Edwards for President
I am proud to announce that Q-Notes, the leading LGBT news source for North Carolina and South Carolina has decided to endorse John Edwards for President. This is a particularly significant LGBT endorsement in the 2008 Presidential Election given that South Carolina will be holding its primary on January 26th, 2008–only 7 days after the Nevada Caucus and during the same month as the first contests in Iowa and New Hampshire.
This important state LGBT endorsement of John Edwards for President follows the earlier endorsement by New Hampshire State Represenative Mo Baxley and the New Hampshire Freedom to Marry Coalition. The Edwards Campaign worked hard to earn these endorsements and is honored to have such deep LGBT support in the early contest states.
About Q-Notes
Q-Notes is the premier newspaper serving the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities of North & South Carolina. We have over 250 distribution points across the Carolinas and a readership of approximately 26,000. We publish every two weeks and are based in Charlotte, N.C.
Q-Notes has been in operation since 1986 and is the largest, longest running, and most recognizable news media publication for the LGBT community in the Carolinas. We also publish online at www.q-notes.com.
We also have distribution points and subscribers in Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee, Washington, D.C. and West Virginia.
Our publisher is Jim Yarbrough. Matt Comer and David Stout serve as editor and associate editor, respectively.
Further information on Edwards:
John Edwards: Strongest on Equal Rights for LGBT Americans
LGBT Issues Scorecard:
|
ISSUE |
Edwards |
CLINTON |
OBAMA |
SCORING |
| Protecting American Families | ||||
|
· Defense of Marriage Act |
2 |
1 |
2 |
Full repeal = 2; partial repeal = 1; no repeal = -1 |
|
· Marriage Equality |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Supports full marriage equality = 2; supports civil unions = 1; none = -1 |
|
· Federal Marriage Amendment |
2 |
2 |
2 |
Opposes FMA = 2; supports FMA = -2 |
|
· Equal Adoption Rights |
2 |
2 |
2 |
Supports equal adoption rights = 2; opposes = -1 |
|
· Immigration Equality |
2 |
1 |
1 |
Supports Uniting American Families Act = 2; opposes Act, but supports immigration equality “in concept” or “in principal” = 1; opposes = -1 |
| Ending Employment Discrimination | ||||
|
· Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell |
2 |
2 |
2 |
Supports full repeal = 2; opposes repeal = -1 |
|
· ENDA |
2 |
2 |
2 |
Supports inclusive ENDA = 2; partial ENDA = 0; opposes ENDA = -1 |
| Protecting Health and Safety | ||||
|
· Universal Health Care |
2 |
2 |
1 |
Universal health care plan = 2; partial, but expanded, plan = 1; status quo = -1 |
|
· HIV/AIDS |
2 |
2 |
2 |
Comprehensive plan to address HIV/AIDS = 2; partial plan = 1; status quo = -1 |
|
· Needle Exchange |
2 |
2 |
2 |
Federal funding = 2; no federal funding, but local control = 1; status quo = -1 |
|
· Hate Crimes |
2 |
2 |
2 |
Supports full inclusion = 2; opposes = -1 |
| Standing Up and Speaking Out | Immediately confronts bigots like Gen. Pace = 2; sidesteps addressing bigoted comments = 0; sidesteps and uses homophobes to woo voters = -1 | |||
| Walks the Talk |
2 |
0 |
-1 |
|
| TOTAL |
23 |
19 |
18 |
Out of a possible total of 24 points |
Note: these scores are based on each of the candidates’ recent activities and current positions (as of Dec. 2007). The analysis and scoring represent only the views of the authors and not those of any of the campaigns. Source: Eric Stern, Out for Edwards.
7 Responses to “Q-Notes, Carolinas LGBT newspaper, endorses John Edwards for President before S.C. January primary”
A tough call, but I wouldn’t have endorsed anyone who opposes our right to marry
By Patrick ONeill on Dec 28, 2007
As a subscriber to Q-Notes, I’m disappointed in their “editorial decision” to endorse Edwards. Ironically, he’s one of the only Democratic candidates that uses religion to authenticate his LGBT bigotry.
Each time he takes the pulpit to discuss LGBT issues, Edwards always uses his “Baptist background” to justify his policy positions - such as only supporting civil unions not fully recognized civil marriage. From the other end of his mouth, he quietly utters the statement that he believes it is wrong for the President to use his/her religious views to influence policy.
It’s an all together warped message. The reality is this: any interpetation of Christianity that says Scripture is condescending of LGBT people simply for same-gender love is wrong. It’s a flawed interpetation.
As John Edwards, like John Paul, continues to throw out his nets to capture as many voters as possible, he continues down a path of broken promises and bigotry disguised behind religious excuses.
I’ve decided to vote for Hillary Clinton because I believe the Senator’s experience and compassion will take America in the direction that I believe we need to go. Her record with LGBT people (not her husbands) is bright and promising. She was the first First Lady to have openly gay & lesbians on her staff. She has been an advocate and friend of our community in both word and deed. She has showed LGBT people that she cares enough to listen to us and to act responsibly to protect our rights. While she’s not perfect, I believe her record speaks for itself and as our country continues to shift in a new direction, I believe Hillary will take the lead to do the same.
I’m sorry, I just can’t support someone that says being raised a Baptist made him feel wierd around gays - especially someone who claims to be a fair & balanced leader.
(For those of you who haven’t seen, search YouTube for “Longcrier” and watch the video “Religion-Based Discrimination.” Then look for the follow-up comments that Edwards made)
By Brandon Greeson on Jan 1, 2008
Mea Culpa:
As it seems, the events in Iowa have a way of changing hearts and minds. In hindsight, a mea culpa is due for my post above. I have elaborated in more detail about my decision and the candidate that I’m now offering my support on my website. Read more here:
http://www.brandongreeson.com/2008/01/04/the-fierce-urgency-of-now/
By Brandon Greeson on Jan 5, 2008
We still have a long way to go when it comes to Discrimination in Charlotte, North Carolina. There is a huge problem with this and it is not being addressed. This is 2008 not 1920.
By James S. Klich II on Apr 15, 2008