Equality advocates were disappointed with the recent, albeit unsurprising, presentations during the Republican Debate in Iowa.
Any GLBT rights proponents hoping for even a scrap at the GOP table were turned away with their tails between their legs. None of the eight candidates is willing to support anything beyond civil unions, while others said it should be left up to the individual states. Still others, most notably Michele Bachmann, spoke adamantly in opposition of same-sex marriage and much more, reports the Enquirer.
Bachmann and three other GOP candidates - Rick Santorum, Mitt Romney, and Tim Pawlenty - have gone a step further and signed a pledge with the National Organization for Marriage (NOM). The five points of the pledge are outlined as follows:
- Support and send to the states a federal marriage amendment defining marriage as one man and one woman.
- Defend DOMA in court.
- Appoint judges and an attorney general who will respect the original meaning of the Constitution.
- Appoint a presidential commission to investigate harassment of traditional marriage supporters.
- Support legislation that would return to the people of D.C. their right to vote for marriage.
Lately, Michele's husband, Marcus Bachmann, has come under fire for comparing gays to barbarians, saying, 'We have to understand: Barbarians need to be educated. They need to be disciplined. Just because someone feels it or thinks it doesn’t mean that we are supposed to go down that road. That’s what is called the sinful nature. We have a responsibility as parents and as authority figures not to encourage such thoughts and feelings from moving into the action steps.'
Some voters are concerned that Marcus will impose an undue influence on his wife's presidential autonomy, should she be elected. During the Iowa debate, Byron York of the Washington Examiner asked Bachmann what she meant by her vow to be submissive to her husband. While she seemed to evade the question by saying submission means respect (which it definitely does not), it still raises some major concerns that extend far beyond the scope of marriage.
It was recently revealed that Marcus Bachmann has been practicing so-called reparative therapy in his clinic. In 2009 the American Psychological Association published a report debunking this gay-to-straight conversion counselling, writing, '[A]ttempts to change sexual orientation may cause or exacerbate distress and poor mental health in some individuals, including depression and suicidal thoughts.'
With the recent nationwide attention to homophobic bullying and resulting youth suicides, it's unlikely that Bachmann will gain much popularity among educators and younger generations. She is nonetheless leading the GOP polls alongside Romney.
Among the more moderate candidates, relatively speaking, Newt Gingrich was quoted as having described the legalization of same-sex marriage in New York as 'drifting toward a terrible muddle.' Only Jon Huntsman freely offered his support for civil unions, with a sort of laissez-faire speech about state freedoms.
During the Iowa debate, Ron Paul didn't play on any political doublespeak - he said he believes marriage should be between a single man and a single woman. Herman Cain, the only African American GOP candidate, likewise supports 'traditional marriage,' opposes civil unions, and even further, wishes to reinstate 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.'
Has the GOP totally forsaken the GLBT community and its allies? Who might Log Cabin Republicans turn to in 2012? Unfortunately, the most GLBT-friendly Republican candidate in history wasn't even invited to the debate.
Fred Karger, the first openly gay presidential candidate of a major political party, was excluded from the debate. Not to be totally left out, Karger tweeted, 'All of them were just attacking each other, and attacking Obama...It shows how divided we’ve become, and it’s just not something we should be doing.'
Karger may be the moderate Republican our country has needed for some time; the phrase, 'Socially liberal, fiscally conservative' comes to mind. Sadly, even Karger admits he stands no chance of becoming the Republican nominee. Regardless, Karger plays the part of a solitary role model, shining some light among the GOP's anti-gay tempest in a teapot (no pun intended). Karger told the L.A. Times, 'I want to send the message to gay younger people and older people and everyone in between that you can do anything you want in life, and don't feel bad about yourself and don't feel you have to live your life the way I did.'
GOP candidates aside, many in the GLBT community are still wondering where the current president stands on marriage equality. Obama has done a lot for gay and lesbian Americans, pushing for the repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' declaring the month of June 'Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month,' and signing into law the Federal Hate Crimes Bill, also known as the Matthew Shepard Act. But what about marriage?
Up until very recently, President Obama has told the press that his view on same-sex marriage is 'evolving.' Since then he has stopped short of fully supporting it, but has said that American principles of equality, particularly as they apply to gay and lesbian citizens, will win out. He also said that as a nation we're moving in a direction of greater equality and that this is a good thing. Most notably, he directed the Department of Justice to halt their legal defense of DOMA and support the Respect for Marriage Act.
Egalitarians of all types may have to hedge their bets on Obama and hope that in his second term, absent reelection woes, the former Illinois Senator will finally make the commitment to full marriage equality.
No comments:
Post a Comment