Stance of Major Party Candidates in 2008 for State Governor on LGBTQ Issues
Gubernatorial Candidates
On November 4, eleven states will be voting on new Governors. While gubernatorial campaigns might be smaller than presidential campaigns, these government officials are just as important to the legislation that affects you. Governors have the power to sign state laws that have much bearing on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning issues. For example, laws on same-sex marriage, gay adoption, and anti-bullying / anti-discrimination are decided differently by each State Congress and Governor. With some extensive research, we have rounded up news stories, statements, and candidate comparisons on all the gubernatorial candidates.
Scroll down to browse through the candidates or link directly your state’s candidates.
These eleven states include:
We've also provided some information on finding out of there are any openly LGBT candidates in your area.
Bill Lee (R)
http://www.leedelaware.com/
“Ask the Candidates for Governor”
“LEE: There should be no legislation based solely on sexual orientation. The gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community has a number of important issues that must be addressed, but they are shared by other Delawareans who, for a variety of reasons, have chosen to live together in a continuing relationship. The law should recognize such relationships through a registration process to provide hospital visitation, access to medical records, the right to participate in medical decisions and be named insurance beneficiaries, and other similar benefits now granted solely to married couples. I will not, however, take any steps which undermine traditional marriage.”
http://www.leedelaware.com/index.cfm?ref=70200&ref2=16
“Bill Lee for Governor: Issues”
“I am Pro-Life, Pro-Family and Pro-Traditional Marriage.”
http://www.leedelaware.com/index.cfm?ref=40100
Jack Markell (D)
http://www.markell.org/
“DELAWARE: Lee, Markell Split on Gay Rights Law”
"Jack Markell is the only governor candidate who has a plan," Green said. "They all know what's wrong, but Markell is saying what can be done about it. And the GLBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered) issue jumped out at me. Mr. Copeland and Mr. Lee refuse to accept the fact that this is not a special right. It is not a special class. Some people get it. Obviously, Copeland and Lee don't get it. Nobody's free until everybody's free."
http://www.gobeachcomber.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081020/NEWS01/81020022/0/WCT
“Markell Set For Primary Against Carney”
“In his announcement video, Markell promised to fight for civil rights for all – ‘whether African-American, white, Hispanic, Asian, gay or straight’ -- and presented himself as a candidate for change.”
http://www.markell.org/NJ_060707.aspx
Jill Long Thompson (D)
http://www.hoosiersforjill.com/
“Putting Hoosiers First”
“Protect Hoosiers from Discrimination: The Long Thompson/Oxley administration will work to provide protections against discrimination due to age, sexual orientation, and veteran or military status which currently are not equally protected by state law.”
http://www.hoosiersforjill.com/site/issues/engaging_all_citizens/
“Indiana Gubernatorial Candidate Jill Long Thompson, Denny Oxley and the Gay Community”
“Long Thompson closed the appearance with a reminder of how adamantly anti-gay the Indiana Republican party is.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bil-browning/indiana-gubernatorial-can_b_108732.html
“Stonewall Democrats and IFN Hold Fundraiser for Jill Long Thompson”
“The Long-Thompson campaign vows to see a state in which all Hoosiers are treated equally.”
http://www.stonewalldemocrats.org/node/243
Mitch Daniels (R)
http://www.mymanmitch.com/
“Indiana Gov Mitch Daniels vs The Religious Right”
http://www.bilerico.com/2007/11/indiana_guv_mitch_daniels_vs_the_religio.php
“N.Y. Recognizes Gay Marriages: Paterson Orders the Change as Impact of Calif. Ruling Spreads”
“Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels was asked if Indiana needed a constitutional ban on gay marriage. He has not pushed for one, and unlike bills, governors in Indiana do not have authority to act on resolutions to amend the constitution.
