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Georgia Democratic Candidates for U.S. Senate Are Gay-Friendly in Varying Degrees

Over the last few days, I’ve attempted to research the five Democratic candidates seeking the party’s nomination for the right to challenge Sen. Saxby Chambliss in the fall. It has been a frustrating exercise, with limited media attention on their campaigns. Georgia Equality, Stonewall Democrats, Southern Voice–no one in the gay community Powers That Be are making any endorsements. While I would not characterize myself as a single-issue voter, I would say that I always check a candidate’s positions on LGBT issues before I cast a vote. I may not choose a candidate solely on their gay-friendliness, but I will certainly rule one out who isn’t. Facing radio silence from LGBT organizations and limited press coverage of the candidates (not to mention the meager coverage of their stand on LGBT issues), I decided to research it myself. Something we should all do for outselves anyway, granted, but the organizations that watch-dog such things for us are usually a good place to start. Apparently, as I mentioned in a previous post, no one is much interested in a challenge to Saxby Chambliss. But I won’t rant on about that again. I’ll move on to what I learned in my research. I hope it will be of some help or at least mild interest to you. And I hope you will vote tomorrow.

None of the Democratic candidates offer detailed positions on gay issues on their Websites, with the exception of a brief mention of protecting constitutional rights on Dale Cardwell’s issues page and an equal rights page on Rand Knight’s site that was so buried I didn’t find it until his staff sent me a link to the page. So, I sent an e-mail to each of the five candidates campaigns asking for more detail on their positions on issues of importance to the LGBT community. I received responses from Cole Haymond with Rand Knight’s campaign and from Morgan Martin Walters for Jim Martin. Dale Cardwell directed me to a Southern Voice article detailing candidate positions. The response, which appeared to come directly from Mr. Cardwell, was courteous. I cannot fault a campaign for not answering one e-mail within days of the primary, I suppose. On the other hand, neither Josh Lanier nor Vernon Jones responded. I’m just another blogger, not high on anyone’s media relations radar, I’m sure. But I’m also an active voter. There’s two off my list already. Here are the campaigns’ responses to my query.

From Rand Knight’s campaign:

“You will find under Rand’s issues, his stance on Equal Rights. He was the only U.S. Senate Candidate to march in the Pride Parade and he stood up for equal rights in a debate on Fox 5 Atlanta. He has been interviewed by the Southern Voice and stood up for Gay Marriage when Jim Martin did not.”

From Jim Martin’s campaign, I received the following detailed response:

Same Sex Marriage/Civil Unions
Jim believes we must protect all Georgians from discrimination and must treat all Georgians with respect and dignity. He does not support discrimination in any form and believes it is unjust to deny rights to individuals on the basis of their sexual orientation. For that reason, he supports civil unions.

Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell
Jim is a Vietnam veteran and believes that we should encourage citizens to serve in the military and support them when they’re there. He does not support the Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell policy.

ENDA
Jim is in favor of ENDA because he does not support discrimination in any form.

Gay Adoption
Jim believes the first and only concern should be what is in the best interest of the child. As Commissioner of Human Resources, he was responsible for all public adoptions in the state, so he knows firsthand that adding any other factor would take the focus off of the best interest of the child. He also believes we need more adoptive parents, not fewer. Many of our most troubled, sick, and at risk children would never be adopted if we took the focus off of the best interest of the child.

Hate Crimes
As a legislator, Jim was a leader on this issue at the State Capitol. Jim built consensus on and passed out of committee hate crimes legislation before it was amended on the floor of the House in a manner that caused the law to be struck down later.

Jim is one of the most fair-minded leaders in the state. He has a 35-year record of accomplishment to prove it. In the 1980’s, when few politicians would address the HIV/AIDS crisis, Jim was a leader in the state’s response to HIV and AIDS and in getting state and federal funds for the Ryan White program and other initiatives. When HIV/AIDS-related deaths were at their peak and same sex partners were facing obstacles as their loved ones were dying, Jim wrote the Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care Act, which created the right for people to make end of life decisions and burial arrangements for each other. Previously, only biological family members and spouses had that right. The fact of the matter is that no candidate for U.S. Senate has a record like Jim’s on issues important to the LGBT community.

