Articles in Politics
Ask Gov. Palin to Reconsider our NCOD Proclamation
Gay Alaskans petitioned Gov. Sarah Palin to sign a proclamation for National Coming Out Day on October 11, but yesterday her office rejected the chance to support us. You can see the NCOD Proclamation here.
This is the note sent to Tim Stallard of Alaskans Together for Equality:
Dear Tim,
Thank you for requesting a proclamation designating October 11 as “National Coming Out Day.” Unfortunately, your request cannot be granted at this time. If you have any questions please contact the Governor’s Office at (907) 465-3500.
Again, thank you for writing and best wishes to you.
Best regards,
Jessalynn Rintala
Coordinator for Constituent Relations
Office of Governor Sarah Palin
Tim issued this call to action in response to the rejection:
The Governor’s office denied our request for the National Coming Out Day Proclamation. This was disappointing given Palin’s recent message of “Tolerance” during the VP candidates’ debate.
Please call or email to express your disappointment that Gov. Palin is not proving her “tolerance” and basic respect for gay Alaskans by signing our National Coming Out Day proclamation (which would not cost the state any money or change any state law).
The more calls they receive the louder our voice (the squeaky wheel gets the grease) and the more power they see in our (the LGBT and allies) community. Of course Power equals Respect – and we deserve that!
Gov. Palin can still reconsider signing our proclamation. I suggest calling and emailing the general number and email:
Phone: 907-465-3500
Email: governor@gov.state.ak.us
Here is Tim’s suggested email to the Governor:
Email: governor@gov.state.ak.us
Dear Governor Palin,
I was disappointed to learn that you have refused to sign Alaskans Together for Equality’s proclamation for National Coming Out Day. You have told us that you have gay friends and I appreciated your desire to voice your ‘tolerance’ for gay Americans during the Vice Presidential candidates’ debate last week.
Our proclamation would not cost the state any money nor make any changes in state law. But the symbolism of this action – rejection – in this case is (unfortunately) meaningful.
I am saddened that you have declined this opportunity to demonstrate your tolerance and basic acceptance for gay Alaskans – including your dear friends. I hope you will reconsider.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
Here is the suggested message to Gov. Palin from HRC, sponsors of National Coming Out Day:
Email: governor@gov.state.ak.us
Dear Governor Palin,
I write as an Alaskan who believes that everyone in our great state is entitled to basic dignity and respect. As you may know, October 11, 2008 is National Coming Out Day. This is a day that has been celebrated for more than 20 years, and it is an opportunity to recognize that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people are our friends, family members, neighbors, co-workers, and fellow church-goers. LGBT people are Alaskans, they are Americans, and they make important contributions, every day, to our communities, our state, and our country.
In this spirit of understanding and respect, I urge you to sign the proclamation drafted by Alaskans Together for Equality, proclaiming October 11, 2008 as National Coming Out Day. I have learned that, so far, you are refusing to take this important action. I hope that you will reconsider. Signing the proclamation would not cost the state any money and it would not make any changes to state law, but it would send a clear, and much-needed, message of inclusion.
Please sign the proclamation and tell LGBT Alaskans that they, too, are full-fledged members of our state.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your address]
Gov. Palin Won’t Sign Alaska’s National Coming Out Day Proclamation
PALIN DECLINES TO ACKNOWLEDGE “NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY”
GAY ALASKANS DISMAYED BY GOVERNOR’S REBUFF
(Juneau, AK) — Gov. Palin has declined to issue a formal proclamation recognizing “National Coming Out Day,” in Alaska. Heartened by the Gov. Palin’s positive comments about gays and lesbians in the Vice Presidential Debate, Alaskans Together submitted a formal request to acknowledge the day, which is observed on Oct. 11th internationally by members of LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered) communities and supporters.
“But I also want to clarify, if there’s any kind of suggestion at all from my answer that I would be anything but tolerant of adults in America choosing their partners, choosing relationships that they deem best for themselves, you know…,” said Gov. Palin during the debate.
“Governor Palin called for ‘tolerance,’ and we hoped she’d show that type of leadership as Governor with this proclamation,” said Alaskans Together President Marsha Buck. “Coming out is difficult and deserves recognition.”