‘I've said before I would vote for one if it were put on the ballot to protect against this very outcome, to protect the right of the people of Indiana to make this choice and not have it dictated to them,’ he said.”
http://www.washingtonblade.com/2008/5-30/news/national/12680.cfm?page=3
Jay Nixon (D)
http://www.jaynixon.com/home
“Gay Marriage Supporters: Fear Matt Blunt -- and Jay Nixon”
“It's not surprising to see Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt mouthing the arch-conservative position while railing against gay marriages in California. But why is Democratic AG Jay Nixon going along for the ride, too?”
http://voices.kansascity.com/node/1357
“Nixon Joins 10 Other Attorneys General in Asking for Delay on California Gay-Marriage Ruling”
http://primebuzz.kcstar.com/?q=node/12176
“Missouri Signals Willingness to End Anti-Gay Foster Care Ban: Attorney General Reverses Stance After Same-Sex Only Sodomy Law Repealed”
"‘The attorney general's office is recognizing what our legislature already acknowledge in striking down the sexual misconduct law — that there is no justification for discriminating against gay and lesbian Missourians,’ PROMO Executive Director Julie Brueggemann said.”
http://www.washblade.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=7375
Kenny Hulshof (R)
http://www.kenny08.com/default.aspx
“On the Issues”
“Rated 0% by the HRC, indicating an anti-gay-rights stance. (Dec 2006)”
http://www.ontheissues.org/House/Kenny_Hulshof.htm
http://www.ontheissues.org/House/Kenny_Hulshof_Civil_Rights.htm
Brian Schweitzer (D)
http://www.brianschweitzer.com/
“Discussion With Governor of Montana Brian Schweitzer; Conversation With Martha Raddatz, the White House Correspondent for ABC News.”
“BRIAN SCHWEITZER: We have a constitutional ban on [gay marriage]. So, we don`t believe that in Montana, we ought to discriminate against people because they`re gay. But we do have a constitutional ban on marriage in -- gay marriage in Montana.”
http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-29921079_ITM
Roy Brown (R)
http://www.roybrownformontana.com/
John Lynch (D)
http://www.lynchcommittee.com/
“Lynch Signs Gay Unions into Law: Governor Says They're a Matter of Civil Rights”
“Describing it as a means of furthering ‘fairness, dignity and the strengthening of New Hampshire families,’ Gov. John Lynch signed a bill yesterday allowing gay and lesbian couples to enter civil unions.”
http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070601/REPOSITORY/706010403/1037/NEWS04
“South Carolina Bans Gay Marriage: Constitutional Amendment Was Approved by Voters Last Year”
“Gov. John Lynch opposes gay marriage but supports providing health care benefits to state workers' same-sex partners. He has not taken a public position on civil unions.”
http://www.washblade.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=12101
Joseph Kenney (R)
http://www.draftkenney.com/
“Joe Kenney for Governor: Issues”
“Joe has a 14-year pro-life, pro-family voting record.”
http://draftkenney.com/issues.html
“NH Candidates for Governor Split on Seat Belt Law”
“Kenney criticized the law for giving more rights to gay couples than to unmarried heterosexual couples living together.”
http://www.boston.com/news/local/new_hampshire/articles/
2008/08/16/nh_candidates_for_governor_split_on_seat_belt_law/?page=2
Beverly Purdue (D)
http://www.bevperdue.com/
“Equality North Carolina 2008 General Election Endorsements”
http://equalitync.org/pac/2008g
Pat McCrory (R)
http://www.patmccrory.com/
“The Brass Tacks: Bev Perdue vs. Pat McCrory”
“Gay Rights: McCrory supports adding a ban on gay marriage to the state constitution, the pet idea of several evangelical Christian groups. Perdue, like most of the state's Democratic leadership, opposes the amendment, saying the state law against gay marriage makes an amendment unnecessary.”
http://www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A266944
Tim Mathern (D)
http://www.mathern.org/
“North Dakota Senate Passes cohabitation law change”
http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid41986.asp
John Hoeven(R)
http://www.hoevengovernor.com/
“Hoeven, Satrom Argue Outlet, Smoking Limits”
“Hoeven said he supports the amendment to ban gay marriage, adding the decision should be left up to voters, not the courts.”
http://www.prairiepublic.org/features/riverwatch/news/forum/10_09_04.html
Bob Springmeyer (D)
http://www.bobforgov.org/
“Southern Utah Pride Kicks Off”
“A number of gay and gay-friendly Utah politicians will also take the stage for a 2:15 p.m. flag ceremony, including Sen. Scott McCoy, D-Salt Lake City, Reps. Jackie Biskupski and Christine Johnson, D-Salt Lake City, and Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Bob Springmeyer and his Lt. Governor choice, Josie Valdez.”
