The Election Race Across the Border

It's an exciting time in the US Presidential election race. Both the Republician and Democratic races are tight with no clear winners for either party. For the first time there is a chance that either a woman or a man of colour may actually become President. Yes in the rest of the world, even here in Canada, we’ve seen a female leader. And yes in many countries there has been a black leader. But this is truly an historical moment for the US. Who would have thought 50 years ago that we would be seeing both a female and black male running to become President and actually have a real chance to do so! Amazing!

But what does this election in the USA mean for our gay and Lesbian brothers and sisters. I'm sure that there is a hugh majority of gays and lesbians who support the Democrates, for their more liberal views on homosexual rights. So what will either of the current front runners (Obama and Hillary) do for us if they become President.

Well here are a few highlights on what they have done in the pass on the subject:

Obama:

Supported gay rights during his Illinois Senate tenure.

Co-sponsored legislation to expand federal hate crimes laws to include crimes perpetrated because of sexual orientation and gender identity
Believes we need to repeal the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy and allow gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military. His campaign literature says, "The key test for military service should be patriotism, a sense of duty, and a willingness to serve."

Believes gays and lesbians should have the same rights to adopt children as heterosexuals.

Although Barack Obama has said that he supports civil unions, he is against gay marriage. In an interview with the Chicago Daily Tribune, Obama said, "I'm a Christian. And so, although I try not to have my religious beliefs dominate or determine my political views on this issue, I do believe that tradition, and my religious beliefs say that marriage is something sanctified between a man and a woman."

Barack Obama did vote against a Federal Marriage Amendment and opposed the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996.

Hillary:

Voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment (S.J. Res. 1) which would have defined marriage as between a man and a woman and included language which could have prevented recognition of civil unions and domestic partnership benefits.

Supports the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and supports the rights of gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military."It hurts all of our troops, and this, to me, is a matter of national security," she said to a group of HRC supporters.

She would work to pass a federal law outlawing employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and propose another measure extending benefits to the partners of federal employees in March 2007 at an HRC fundraiser.

Is in line with HRC, co-sponsored legislation to bring Medicaid coverage to low-income, HIV-positive Americans and the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act which would expand federal jurisdiction to reach serious, violent hate crimes perpetrated because of the actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation or disability of the victim.

Hillary Clinton did not co-sponsor Uniting American Families Act that would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide same-sex partners of U.S. citizens the same immigration benefits legal spouses of U.S. residents enjoy.

Supports giving gays and lesbians equal rights in adopting children.

However, in October 2006 Hillary Clinton was quoted by 365gay.com as saying,"I believe in full equality of benefits, nothing left out. From my perspective there is a greater likelihood of us getting to that point in civil unions or domestic partnerships and that is my very considered assessment.

To read more about their agenda on Gays and lesbian rights go to:
http://lesbianlife.about.com/od/lesbianactivism/p/BarackObama.htm