So far in October 2008, Governor Palin has issued proclamations for: “Careers in Construction Week,” “10th Annual Christian Heritage Week,” “Biomedical Technician Week,” “Alaska Taiwan Friendship Week,” “World Farm Animals Day,” “Breastfeeding Awareness Month,” and “Grand Opening of Rilke Schule Day.”
“We were asking for the Governor to acknowledge and recognize the dignity of openly-gay Alaskans. We weren’t asking for a policy position, beyond simple acknowledgement.” Buck said.
Alaskans Help Defeat Prop 8
Alaskans Can Make a Difference in California – Help Defeat Prop. 8
I’m writing to ask you to join me in participating in a very important campaign. This time the campaign is not in Alaska, it’s in California. The campaign is to defeat Prop. 8, the constitutional amendment that would eliminate marriage rights to same-sex couples in California.
Why should Alaskan’s care what happens in California?
Simply put, it will not only eliminate the right to marry by same-sex couples in California, one of only two states in the country who have legalized same-sex marriage, but it will also be an extreme step backwards for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) community’s efforts to achieve civil equality in Alaska and across the country.
A recent California field poll shows that 55 percent of likely voters are against Prop. 8. This is very encouraging and definitely a testament to the hard work that is being done in California to defeat this measure. Having been in the trenches doing this work trying to defeat similar constitutional amendments across the country, I know that these polls tend to overstate our support by at least 5 – 8 points so the race is really a statistical dead-heat.
The opposition is raising millions of dollars and has started to out raise the LGBT community and our allies by a 3-2 margin. The opposition just received another 5 million dollars from the Mormon Church. You may remember the Mormon Church and their involvement in Alaska during the 1998 campaign to ban same-sex marriage in Alaska.
The LGBT movement has a real fight ahead of it and the California campaign needs our help.
I support the No on Prop. 8 campaign because I believe that this is an unfair and divisive amendment that will have long-term implications for not only Alaska’s LGBT community but also the LGBT movement as a whole. This proposition must be defeated.
Because this is so important, I am making a $500 personal contribution to this campaign. Please join me by making a contribution today for $1000, $500, $250, $100, $50 or whatever you can afford. Whatever you can send will IMMEDIATELY be put to use to contact voters directly.
ALASKANS CAN HELP DEFEAT PROP. 8 and send a strong message to the rest of the country that every American should have the right to marry.
Sincerely,
Elias Rojas
P.S. – After donating please feel free to pass this e-mail along to your own list of family and friends so that others can support the No on Prop. 8 campaign. I have created an Alaska Fundraising webpage so we can track how much we can raise as a community to help support the campaign. Feel free to customize this e-mail and forward it to your friends. Share the following link (http://eqfed.org/equalityforall/fundraising/erojas2001-669616) so their donations can be credited to this Alaskan fundraising effort.
Related Articles:
Backers of California same-sex marriage ban are out-fundraising opponents
How Non-Californians Can Join Fight
Mormons Boost Antigay Marriage Effort
Jump the Broom: In Solidarity and Celebration of Love & Marriage
Celebrate Love, Acceptance & Equality for All
Juneau Arts and Cultural Center
October 5, Sunday afternoon, 3:30 – 6:30 PM
Newly-wed/Oldy-wed Game, Emceed by Sharon Gaiptman and Peter Freer,
Meet Juneau’s Finest on stage being asked questions about their relationships!
Songs performed by special guests
Jump the Stick:
We use this old Welsh, African American, and Gypsy tradition
to honor the relationships of those not allowed to legally marry.
Dancing with DJ Ms. G
Appetizers/snacks/deserts for sale, No Host Bar
Pay as you can – all proceeds go to Equality for All
to keep gay marriage legal in California
and to support the No on 8 Initiative.
(Bring checks for your donations or cash if you must.)
Wear your wedding clothes if you like, or your wishful wedding clothes.
If they no longer fit, feel free to pin them on!