http://qsaltlake.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=780&Itemid=35
“Equality Utah Announces Candidate Endorsements”
http://qsaltlake.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=717&Itemid=35
John Huntsman (R)
http://www.huntsman08.com/
“Utah Sets Rigorous Rules for School Clubs, and Gay Ones May Be Target”
“But the school clubs law, signed last week by Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., was not really intended to rein in the rowdies down at the audio-visual club, some lawmakers said. The real target was homosexuality.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/17/education/
17utah.html?_r=4&ref=education&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
“Another year of mixed results in state legislatures”
“Utah Gov. John Huntsman, Jr. (R) signed anti-bullying legislation into law March 17. A House committee also approved a non-discrimination bill. While the Utah legislative session ended in early March, lawmakers are expected to consider the bill in the interim session that will last for the remainder of the year.”
http://www.washblade.com/2008/4-25/news/national/12465.cfm?page=1
Gaye Symington (D)
http://www.symingtonforgovernor.com/
“Human Rights Campaign Endorses Gaye Symington For Vermont Governor”
“Symington ‘A proven champion for equality’.”
http://www.hrc.org/11382.htm
“Gaye Symington for Governor”
“And as Governor, I would sign a bill supporting marriage rights for gay and lesbian Vermonters.”
http://www.actblue.com/page/symington
Jim Douglas (R)
http://www.jimdouglas.com/
“VT Governor Jim Douglas Rejects Transgender Equality”
“In spite of strong support for transgender equality in the Vermont House and Senate, Douglas cited technical concerns as the reason for his veto of H.865.”
http://www.innewsweekly.com/innews/?class_code=Ne&article_code=1883&PHPSESSID=200e62f7fc92c3a7408205e1411d34df
Chris Gregoire (D)
http://www.chrisgregoire.com/main.cfm?s=gregoire
“Signing of Civil Rights Legislation (As Written)
“Governor Gregoire: In 1977, a group of thoughtful citizens took the first steps toward adding “sexual orientation” to the state’s law against discrimination. We owe these citizens a tremendous amount of gratitude because it was their first steps that brought us to where we are today…my signing of the Civil Rights Bill into law.”
http://www.governor.wa.gov/speeches/speech-view.asp?SpeechSeq=26
“Washington Governor Signs Domestic Partnership Bill”
“Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire signed into law a domestic partnership bill on April 21 that provides same-sex couples in Washington state access to critical protections and responsibilities.”
http://www.thetaskforce.org/press/releases/prMF_042307
Dino Rossi (R)
http://www.dinorossi.com/index.php
“Rossi on Right? It's Not That Easy: GOP Candidate for Governor Seeks to Appeal to Left, Too”
“In fact, Rossi opposes – with a few caveats – abortion, gay marriage, gun control, government funding of embryonic stem cell research and the further expansion of gay rights.”
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/372945_rossi31.html
“Dino Rossi Stands by Anti-Gay remarks (or does he?)”
“Jill Strait, media spokesperson for the Dino Rossi campaign confirmed, ‘Yes, he would veto a marriage bill. People can pass an initiative if they disagree.’”
http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews36_38/page4.cfm
Joe Manchin (D)
http://www.governormanchin.com/main.cfm?s=manchin
“W.Va. Gov. Rejects Anti-Gay Group Ultimatum”
“West Virginia governor Joe Manchin (D) rejected a Wednesday deadline by a socially conservative group that demanded he recall the legislature to pass a proposed constitutional amendment barring same-sex marriage.”
http://www.365gay.com/news/wva-gov-rejects-anti-gay-group-ultimatum/
Russ Weeks (R)
http://www.russweeks2008.com/
“West Virginia Values”
“For West Virginians, nothing is more precious than faith and family. We need to do more to protect the unborn, strengthen the family unit, and defend the values taught by our faith in God and our traditional, time tested values. Claiming to be pro-family and pro-life is one thing.”
http://www.russweeks2008.com/issueswvvalues.html
By now you’ve researched your choice for President and Governor (if your state is electing a Governor), but it does not stop there. The Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund has announced that it is supporting and endorsing 87 openly LGBT candidates for government office around the country. The Victory Fund endorses qualified, committed openly LGBT candidates of major and third party candidates. The candidates range from local Commissioners to State Representatives. Please note that the National Youth Advocacy Coalition does not make political candidate or party endorsements and is providing this link for nonpartisan educational purposes.
Check here for openly LGBT candidates endorsed by the Victory Fund in your state.
Please note that the National Youth Advocacy Coalition provides all of the information and links contained on this page for nonpartisan educational purposes. NYAC in no way endorses the views or opinions of any of the above projects, organizations or candidates.
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