This exercise settled it for me. While disappointed by the Democratic Party’s approach to this Senate race, I will vote for a Democratic candidate regardless. And I will vote for Jim Martin. While no gay organizations have made endorsements (much to my dismay), Jim Martin was endorsed by Georgia Equality in 2006 when he ran for lieutenant governor. He lost that race, but did manage a respectable 40 percent of the vote, making him the one candidate with proven ability to wage a statewide campaign and hopefully some name recognition from his failed bid for leutenant governor upon which to build. And his record of support for the GLBT community in Georgia is strong. Few candidates are perfect on gay and lesbian issues, but Jim is clearly the most thoughtful on GLBT voter concerns. And he has the record to back it up. Jim, for what it’s worth, you have my vote.

Californians Plan Their June Wedding Parties

It is near 5 p.m. here in Atlanta, meanwhile LGBT Californians have three more hours to wait before they can have the state’s permission to marry. According to a story by Reuters, some of the more gay-friendly cities (Los Angeles, San Francisco and West Hollywood) plan to begin issuing licenses and conducting state-condoned gay wedding ceremonies after the close of California business, when the Supreme Court ruling officially goes into effect.

One visible change to California marriage that I find somehow humurous, or at least subtly ironic, is a change to the state marriage license. Rather than referring to a bride and groom, the form now lists Party A and Party B. In my dark, dry humor, I find that change to be a benefit to everyone. Shouldn’t all weddings result in at least two parties?

I don’t mean to make light of such a significant step forward for gay rights. Most significant is California’s willingness to issue marriage licenses to citizens of any state, unlike Massachusetts, which legalized gay marriage only for queers who have a legal address in the commonwealth. For the first time, our rights as citizens is not limited by our sexual orientation or where we get our mail. It’s more of a giant leap for our kind, rather than Massachusetts’ somewhat smaller step. But I have to admit that I see both the forest and the trees in what the California Supreme Court has given the LGBT community.

I can’t help but notice the timing of the ruling. Why do court decisions on LGBT issues seem to always come in an election year? Is it coincidence or carefully crafted timing cooked up by the vast right wing conspiracy? Nothing lights a fire under a fundamentalist Christian’s self-righteousness like the chance to vote in judgment of others. Call me paranoid, but it makes me wonder if they’re disguising their intent to get us with a Trojan Horse for a wedding present. Is California just another gift that will ultimately have to be returned? Will there even be time to write the thank-you notes? There is, after all, a marriage amendment on the ballot for this November, where a simple majority of simple-minded Californians could revoke the marriage licenses that will be issued in the six months until then.

Maybe I’m just one conspiracy theory away from A Beautiful Mind. Maybe I should just soften my jaded defenses and find beauty in the moment. So I’ll stop and smell the roses as Parties A and Parties B pass by on their way down the isle. Congratulations, everyone!

MEGA Answers the Question: “Maybe Baby?”

If the sound of your ticking biological clock is driving you crazy, you may want to spend some time with the MEGA Family Project this Saturday, June 14 from 9:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. at UUCA. The LGBT family-focused organization is holding a workshop called Creating a Family: Choices for Prospective LGBT Parents. The day will include advice on your baby birthin’ options from professionals as well as personal stories about the issues faced, told by lesbian moms and gay dads who have already brought home their little bundles of joy and dirty diapers.

MEGA says the workshop will cover issues like open adoption, donor insemination, the current state of international adoptions, foster parenting, adopting from the foster care system and surrogacy, guided by professionals who work on these issues. Apparently The Stork was not available. An adoption attorney will advise you on the very important legal issues you need to consider in deciding to become a parent, and take questions from workshop attendees. Queer parents will share their personal journeys through the different methods available. Parental discretion is advised.

