The Fight For Equality Is On-Going-- Just Ask Mike Honda And Carol Shea Porter

If you come to DWT on any kind of a regular basis, you probably know I'm not a big Obama fan. In fact, voted for Jill Stein in 2012. But one area where President Obama has managed to move the ball forward, in the face of unrelenting and concerted Republican opposition, has been in regard to LGBT equality. Who would have thought back in 2008 we would come so far! The LGBT community were unprepared to take anything less than a YES for Democrats and their voices-- and campaign contributions-- spoke very loudly. Other communities that have gotten the short end of the stick from society could-- should-- learn something from how the LGBT community forced Obama's and the Democrats' hands. Breathtaking!

But, of course this fight is far from over. Just a few cycles ago all Blue America required of candidates we were thinking of endorsing was that they backed "civil unions" and believed in equality in their hearts. That seems like so long ago. In the past few years, Blue America hasn't endorsed any candidates who are anything less than enthusiastic-- and full-throated-- about standing up for equality under the law. The DCCC may think it's OK to recruit and raise campaign funds for candidates who are afraid to back gay equality --or who are even opposed to it, like Ohio homophobic fanatic, Jennifer Garrison-- but Blue America is not in the "professional Democrat" game and we vet candidates for actual policy ideas, not for partisan affiliation. All Blue America candidates back equality-- and campaign that way. And the incumbents we back, vote that way.

This election cycle there are two stalwart champions of equality who have tough reelection campaigns-- and both deserve our support. Mike Honda, who represents a district that includes much of Santa Clara County, has supported countless floor actions in the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell and served on the Whip team for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. He led the efforts as Ranking Member on Legislative Branch Appropriations to stop the use of taxpayer dollars in partisan defense of the unconstitutional Defense of Marriage Act. Mike has received a 100% rating from the Human Rights Campaign. Yesterday he told us what's behind this kind of activism.

"As someone whose family was interned during WWII because of our Japanese-American heritage, I know what its like to face unfair systematic discrimination. Throughout my career I have always fought to make sure EVERYONE in this country has equal rights and equal treatment. I am encouraged by the progress we have made in recent years, but I will not stop fighting for full equality for all members of the LGBT community until we have it."

Way on the other side of the country, in New Hampshire, Carol Shea-Porter is facing off against a hardcore Tea Party activist in a district with slightly more registered Republicans than registered Democrats. Like Congressman Honda, she helped end Don't Ask Don't Tell, was ne of the original sponsors of ENDA and signed the historic amicus brief regarding the unconstitutionality of DOMA. "As long as our LGBT brothers and sisters are denied the right to marry who they love," she told us, "or they are denied equal protection under the law, we still have work to do."

Members of Congress like Mike Honda and Carol Shea-Porter don't grow on trees and their opponents are very well financed. If you can, please consider making a contribution to Mike's and Carol's campaigns here at the Blue America page dedicated to worthy incumbents who have proven their friendship and their abilities.

Percentage of LGBT Population, by state (Source: Gallup, 2013)

Tim Gill, the founder and chair of the Gill Foundation puts it very simply and clearly: "Every LGBT person in every single state should have full and unconditional legal equality." His foundation won't be satisfied with anything less. And neither will any true progressive legislators. Gill's sentiments are certainly echoed by Mike Honda, Carol Shea-Porter and Blue America candidates. In an OpEd in the new Advocate Gill Foundation CEO Courtney Cuff goes beyond the optimism in the LGBT community to explain what the movement is still fighting for.

•  Only 17 states and the District of Columbia have statewide protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Throughout the South and in much of the Midwest, Heartland, and Mountain West, state laws provide no recourse if you are fired simply because of who you are or who you love.

• Only 19 states and the District of Columbia have laws that specifically protect LGBT youth against bullying. In fact, eight states in the southern tier of the country have enacted barriers that make it more difficult to protect LGBT kids.

• A Williams Institute report on LGBT parenting shows that the states with the highest percentages of same-sex couples raising children are also states where legal protections for our families are at their lowest-- nearly all located in the South and Heartland.

The varying degrees of progress on legal equality across the country is a result of the fact that the LGBT movement, wisely, has focused energy and resources on states that presented the greatest immediate opportunities. With support for equality now expanding across the ideological spectrum and all demographic groups, however, there really is no state that we should consider beyond reach.

Freedom and opportunity are not Massachusetts or California values, they are American values. So it should come as no surprise that even the reddest states have strong majorities in support of policies like nondiscrimination, and progress already made in many of these states at the local level is a sign of things to come.

Blue America has been vigilant in looking for congressional candidates who will help further those goals. Some, state legislators like Pennsylvania state Senator Daylin Leach can let their records speak for them. Watch Daylin talk about his record on the video below. One of his colleagues in the state legislature, Brian Sims, the first openly gay elected state legislator in Pennsylvania history, endorsed Daylin in his bid for the congressional seat in Montgomery County and Northeast Philly (PA-13). "Daylin," he told us, "introduced Pennsylvania's first marriage equality bill (back waaaay before it was cool); Daylin co-chairs the LGBT caucus in the Pennsylvania legislature; and just last month stood with a Pennsylvania teacher who was fired just because he married his partner. That's why I'm supporting Daylin on his run for Congress. We NEED Daylin in Washington where issues (like ENDA) are currently being debated and will effect the lives of millions of Americans."

Like Pennsylvania, Michigan is struggling under a reactionary Republican governor and state legislator. Paul Clements, a professor at Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, is running for the House seat currently occupied with homophobic Fred Upton. Clements' official statement on LGBT equality sounds fine: "Long term commitments such as those associated with the family enrich the lives of partners to the commitment and strengthen society. It is right and proper that they should be recognized and supported by the state, and there is no reason that this recognition and support should be limited on the basis of sexual preference or gender identity. Discrimination in the public sphere based on sexual preference or gender identity should be illegal." But it's Clements' personal reasoning when he talks about his commitment that is most compelling:

When my elder daughter Anna was 16 she was in an auto accident and suffered a severe traumatic brain injury. She was in a coma for 10 days, and they didn't know if she would be able to talk when she came out of it. When she did wake up, she was able to speak a little at first, and the doctor was trying to see how her brain was working. He asked her what school she went to, and what activities she did at school. She whispered "GSA...", and he asked, "What?" and she whispered "GSA ..." and he asked, "What?" and she said "Gay-Straight Alliance, because gays don't have their rights!" I can say she got some of these values at home.

Again, you can contribute to Mike Honda and Carol Shea-Porter on our incumbents page and you can give to Daylin's and Paul's campaigns on the Blue America 2014 page.