Stonewall Democrats Respond to Palin Accusations on Sexual Orientation
Vice Presidential Candidate Wrongly Argues that Sexual Orienation is a “Choice”
Washington, DC – Today, the National Stonewall Democrats issued the following statement in response by accusations from Governor Sarah Palin that sexual orientation is a choice:
“John McCain chose a poor running mate, but he did not choose his sexual orientation. This is another example of why we need a pro-equality President like Barack Obama in the White House. For Governor Palin to suggest that individuals randomly choose their sexual orientation based on nothing but a whim is wrong and it repeats the talking points of the anti-gay special interests which continue to control the McCain/Palin campaign and the Republican Party. ” – Jon Hoadley, Executive Director
Governor Palin asserted that sexual orientation is a choice – a fact disputed by the majority of the scientific community – in a response to a question posed by Katie Couric of CBS News. Couric asked Palin to comment on her views regarding sexual orientation in light of revelations that Governor Palin’s church continues to promote harmful “converstion therapy” for gay Americans.
Palin responded: “But what you’re talking about, I think, value here, what my position is on homosexuality and you can pray it away, because I think that was the title that was listed on that bulletin. … And you know, I don’t know what prayers are worthy of being prayed and I don’t know what prayers are going to be answered or not answered. But as for homosexuality, I am not going to judge Americans and the decisions that they make in their adult personal relationships. I have one of my absolute best friends for the last 30 years who happens to be gay, and I love her dearly, and she is not my ‘gay friend,’ she is one of my best friends, who happens to have made a choice that isn’t a choice that I have made. But I’m not going to judge people.”
CBS News released the interview portion quoted above late Tuesday evening.
A PATTERN OF DISCRIMINATION
– As Governor, Palin currently supports the efforts of radical activists to strip Alaska residents – specifically state workers – of the most basic domestic partner benefits.
– It was only when the Alaska Attorney General warned Palin that the Republican position of stripping domestic partnership benefits was unconstitutional (in light of a recent Alaska Supreme Court ruling) that Palin reluctantly vetoed legislation that would have defied the court ruling. Palin quickly moved on to support an alternate strategy to strip domestic partner benefits by placing an anti-equality amendment onto the state ballot.
– When Alaska had the opportunity to extend the freedom to marry to all Alaskan couples, Palin joined with radical efforts to scapegoat same-sex couples in order to scare voters on this issue. In 1998, Palin championed a constitutional amendment that deeply discriminated against same-sex couples in the Alaska constitution. The passage of this amendment, with the full support of Palin, kicked-off a wave of discrimination by encouraging Republicans and radical activists in other states to place similar measures on state ballots for the next decade to come.
An Anti-Equality Advocate from Day One
– The FIRST piece of legislation signed by Governor Palin was done at the request of radical, anti-LGBT groups.
– Palin squandered over $1.2 million of taxpayer money to place an anti-LGBT “vanity” vote before voters at the request of radical anti-LGBT activists – including Focus on the Family, the Concerned Women of America and the Family Research Council. The ballot language asked voters if they supported Republican efforts to strip existing benefits for LGBT state employees. As a non-biding initiative, the measure had no influence on Alaska law. As the only question on the ballot, Palin willingly wasted over $1.2 million in state money to promote the talking points of anti-LGBT activists.
MCCAIN/PALIN: A TICKET SQUARELY AGAINST EQUALITY
– The McCain/Palin ticket SUPPORTS anti-marriage amendments pending before voters in Arizona, California and Florida. In fact, when asked by the Family Research Council to star in an anti-LGBT ad in 2006, Senator McCain said yes. When Arizona voters rejected his pleas by defeating the initiative, Senator McCain again offered his name to efforts to once again place an initiative on the Arizona ballot in 2008.
– The McCain/Palin ticket OPPOSES the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.
– The McCain/Palin ticket OPPOSES federal hate crimes legislation.
– The McCain/Palin ticket OPPOSES the Uniting American Families Act, which would unite families headed by same-sex couples where one spouse is an American citizen.
– The McCain/Palin ticket OPPOSES the repeal of the failed “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Don’t Pursue” policy which has dismissed over 12,500 servicemembers. At a time when our military asks Americans for their service, the McCain/Palin ticket believes that millions of Americans should be barred from offering their patriotism simply because of who they are.
