Gay support boosts Howard Dean's lead

[dajabr]

While former Vice President Al Gore's endorsement of Howard Dean for president grabbed much attention this week, the candidate also got a boost from some gay Democrats.

The New York-based Gay and Lesbian Independent Democrats (GLID) announced on Wednesday its endorsement of the former Vermont governor.

"Gov. Dean won GLID's endorsement because he clearly has the strongest record on GLBT issues," said Brad Hoylman, president of GLID. "Also, his campaign, which has moved from strength to strength, has shown that he has the best chance of taking back the White House."

More: http://www.planetout.com/pno/news/article.html?2003/12/12/1

[rickin]

1. But he is intolerant

Yet Howard Dean does not support Gay marriage? Only Civil unions? Seems like a cop out.

[Cha]

4. Thankfully ...these good People don't look at

it that way.

[tsipple]

8. Rickin, Welcome to DU!

By the way, Vermont is the only state in the union where the GLBT community has full civil rights. Dean signed the law... and got it to stick, even with a Republican governor now.

That's nothing short of amazing.

The cop out would be if he just went along with a change to the Vermont state constitution. As every other state confronting similar judicial decisions did.

[Sean Reynolds]

9. Dean has never come out against gay marriage.

Unlike Edwards, Clark, Lieberman and Gephardt he said he would support gay marriage if a state decides to go that rout. Basically Dean believes that every state should recognize rights for gays. BUT feels the state should ultimately decide between civil unions or gay marriage. So he isn't against the thought of gay marriage.

[goodhue]

12. not supportive

It is not supportive to refer to basic civil rights as a decision best left to the states -when 37 states have already passed Denial of Marriage Acts!

[dsc]

13. your candidate saw no need to repeal DOMA

when he campaigned for Congress in 96. That speaks volumes to me.

[goodhue]

14. today

DK advocates repealing federal DOMA which speaks volumes as well.

Federal DOMA was indeed tragic and Wellstone's vote for it was a huge disappointment and really the beginning of Wellstone's turn on his base. I still can't believe that folks had to have sit-ins in his office before he finally voted against IWR. But I digress. I still rallied for him last fall despite the volumes his actions spoke.

Kerry and Moseley-Braun deserve big props for voting against DOMA!!!

I'm not interested in getting into a my candidate is less anti-gay than your candidate spitting match. But I think it is inaccurate to suggest that Dean has THE strongest record on GLBT issues.

Why did Dean sign vermont's civil union statute behind closed doors?

[rbnyc]

15. 83% of GLID members voted for Dean...4% Kucinich...

...even after DK's awesome discussion with GLID members and other community leaders last Sunday.

3 main reasons: Dean got community support early; Dean is more ambiguous than DK so it's easier to project one's hopes on him; Dean is ahead in the polls.

Dennis has a stronger position on all the issues that GLID cares about. Despite the fact that I like a lot of things about Dean, I and 4% of GLID members are very dissapointed.

[dsc]

16. No he doesn't

Dean's record is much better even if his current position is weaker. There is no DOMA in Vermont thanks to Dean. Dean opposed the Vermont version of DOMA loudly and strongly. Kucinich, when it mattered, saw no need to repeal it. Actions matter and Kucinich's actions on this were not up to Dean's. He never once called for DOMA's repeal until after he announced for President. Dean got that endorsement due to having earned it over a career spanning 12 years.

[dsc]

17. Dean prevented a Vermont DOMA

helped pass and sign a gay civil rights bill in 92. Gave state employees domestic partner benefits, gave joint adoption rights to gay couples. All of these were radical steps at the time they were taken. I am disappointed he signed civil unions in private. But he could have signed it on Mars for all I care as to its efficacy.

[Cha]

2. Good!~

I'm happy all these People are speaking up now and getting behind our guy! More good energy and momentum!

[candy331]

3. I hope Dean

is ready for the fluff on this.

[Cha]

5. Dean is always "ready"!

[Jerseycoa]

6. Congratulations

:toast:


:dem:

[deminflorida]

7. This is a good thing....

maybe they can hold off all of the attackers coming at Dean like the Spartans did with the Persians at Thermopylae.

[Sully]

10. This will play well in the South

Along with the Confederate flag, and Gore endorsement... ;)

[TeeYiYi]

18. Believe it or not Sully . . .

. . . there are gay people in the south.

TYY

[dsc]

11. It goes to show that we know

what side our bread is buttered on. Unlike the portrayal of Dean supporters that the bashers would have you believe I know Dr. Dean's record in this regard and in most other regards as well. As do the vast majority of his supporters. We are not the self absorbed, emotional, cultists that our bashers would have you believe. I think it is no accident that the meme on Dean supporters reads as a meme of anti gay stereotyping. Gays are emotional, fragile, self absorbed, and silly. Sound at all familiar. It sure does to me.