The workshop is $15, which even includes a pizza lunch, snacks and drinks. (If you cannot eat pizza, you can e-mail Kathy@megafamilyproject.org to discuss alternative menu choices.) There was no indication as to whether the drinks provided would include the liquid-courage adult beverages that some may require. You can register online anytime before the deadline, which is 11 p.m. tomorrow, Friday June 13.

Blogger’s Note: My feeble attempts at humor in this posting simply serve to express my personal fear of babies. This lesbian has never had even one fraction of a second of maternal instinct. I don’t know nothin’ about birthin’ no babies, and I prefer to keep it that way. Besides, it’s probably best for this DNA to stop here. For those of you with the intestinal fortutitude, desire and boundless love to take on the task of child rearin’, more power to you. And don’t miss MEGA’s workshop, where you’re sure to get the strength you will need. Kathy Kelly and her crew have done amazing work for queer families, and I’m sure this workshop will be no exception. The MEGA Family Project provides support, education and advocacy for Georgia’s LGBT families and our children. All programs are open to everyone, regardless of whether or not you have children.

And America’s Next Top Candidate Is…

After several hours of CNN, I’m left with the feeling that American Idol, America’s Next Top Model and their clones have given some politicians and pundits an overly healthy appetite for the dramatic pause. And the winner of the Democratic nomination is…the person who will face John McCain is…going to be revealed right after this ad for Lipitor. What I need is a dose of Xanax.

Hillary Clinton gave a defiant speech tonight, in front of an emotional crowd of supporters, and ultimately refused to concede the nomination, even though Barack Obama earned enough elected delegates to secure the nomination, then topped it off with more super delegate endorsements. The talk about “what will Hillary do” appears that it will continue ad nauseum — or at least a couple more days. Either way, it’s adding to my nausea.

I have been a Clinton supporter and contributor since Bill’s first run for president. In fact, this Georgian sent a campaign contribution to the senator when she first ran for the Senate in New York. I spent quite a lot of time agonizing over whether to vote for Sen. Clinton or Sen. Obama. I ultimately decided to support Obama, because he is an energizing leader who started where Howard Dean, my 2004 choice, left off. He was vocally opposed to the war in Iraq. He understood the power of using the Internet as a tool for mobilizing supporters and fundraising. And Obama does not embody evil encarnate from a Republican’s point of view. When a good friend of mine, who is a friend despite being a Republican, wanted to send me a link to some conspiracy video online detailing the numerous people whom the Clinton’s secretly killed, a la Swift Boat Veterans, my decision was easy. That moment last fall gave me a glimpse of an election season of more Republican vitriol, venom, distortions and outright lies. I knew I just couldn’t take it. Obama it is.

Meanwhile, the recent behavior of the Clintons has caused a reaction in me that I didn’t think possible. I actually don’t like them very much right now. Like fish or relatives that don’t know when to leave, my nose knows it’s time for them to step away.

Barack Obama made history tonight as this country’s first African-American candidate for a major political party. For LGBT Americans, this is perhaps a moment of great significance for us as well. Obama has been a reliable, public supporter of gay and lesbian rights in general. He did not touch the gay marriage tar baby. But he did speak publicly and often, even in front of less-than-gay-friendly groups, against homophobia and for a more tolerant and accepting society. For the leading, mainstream candidate, Obama did a better job than most of walking the wedge issue. Perhaps this fact signals that this country may truly be ready to change. Thanks to Barack Obama, I may actually have a little hope welling up past my general state of political dejection.

As for Senator Clinton’s “no decisions” speech tonight: this was a moment to truly think of the country and the Democratic Party. I actually feel a little betrayed that she didn’t seize it. And the whole situation almost makes me believe that the Clintons are ultimately more concerned with political power than with working for the ideas and policies that led me to support them for more than a decade.

So enough already. We know who the new American Idol is, and we know who will lead the Democratic charge to take back this country. With all due respect to the Clintons, and to all their supporters, many of whom are among my best friends, this is not about you. this is about all of us. Pick your high crime or misdemeanor of choice, from the Iraq war to Halliburton to climate change to your mortgage. We have to get this country back on track. IMHO, there’s never been a more important election in my lifetime. This train is leaving the station. Get on board, or get out of the way.