National Stonewall Democrats is the national voice of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and allied Democrats, with more than 90 local chapters across the nation. Stonewall Democrats works to elect more pro-equality Democrats regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity – and to improve the Democratic Party on issues important to LGBT Democrats.
###
For more information, see: www.stonewalldemocrats.org
Second-class citizens: Gay Alaskans report legal and social discrimination
The ACLU of Alaska released the preliminary results of their 2008 LGBT Community Interest Survey today:
Discrimination a Persistent Problem for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Alaskans, says American Civil Liberties Union
ANCHORAGE, AK, September 24, 2008 – The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Alaska released a report today revealing that many of the state’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) residents still live in fear of discrimination. The report shares the initial findings of an on-going survey of LGBT Alaskans.
A majority of respondents agree that discrimination is the largest problem they have personally faced as LGBT people living in Alaska. Some report having been harassed on the job, even fired, because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. But unlike other minorities who have been historically discriminated against, there are no significant state or local laws to shield them from such prejudice.
“The survey shows that LGBT people want the same thing as most other Americans. They want to be able to provide for themselves and their families without worrying about being refused or fired from a job because of who they share their lives with,” said Tiffany McClain, the ACLU of Alaska’s LGBT Public Policy Coordinator. “But in the state of Alaska they have no legal recourse if they suspect unfair treatment from an employer, landlord, or creditor.”
Responses to the survey have been collected via e-mail, online, and in person and include participants from Anchorage, Juneau, and Fairbanks. So far, 26% of respondents report having experienced discrimination or harassment in the workplace and an additional 18% have faced these obstacles outside of work. When the lack of legal recognition of their partnerships and families is counted as a form of discrimination, the proportion of LGBT people who have suffered the consequences of discrimination is even higher.
“We know that Americans are fair and favor equal treatment and ending discrimination,” said Jeffrey Mittman, Executive Director of the ACLU of Alaska. “As Alaskans hear about the families of their lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender friends, neighbors, colleagues and relatives, they will want to see an end to workplace discrimination, and will support the right to visit a sick loved one in the hospital, or to protect the needs of children in LGBT families.” The initial survey findings can be found at http://www.akclu.org/AKCLU_LGBTresults.pdf
We would like to invite anyone who doesn’t feel as if their voices are being adequately represented to complete a survey and encourage their friends to complete one as well.
This work is supported by generous grants from the Pride Foundation and the Tide Foundation’s State Equality Fund, a philanthropic partnership that includes the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr Fund, the Gill Foundation, and other anonymous donors.
— Tiffany McClain, LGBT Public Policy Coordinator
— Jeffrey Mittman, Executive Director
Alaskans Together on Palin’s LGBT Record
Sarah Palin has a very limited relationship with the Alaska LGBT community, due to her short time in office as Governor and her previous background as mayor of a small city in one of Alaska’s more conservative areas. Governor Palin is a conservative politician in a conservative state, and she did not initiate a relationship with the LGBT community as either mayor or governor.
However, one of Governor Palin’s first duties involved 3 pieces of LGBT legislation.
As he was leaving office, former Gov. Murkowski called a special legislative session to challenge an Alaska Supreme Court decision granting benefits to same-sex partners of public employees and retirees in Alaska. The court decision was the result of a case filed four years earlier by ACLU on behalf of nine same-sex couples. One partner in each couple was a State employee and the other partner was denied benefits as a result of a 1998 constitutional amendment that defined marriage as between a man and a woman. The equal protection clause of the Alaska Constitution prevailed in that Supreme Court decision, but our Republican legislature was determined to prevent the benefits from being provided on the date of implementation, January 1, 2007.
Because of the implementation deadline, Sarah Palin was required to act on the 3 pieces of legislation prior to taking the oath of office as governor:
1) She vetoed HB 4001 on the grounds that it violated the constitution. HB 4001 would have prohibited the Commissioner of Administration from implementing the regulations that would extend same-sex partner benefits.
2) She let a resolution stand that urged the court to delay implementation of same-sex partner benefits. The court did not grant the delay.
3) In the most detrimental move for the LGBT community, she signed into law HB 4002, calling for a statewide advisory vote on the provision of same-sex partner employment benefits.
