LGBT Wins and Losses on Election Day

[Ian David]

LGBT Wins and Losses on Election Day

Overall, the Republicans landed enough victories to retake control of the House of Representatives from the Democrats, but not enough to take control of the Senate. It remains to be seen what a GOP-controlled House will mean for pro-LGBT measures, like passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, lifting the Defense of Marriage Act, or repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (which could still pass in the lame duck session). But a Republican-controlled chamber has never passed a major piece of pro-LGBT legislation, and all three expected incoming leaders have bad track records on LGBT issues.

HRC said last night:

“Social justice movements always experience steps forward and steps back and this election turned out to be a mix of both,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “Even though we will face greater challenges in moving federal legislation forward, nothing will stop us from using every tool to advance LGBT equality at every level. Attempts to hold back the tide of the equality movement will surely put anti-LGBT leaders on the wrong side of history.”The loss of the House to anti-equality leaders is a serious blow to the LGBT community. The presumptive leadership team of Reps. Boehner, Cantor and Pence all score zeros on the HRC scorecard and many soon-to-be committee chairs have long anti-LGBT records. The past four years of Democratic leadership stopped anti-equality lawmakers from being able to move the most damaging legislation and amendments forward, however, the 110th and 111th Congresses did not hold pro-equality majorities on every issue. The 112th Congress will prove even more challenging in rounding up the votes needed to advance pro-LGBT legislation. A particular disappointment is the loss of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal champion Patrick Murphy in the U.S. House.

More:
http://glaadblog.org/2010/11/03/lgbt-wins-and-losses-on-election-day/


See also:

Positive news from the election on gay rights
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=221x168512