Where Not to Go on Your Gay Vacation

The International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA) has released a new poster that maps LGBTI rights around the world. Think of it as an important reference for your gay travel planning. The map is color-coded to indicate where you may be subjected to the death penalty (seven countries) or imprisonment (76 countries and six other governmental or territorial entities) for being homosexual. It also indicates where you are protected by anti-discrimination laws (49 countries and 33 entities) and where you can get gay-married (19 countries and 14 entities). You may view the full map here.

ILGA created the map as a part of its celebration of the organization’s 30th anniversary. ILGA will also release a report on state-sponsored homophobia in time for the International Day Against Homophobia on May 17.

Members of ILGA will receive a copy of the map free of charge. Others who would like to own a copy or distribute multiple copies should contact the ILGA at information@ilga.org.

ILGA is a federation of more than 600 groups and businesses campaigning for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) rights. Every continent and over 90 countries are represented.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu to Give First U.S. Speech to the LGBT Community

The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) announced today that Archbishop Desmond Tutu will give an historic 30-minute address to the LGBTI community in San Francisco on April 8, 2008. It’s the first time that he has directly addressed such a large LGBTI gathering in the United States. He will speak to a crowd of approximately 400 people at A Celebration of Courage, the IGLHRC’s annual gala awards ceremony, where he will also be honored for his leadership on human rights. Archbishop Tutu, a Nobel Prize winner for his work against apartheid in South Africa, has persistently challenged discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. He has publicly condemned persecution on the basis of sexual orientation, comparing it to apartheid. In article published in The Times of London in 2004, he wrote:

“We struggled against apartheid in South Africa, supported by people the world over, because black people were being blamed and made to suffer for something we could do nothing about-our very skins. “It is the same with sexual orientation. It is a given. I could not have fought against the discrimination of apartheid and not also fight against the discrimination that homosexuals endure, even in our churches and faith groups.”

Archbishop Tutu has also vigorously criticized the Catholic church for its homophobia. Last year, he told BBC radio, “If God, as they say, is homophobic, I wouldn’t worship that God.” He has even challenged the church for “being almost obsessed with questions of human sexuality” when other issues such as poverty, HIV/AIDS and war are more deserving of attention and action. He told Union Theological Seminary students in 2006 that “All belong–white, black, red, yellow, Arab, Jew, Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, young old, male, female, rich poor, gay, lesbian and so-called straight–all belong.”

I find his use of the term “so-called straight” to be an interesting choice.

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Georgia Lesbian Mom Wins Appeal, Will Not Be Jailed

The Amercian Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) announced yesterday that the Georgia Court of Appeals has ruled in favor of one lesbian mom, who had volunteered to adopt and care for a seven-year-old girl, at the request of (and with the permission of) the girl’s biological mother. Elizabeth Hadaway was convicted of criminal contempt of court in 2007 for not handing her daughter over to foster care after she lost custody solely because she’s a lesbian. A year and one day after a county court judge sentenced Hadaway to 10 days in jail, the Georgia Court of Appeals overturned her contempt conviction, which had been staid pending appeal, yesterday. The ACLU represented Hardaway in the appeal and secured the little girl’s return home from foster care last May.”Just yesterday I was watching Emma hunt for Easter eggs and thinking how the possibility of going to jail and being separated from her again made it hard to just enjoy the moment,” Hadaway said in an ACLU press release. “I’m just so grateful that the court has lifted this burden so we can move on and I can keep focused on making sure Emma has a happy home and a good life.”

Hadaway’s legal problems began in 2006, when a Wilkinson County Superior Court judge was on the verge of granting her request to permanently adopt Emma when he noticed in a home study that Hadaway was living with her female partner of seven years. The judge abruptly changed his mind solely because Hadaway is a lesbian. Although Emma’s biological mother told the court that she wanted the child to be raised and adopted by Hadaway, the judge denied the adoption and ordered that Emma be sent back to her biological mother. Hadaway met with the biological mother, who is a truck driver struggling to care for her daughter, at a truck stop to hand over the girl. After accepting custody, thus satisfying the court order, the biological mother saw how distraught Emma was at being taken from Hadaway and again insisted that Hadaway should raise the girl. Because Hadaway took Emma back, the Wilkinson County judge then ordered that Emma be sent to live in a foster home and sentenced Hadaway and her attorney to 10 days in jail for contempt of court. Wilkinson County is in middle Georgia, between Macon and Milledgeville.