That advisory vote occurred on April 3, 2007 at the cost of $1.2 million to the State of Alaska. Representative John Coghill, HB 4002’s prime sponsor, said publicly that he was looking for “an overwhelming majority” of Alaskans to vote in favor of only providing benefits to opposite sex couples so he would have public support for legislation to enact another constitutional amendment. He did not get his overwhelming majority. Alaskans voted 52% in favor and 48% against the advisory vote – figures which we in the LGBT community consider a strong success for our side.
“Please know that this veto does not signal any change or modification to my disagreement with the action and order by the Alaskan Supreme Court,” Palin wrote in her signing statement on her veto of HB 4001.
“I feel as though Alaskans spoke on this issue with their overwhelming support for a constitutional amendment in 1998 which defined marriage as between a man and a woman,” she said in interviews with the Anchorage Daily News. She went on to say that she would accept the Alaska Supreme Court order and that the state must provide benefits to same-sex partners. (Anchorage Daily News, Our View, Saturday, December 30, 2006).
Marsha Buck, Co-chair
Alaskans Together for Equality, Inc.
Alaskans Together Foundation, Inc.
Alaskans Together is Alaska’s statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender organization advancing civil equality for all Alaskans through grassroots organizing and advocacy.
The New Spin on Palin and LGBT Rights
The Log Cabin Club (gay republicans, not Alaskan homesteaders) believes that Palin’s anonymous gay friend makes her an “inclusive” Republican despite her record of strong opposition to LGBT rights.
It’s pre-emptive doublespeak. They label Sarah an “inclusive” Republican to hide the real problem – that her religious and political views are openly homophobic and the ticket is hostile to LGBT equality.
Alaskans know Sarah Palin’s record against same-sex partner benefits, against same-sex marriage, and against LGBT civil rights. We’re not fooled by the new spin. Don’t you be fooled either.
This Blade article on the inclusive/divisive issue quotes Marsha Buck, co-chair of Alaskans Together for Equality.
‘Inclusive’ or divisive?
Palin praised by Log Cabin, denounced by gay Democrats
By LOU CHIBBARO JR., Washington Blade | Sep 3, 10:52 AM
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, Republican presidential candidate John McCain’s running mate, strongly opposes domestic partner benefits for Alaska’s state employees, even though she vetoed a bill to block same-sex partners from receiving the benefits.
Officials with Log Cabin Republicans and National Stonewall Democrats, the nation’s largest gay GOP and gay Democratic groups, offered sharply differing views this week on Palin’s gay rights record as the groups jumped into the political fray over a vice presidential pick that surprised leaders of both parties.
“Governor Palin is an inclusive Republican who will help Sen. McCain appeal to gay and lesbian voters,” said Log Cabin President Patrick Sammon. “She’s a mainstream Republican who will unite the party and serve John McCain well as vice president.”
But John Marble, spokesperson for National Stonewall Democrats, called Palin a “champion of anti-LGBT special interests.” Marble noted her 1998 support of a state constitutional amendment approved by voters that bans gay marriage and her 2006 opposition to domestic partner benefits for state employees.
Palin, 44, is the first woman to be named as a vice presidential candidate by the Republican Party. She is a self-described maverick who shook up the Republican Party in Alaska by unseating a fellow GOP governor, Frank Murkowski, in the 2006 Republican primary and defeated a Democratic former governor, Tony Knowles, in the general election.
During her 2006 gubernatorial campaign, Palin revealed her approach to certain gay issues in a questionnaire for Eagle Forum Alaska, a conservative group.
Among other questions, the group asked, “Will you support an effort to expand hate crime laws?” Palin responded, “No, as I believe all heinous crime is based on hate.”
She also answered a question about extending spousal benefits to domestic partners. That question asked, “Do you support the Alaska Supreme Court’s ruling that spousal benefits for state employees should be given to same-sex couples?” Palin responded, “No, I believe spousal benefits are reserved for married citizens as defined in our constitution.”
Another question asked Palin for her priorities “in relationship to families.” The second priority she listed was “preserving the definition of ‘marriage’ as defined in our constitution.”
The questionnaire also asked whether candidates would support funding for abstinence-until-marriage programs, an issue that hits close to home for Palin, whose 17-year-old daughter is five months pregnant.
