Bill Richardson on GLBT issues

[seasat]

I thought it would be pertinent to post Richardson's support and legislative accomplishments in this area since it is currently the topic on DU. One of the things that I like about Bill Richardson is that he is very liberal on social issues.

Bill Richardson supports civil unions and federal recognition of civil unions. He opposes state level amendments that ban civil unions or gay marriage. His negatives are that he did vote for the Defense of Marriage Act while in the US congress and does not support gay marriage. I'd like to see him change that position. Here are some of his accomplishments in support of GLBT issues.

• Richardson opposed the "Don't ask don't tell" policy while in the congress in the '90s. He wanted homosexuals to be able to serve openly.
  
• As governor of NM, he expanded civil rights laws to include sexual orientation and gender identity (only three other states had done so at the time);
  
• passed a hate crimes law that protects both actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity;
  
• signed an executive order extending health insurance and other benefits to the same-sex domestic partners of state employees;
  
• helped kill a 2005 NM Defense of Marriage Act by stating that he would veto it if it didn't include a provision for civil unions (LINK...source for above info);
  
• and he supports a current Domestic Partnership Law that just passed the NM state house (LINK)
  

Here's a BLOG post that was previously posted on the DU from someone that met Richardson thanking for his support on these issues (LINK). Bill Richardson is one of the most supportive of GLBT issues in the Democratic Party and has actions that back up his rhetoric.

[sandnsea]

1. He supported good union legislation too

He's actually a lot better on the issues than I had originally thought. I wish he could get a teensy bit more inspiring, figure out that connection thing. He might be our best bet.

[PresidentObama]

2. VERY glad to hear that. Thanks for this post.

I hope Richardson is in the next Administration. Whether as President, VP, or a cabinet member.

:thumbsup:

[frylock]

3. bill richardson was ranked third for me when i went to selectsmart..

behind Obama and Kucinich. I should make a greater effort to learn a little more about the man.

[Hippo_Tron]

4. Seems that DUers may be warming up to Richardson as they learn more about him

[cascadiance]

5. I want to hear who he'll select as a replacement for Domenici when he's asked to step down!

Hopefully he'll get a decent progressive in place that will free us from this Lieberman noose that the Democratic Party is in right now!

[Hippo_Tron]

12. I don't think Domenici will step down

But I think that he will end up being the Conrad Burns of 2008.

[IndianaGreen]

7. He has vast foreign policy and national security experience

I am glad to read about his record on LGBT rights.

[Colobo]

6. He'll be a great VP

[burrowowl]

8. Here is hoping

HB603 Domestic Partnership passes tomorrow, Richardson said he will sign it!
Go Bill!

[skipos]

9. I think he has come around on many progressive issues

and will hopefully come around on more. His vote for the DMA was awhile ago, his pro-glbt actions as governor would indicate a change in his views.

Another area of change has been on election security. Some DUers feel he didn't do enough for the voting problems in 2004, but since then he has done a lot more than most governors....

Santa Fe, NM - Governor Bill Richardson yesterday signed a bill making New Mexico the fourteenth state to require voter-verified paper ballots (VVPBs) for its voting systems. As amended and passed, New Mexico Senate Bill 678 also requires audits to compare a portion of paper ballots with electronic vote tallies.

"New Mexico has swelled the ranks of states requiring voter-verified paper ballots across the country," said VerifiedVoting.org Executive Director Will Doherty. "Election administrators, policymakers, and the public recognize the need to prevent the malfunctions, errors, and failures of paperless e-voting machines that occurred repeatedly across the country during November 2004 and prior election cycles."

http://www.verifiedvoting.org/article.php?id=5697

[seasat]

10. A statement today by Richardson on Don't Ask Don't Tell

March 15, 2007
New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson Calls for Repeal of US Military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Policy

New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson today called on Congress to repeal the US Military's policy of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" regarding homosexuality. The Governor also repeated his reaction to Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Peter Pace's remarks that homosexuality is "immoral". The Governor issued this statement:

"I do not believe that homosexuality is immoral, and I believe Congress should repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.' I voted against it when I served in Congress. People should not be judged based on their sexual orientation. Throughout my entire career I have fought for equal rights and against discrimination of any kind.

While others talk about doing the right thing, on my watch in New Mexico we've made significant progress. I support civil unions or domestic partnerships, and as Governor I have passed hate crime legislation. I also supported and signed legislation extending civil rights protections based on sexual orientation, and I ordered that access to health insurance and benefits be extended to the domestic partners of state employees.

The remarks by General Pace are unfortunate and the Administration should reject them."

[hollowdweller]

11. I like him.

That makes me like him better. His pro right to keep and bear arms position might even put him over Rudy or Mc Cain if he ever made it thru the primaries.