Emma was eventually returned to Hadaway’s care last May after an expert commissioned by Wilkinson County Department of Children and Family Services found that the little girl was experiencing emotional trauma because of the separation from Hadaway. A judge in another Georgia county then granted Hadaway permanent custody. The Department of Family and Children Services let Emma return home. The ACLU describes the three months of foster care as an experience in which Emma’s “welfare was seriously compromised.”

“We’re pleased that the court has agreed with us that Elizabeth Hadaway shouldn’t do jail time simply for doing the right thing for her child, but it’s unfortunate that it’s taken almost two years of court proceedings to end up with things where Elizabeth, Emma, and Emma’s biological mom wanted them to be in the first place,” said Debbie Seagraves, Executive Director of the ACLU of Georgia. “Elizabeth Hadaway did everything the judge ordered her to do, and she should never have been punished.”

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UPS Delivers Inclusion to the LGBT Community

What can brown do for queers? Atlanta’s own UPS announced today that it has added lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT)-owned businesses to its supplier diversity process. As an added bonus, LGBT-owned businesses can also take advantage of discounted shipping services. The package delivery giant made the move in partnership with the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC). The company’s supplier diversity process was started in 1992 in an effort to expand business opportunities for small businesses and those owned by minorities, women, veterans and now lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals.

“Partnering with the NGLCC not only helps LGBT businesses grow by conducting business with UPS, but we also gain access to excellent suppliers,” said Lisa Johnson, UPS’s procurement and supplier diversity manager, in a company press release. “Expanding our process to include LGBT-owned businesses reinforces our commitment to supplier diversity.”

To participate in UPS’s supplier diversity process, queer-owned businesses must be certified by the NGLCC.  The NGLCC is the largest LGBT business development and economic advocacy organization in the country, with an affiliate network of 45 state and local gay chambers and other business organizations. The NGLCC estimates that there are an estimated 1.4 million LGBT-owned businesses in the United States.

UPS also delivers equality to its queer employees. The company received a top rating of 100 percent, the highest in its industry, from the Human Rights Campaign’s 2008 Corporate Equality Index, which measures how LGBT employees are treated based on factors such as non-discrimination policies, diversity training, and benefits for domestic partners and transgender employees.

LGBT-owned companies interested in obtaining NGLCC certification can begin the process at www.nglcc.org. There’s more information about UPS’s supplier diversity process at community.ups.com.

Ga. Legislature to Vote on Bullying Bill

Georgia Equality has issued an alert urging the LGBT community to call your state senator and urge him or her to vote “yes” on an anti-bullying bill, scheduled for a vote today. SB 461 would amend current law to strengthen schools’ efforts to stop bullying. Introduced, ironically, by a decidedly right-wing Republican, the bill changes the definition of bullying in schools from “student” to “person” and would include non-physical threats as a form of bullying. Senator Chip Rogers (R-Woodstock) told Southern Voice that he introduced the bill in response to an bullying incident in his district.

Sen. Rogers is best known for his crusade against illegal immigration and allegations of campaign sign-stealing during his re-election campaign. The anti-bullying bill is co-sponsored by another Republican, Senator Judson Hill (R-Marietta), a decidedly conservative politician who campaigned as “pro-family, pro-marriage, pro-life and pro-Second Amendment.” His positions are obviously anti-gay, but his cosponsorship could inadvertantly protect LGBT students from harrassment and violent attacks in Georgia schools.

In light of the recent murder of California junior high school student Lawrence King, shot in the face by a fellow student because he was gay, the anti-bullying bill is particularly timely. Call your state senator now and urge them to support SB 461. To find your senator, visit votesmart.org.