Her response: “Yes, the explicit sex-ed programs will not find my support.”
Prior to being elected governor, Palin served as mayor of the Alaskan town of Wasilla, which has fewer than 10,000 residents. She started her career as a sports reporter for an Anchorage television station after receiving a degree in journalism from the University of Idaho. In 1984 she was named Miss Congeniality and first runner-up in the Miss Alaska beauty pageant.
She is married to Todd Palin, a native Yup’ik Eskimo who works as an oil field production operator in the state’s oil rich North Slope. The couple has five children.
Palin’s position on domestic partner benefits is being closely scrutinized by gay activists, with some gay Republicans praising her decision to veto a bill aimed at blocking the partner benefits from taking effect.
The benefits issue became a political hot potato in Alaska in 2005, when the state’s Supreme Court ordered the state to provide the same health and pension benefits to domestic partners of state employees that were available to the employees’ married spouses. The court’s decision, which stemmed from a 1999 lawsuit filed by nine same-sex couples, found that the equal protection clause of the Alaska Constitution required that same-sex partners of state employees receive benefits equal to those received by married employees.
Palin won election as governor in November 2006. Under Alaska’s election law, she took office in December 2006 — less than a month before a Jan. 1, 2007, deadline imposed by the court for implementing the same-sex partner benefits.
Shortly before Palin took the oath of office as governor, the Alaska Legislature passed a bill that defied the high court ruling by prohibiting the Alaska Commissioner of Administration from providing the health and pension benefits to same-sex couples. The legislature also passed a separate bill that called for a non-binding, advisory ballot measure asking voters whether the state should adopt a constitutional amendment overturning the court’s decision on the partner benefits.
On Dec. 20, 2006, in one of her first legislative acts, Palin signed the bill calling for the advisory ballot measure, saying it would lay the groundwork for a state constitutional ban on the partner benefits.
Eight days later, on Dec. 28, 2006, she vetoed the bill seeking to block the benefits from being offered to same-sex partners of state employees, saying her attorney general advised her that the bill was unconstitutional.
“Signing this bill would be in direct violation of my oath of office,” Palin said in a statement.
At the time of the veto, Palin reiterated her opposition to the court ruling on the benefits issue as well as her opposition to same-sex marriage.
“I believe that honoring the family structure is that important,” Palin told the Anchorage Daily News in explaining why she opposed gay marriage and same-sex partner benefits for state employees.
The newspaper reported that Palin said she’s “not out to judge anyone and has good friends who are gay.”
Her strong religious views, which also include opposition to abortion, were the underlying reason for her opposition to gay marriage and same-sex partner benefits, she told the Anchorage Daily news.
In April 2007, Alaska’s voters approved the advisory measure in support of a constitutional amendment to overturn the court’s decision on same-sex partners by a margin of 53 percent to 47 percent.
Marsha Buck, co-chair of Alaskans Together for Equality, a statewide gay group whose members campaigned against the advisory ballot measure, said the 47 percent vote opposing the measure shocked many of the state’s conservative, anti-gay advocates, who expected the measure to pass by a landslide.
“They expected the margin to be similar to the 1998 marriage amendment, which passed by a vote of 65 percent to 35 percent,” Buck said. “It took the wind out of their sails.”
One month later, in May 2007, the proposed constitutional amendment itself came before the Alaska House of Representatives and fell short of receiving the required two-thirds majority vote. Later that year, the proposed amendment died in committee in the Alaska Senate.
The amendment’s lead supporter, State Rep. John Coghill, a Republican, has vowed to bring the measure up for another vote, although it has not yet resurfaced this year.
“America may not know much about Sarah Palin, but based on what our community has seen of her, we know enough,” said Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, a national gay advocacy group.
“Sarah Palin not only supported the 1998 Alaska constitutional amendment banning marriage equality but, in her less than two years as governor, even expressed the extreme position of supporting stripping away domestic partner benefits for workers.”
Solmonese noted that the strong backing Palin has received from conservative religious groups like the Family Research Council and Focus on the Family, which oppose gay rights, indicates that she would be hostile to gays if elected vice president.
Marble, in a statement on the National Stonewall Democrats’ web site, joined Democratic critics who have pointed to allegations that Palin attempted to pressure Alaskan state police into firing her ex-brother-in-law, who serves on that force. Marble also seized on criticism suggesting that Palin is unqualified to become vice president due to her limited experience as a former small town mayor and governor of two years.
“Sen. McCain is demonstrating that he does not approach the weighty issues of war, terrorism and the economy with heavy thought — as demonstrated by selecting a corrupt, first-term governor,” Marble said. “The greatest requirement of a vice president is the ability to lead when called upon, yet Sen. McCain has selected a running mate who, only two years ago, had only tackled the responsibilities of a part-time village mayor.”
But Palin’s supporters at the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis dismissed such criticism this week, saying she has more executive experience as a former mayor and a governor than Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama.
Buck said the gay and lesbian Alaskans she knows don’t view Palin as a friend of the gay community and are puzzled over press reports that Palin has gay friends.
“We hear from people in the lower 48 that she is somewhat supportive,” Buck said. “We don’t see that. We don’t know who these gay friends are. We are thinking they must not be Alaskans.”
More on Sarah Palin and Gay Rights
Today was another big news day for Sarah Palin and LGBT issues in Alaska.
(For a good summary of Palin’s record, see Alaskans Together on Palin’s LGBT Record.)
First I found this post with a cabinet member and Alaskan delegate to the RNC commenting on Gov. Palin’s opposition to gay rights, from The Gist, via Good As You:
Well, our pal Michelangelo Signorile is here to help us out. He is actually on site at the Republican convention, where he has obtained even more proof that the “pro-gay Palin” notion is just wishful thinking. This from Mike’s blog:I went to the Alaska delegation and spoke with a woman who is in Palin’s cabinet. She assured me that Palin is not in favor of giving any rights to gays and didn’t want to give domestic partnership rights to government employees but that she had to veto the bill that would have rescinded such rights because of the Alaska Supreme Court ruling. So can we please cut this crap Log Cabin and the McCain campaign have been trying to put out: Palin only vetoed an antigay bill because she had to, by law. This woman, Annette Kreitzer, who serves in Sarah Palin’s cabinet in the Department of Administration, said, oh, well, it was the law — drat! — or something like that.
Then several people sent this post from the Washington Blade on Palin’s answers to three LGBT-related questions:
WASHINGTON – During her 2006 run for Governor, Sarah Palin filled out an Alaska Eagle Forum questionnaire that reveals even more about her stance and view on LGBT equality.One of the questions the conservative group asked her on the questionnaire was her views on expanding hate crimes laws. The question reads, “Will you support an effort to expand hate crimes laws?”Palin answered, “No, as I believe all heinous crime is based on hate.”Another question from the same survey asked, “Do you support the Alaska Supreme Court’s ruling that spousal benefits for state employees should be given to same-sex couples? Why or why not?”Palin answered, “No, I believe spousal benefits are reserved for married citizens as defined in our constitution.”And last, but not least, Palin was asked what her top three priorities, as regards to families, would be while Governor.Palin answered, “#2 – Preserving the definition of ‘marriage’ as defined in our constitution.”
I just received this quote about her church’s support of the anti-gay conference coming to Anchorage in ten days, from an article on TIME:
Churches proliferate in Wasilla today, and among the largest and most influential is the Wasilla Bible Church, where the Palins worship.At the 11:15 a.m. Sunday service, hundreds sit in folding chairs, listening to a 20-minute sermon about the Book of Malachi and singing along to alt-rock praise songs. The only sign of culture warring in the whole production is an insert in the day’s program advertising an upcoming Focus on the Family conference on homosexuality in Anchorage called Love Won Out. The group promises to teach attendees how to “respond to misinformation in our culture” and help them “overcome” homosexuality.
Does Sarah Palin believe that homosexuality can and should be “overcome?” I’d love to hear her answer to that question.
Palin Supports Gay Rights?
No, she doesn’t. She opposes health benefits for gay and lesbian partners, and supported a $1.2 million non-binding advisory vote for legislation that would have taken away the partner benefits granted by an Alaska Supreme Court ruling. (The vote passed by a narrow margin, and the benefits remain.)