LGBT Families Face MEGA Issues

I am on the mailing list for the MEGA Family Project, not because I currently have a partner and family in my life (I do not), but because I so admire the efforts of this important organization and want to keep up with their work. Born four years ago during the fight against the anti-gay marriage amendment in Georgia (the genesis of the name was “Marriage Equality Georgia”), MEGA has transformed itself post-amendment into an important voice and resource for LGBT families, in particular those with children. An e-mail to the MEGA list, penned by Executive Director Kathy Kelly, got my attention when it hit my inbox late last night. I was struck by the thoughtfulness and thoroughness of her words on the work yet left undone for LGBT families in Georgia (and in fact the nation, if not the world).

I wanted to post here some of Kelly’s thoughts, because I believe successfully meeting these needs is critical to advancing gay rights overall. Whether we currently find ourselves partnered with kids or not, issues affecting queer families affect all of us by association. Gay and lesbian family issues are, in a sense, examples of the discrimination and homophobia that impact the entire queer community. Ultimately, we all benefit from the work of MEGA, even if their focus on families with children doesn’t seem to apply to any one of use personally.

A rising tide lifts all boats. MEGA lifts us all through their work for acceptance, for equal rights and responsibilities under our laws, and for an end to hatred and fear. Here, then, are Kathy Kelly’s thoughts (very slightly edited by me for editorial consistency) on the state of her organization’s advocacy efforts, and her list of the 6 areas that she she sees as important for LGBT families:

“Some days, I am completely overwhelmed by the unmet needs we (in the LGBT community) are experiencing. There is so much that needs to be done for us to have strong families, healthy children, and to keep Georgia a place where LGBT families are treated well and continue to thrive.

I just came back from a national conference where many people are struggling with doing the very important work needed in the LGBT community, but I am in a very different place. I feel hopeful, optimistic, and downright joyful about the potential future for our families. We are on our way, we just need to continue doing the work to get our families to a strong, healthy place in history.

Below are some critical areas that currently receive only minimal attention from MEGA due to our limited financial resources:

1. Our kids need support through ongoing programs to help them face the certain discrimination and possible bullying they may face.
2. Parents need to be better armed to face a world designed for heterosexual families (from churches, to schools, to the playground).
3. Parents need to be educated about the best legal means available to protect their families given the current political landscape in Georgia.
4. LGBT adults coming out of heterosexual marriages with children need our support from what is often a difficult transition for both kids and adults.
5. Our children need us to be advocates at every school around the state that is not providing a positive, affirming environment for LGBT families.
6. Parents who haven’t been able to complete second parent adoptions are losing custody of their children as a result of relationship break-ups. This isn’t healthy for our kids and is extremely painful for the parents.

These issues are what keep me working every day to champion the cause of LGBT families.”

-Kathy Kelly, Executive Director

MEGA Family Project

Kelly and the MEGA Family Project sent the e-mail to appeal for support for the organization. In particular, MEGA offers an option for donating called the “MEGA Family Champion.” By becoming a Family Champion, supporters choose to make automatic monthly contributions to this non-profit organization. In addition to the tax-deductibility of your donation, becoming a MEGA Family champion also brings you special discounts and other benefits throughout the year. (The MEGA Family Project is a 501(c)3 organization with the Internal Revenue Service, so your donation is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.) If you want to support MEGA but don’t feel comfortable with a monthly donation, you can make a one-time contribution here.

In addition to its advocacy efforts, MEGA holds monthly educational and social activities to strengthen the LGBT community of families. The organization is based in the Atlanta Metro, but works on advocacy issues and hosts social events throughout the state of Georgia. MEGA also maintains several different mailing lists where you can opt in to receive news and information on specific issues–including adoption, artificial insemination, and parenting, to name a few. And there are regional lists for communication among LGBT families in specific communities, including, for example a list for the Savannah area, Cobb County and North Fulton County. Thanks to Kathy Kelly, the MEGA Family Project staff and to Georgia’s LGBT families for their visibility and for the positive example they are. Because hate really is not a family value.