For the full story on the health benefits, see: Alaskans Together on Palin’s LGBT Record. For Palin on other gay issues, see the Sarah Palin Series.
But conflicting reports about Gov. Sarah Palin’s stand on gay rights are showing up all over the web. Outside reporters know little about her record on gay rights (or anything else) and call her everything from ally to enemy.
The mainstream media says she opposes same-sex marriage but has gay friends and is sympathetic to gay issues. (Their evidence of her sympathy shows how little they know about her.)
The national liberal and conservative media found something to agree on: that Palin is anti-gay.
The evangelical writers are excited to vote for her, the progressives are disgusted by her anti-health benefits stand and by the media’s “gay friends” spin.
The national LGBT media recognizes her opposition to equality and civil rights – except the Log Cabin Republicans (gay republicans, believe it or not) who think she is a wonderful choice.
And the fringe elements are joining the fray.
In these reports, I found only two LGBT Alaskans quoted (both in the same article by Gay City News):
Some press reports following the McCain campaign announcement have repeated the right-wing rhetorical flourish that has Palin declaring that she has gay friends. That softer image is not what some Alaskans saw.“That’s just completely wrong,” said Allison E. Mendel, the attorney who brought the 1999 [partner benefits] case. “She spoke on radio programs all throughout the campaign saying, ‘I want a constitutional amendment, I think these things are only for a man and a woman.’ … I don’t think she’s ever said a friendly word about gay people, that they ought to have health benefits like other people do or anything along those lines.”On AIDS issues, Palin simply has no record at all.“There is not a lot to speak of for AIDS policy because she hasn’t done much,” said Trevor Storrs, executive director of the Alaskan AIDS Assistance Association. “She’s never been given the opportunity to address our situation here because it has never been put before her.”“She has done very little to address the major epidemics,” he said.
But the most often quoted sentence about her stand on gay rights was from her old Wiki profile: “She opposes same-sex marriage, but she has stated that she has gay friends and is receptive to gay and lesbian concerns about discrimination.”
Then her Wiki profile was changed and currently reads: “Palin has said she has good friends who are gay, opposes same-sex marriage, but complied with an Alaskan state Supreme Court order and signed an implementation of same-sex benefits into law, stating that legal options to avoid doing so had run out. She supported a non-binding referendum for a constitutional amendment to deny benefits to homosexual couples.”
The Associated Press reported that Palin “opposes gay marriage — constitutionally banned in Alaska before her time — but exercised a veto that essentially granted benefits to gay state employees and their partners.”
That sentence is quoted in numerous articles to imply that she is sympathetic to gay and lesbian rights.
The national LGBT rights group HRC has the real story:
“Sarah Palin not only supported the 1998 Alaska constitutional amendment banning marriage equality but, in her less than two years as Governor, even expressed the extreme position of supporting stripping away domestic partner benefits for state workers. When you can’t even support giving our community the rights to health insurance and pension benefits, it’s a frightening window into where she stands on equality.”
Meanwhile, someone has created a web site called Sarah Palin Gay Rights . com. This is the full text:
Sarah Palin (GOV-Alaska-Republican), supports gay rights, says Anchorage Daily News.Quote “Gov. Sarah Palin vetoed a bill Thursday that sought to block the state from giving public employee benefits such as health insurance to same-sex couples.”Quote “”It is the Governor’s intention to work with the legislature and to give the people of Alaska an opportunity to express their wishes and intentions whether these benefits should continue,” the statement from Palin’s administration said.”Coghill said he’s interested in a new plan that would allow state employees to designate one person — maybe a same-sex partner, but also possibly a family member or roommate — who would be eligible for state-paid benefits. But the employee would have to pay to add that person to his or her benefits.”Sarah Palin’s veto gave gays the same rights as married couples in Alaska.A vote for McCain/Palin is a vote for gay marriage.
The quotes don’t support the conclusion, but the overall message is clear: evangelicals should not be fooled into voting for McCain because they think Palin supports their agenda. The site is anonymous, maybe by a disgruntled Huckabee supporter?
Many readers of Bent Alaska are LGBT Alaskans and our allies. You know more about Sarah and gay rights in Alaska than the Outsiders. What do you think about Palin and gay rights?
