"The incoming VP now works for a pro-gay boss": Gay Republicans say LGBT fears over Trump and...

[DonViejo]

“The incoming VP now works for a pro-gay boss”: Gay Republicans say LGBT fears over Trump and Pence are overblown

Salon talked to gay Republican activists about why Donald Trump is an LGBT ally and Mike Pence is not a threat

CARRIE SHEFFIELD

Many LGBT activists are expressing fear and anxiety about gay rights under the Trump administration, worried that long-fought progress would be rolled back by traditional conservatives. Yet gay Republicans and their allies say these fears appear to be overblown.

“The one area of civil rights where Trump was a pioneer was gay rights,” said Rich Tafel, who founded the Log Cabin Republicans in 1993. “He has clearly had gay friends and mentors in his life and he simply doesn’t see it as an issue. Mitt Romney, who was gay supportive when I met with him in his 1996 race, shifted gears when he ran for president.”

Tafel says it would have been easy for Trump to do the same. Instead, he pointed out, Trump mentioned LGBT rights in his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, and thanked attendees who applauded for supporting his statement.

“In addition, he had the first openly gay speaker to acknowledge he’s gay (PayPal founder Peter Thiel) speak moments before his acceptance speech. That’s pretty radical considering the hall was anti-gay,” said Tafel. “Later on his campaign tour, he waved a gay flag from the podium. When he did his first interview after the election on 60 Minutes, he refused to take the bait on being anti-gay marriage. Being pro-gay seems to be one thing he holds as a core principle.”

more
http://www.salon.com/2016/12/18/the-incoming-vp-now-works-for-a-pro-gay-boss-gay-republicans-say-lgbt-fears-over-trump-and-pence-are-overblown/

[JHan]

1. "I have black friends" ....etc

[AgadorSparticus]

11. Exactly!

[Ace Rothstein]

2. He's really surrounded himself by a lot of anti-LQBTQ people in his cabinet.

We'll see how it goes.

[hlthe2b]

3. Even if that assessment WERE true (which I highly doubt...)

For the life of me, I have never understood the compartmentalization that some engage in, with respect to their own key issue, versus all the others.

I worry about LGBT equality and protections, though I am not LGBT.

I worry about racial equality and justice, though I am not a person of color.

I worry about the plight of recent immigrants, though I am not Latino nor a recent "arrival"

I worry about ensuring the fair treatment of Muslims, though I am not Muslim

I worry about the plight of transexuals, though I am not transexual

I worry about the future of our children, though I do not have children


And, yes, I worry deeply about the plight of women and gender equality/respect and I am a women.. But I still am capable of worry about ensuring fairness for all, including those who have traditionally been the more privileged race and gender--but not at the expense of all others, though I am not a white male


I have always taken great offense at those who worry ONLY about the issue that affects them most deeply. With so many of us at risk, it is way past time for that to STOP. We have to fight for everyone. These Log Cabin Rebuplicans epitomize the former and should be soundly derided IMO>

[smirkymonkey]

28. +1000

[bullwinkle428]

4. The very definition of "whistling past the graveyard".

[Randomthought]

5. Well, Rich Tafel

you believe that if it makes you happy. The rest of us know better.

[kevink077]

6. Friend of LGBT? Funny way of showing it.

He will it hard right biblical law nuts on the Supreme Court.

[braddy]

7. In his presidential run in 1999, Trump was to the left of (1999) Hillary and Obama, on gay rights.

In his interview with Tim Russert, he showed support for gays in the military, and seemed OK with gay marriage.

[NYC Liberal]

8. Anyone who chooses Mike Pence is no friend or ally of mine.

Btw, in that video:

- He says it's "too premature" for him to comment on same-sex marriage.
- He says gays serving in the military "wouldn't disturb" him.

Ringing endorsements there.

[braddy]

10. For 1999 that was pretty strong, look at where most democrats were at then.

[Bradical79]

16. Clinton progressed and Trump regressed.

Not sure what point you're trying to make.

[braddy]

17. There isn't a point, merely information related to the OP.

[linuxman]

12. Whatever you do

Don't watch Hillary videos from that period, then.

[NYC Liberal]

13. I'm interested in 2016. The present.

By the way, if Trump actually supported same-sex marriage, then he's gone from supporting it to opposing it (he said categorically that he opposed it in 2011 and is appointing virulently anti-gay Republicans to top jobs), while Hillary progressed from opposing it to supporting it. I'll take the person who progressed over the one who regressed.

[LanternWaste]

24. Of course, that is the critical factor for you.

Of course, that is the critical factor for you. Your consistency is admirable.

[stevenleser]

9. Log Cabins and others thinking about this would do well to consider the SCOTUS and Trump's Picks.

The most important thing out of several things securing LGBT rights at the moment is SCOTUS decisions.

The kinds of judges Trump will appoint are not friendly toward those decisions. Trump can say with a straight face that he respects the current decisions re LGBT rights but he knows full well those decisions will be reversed by the kinds of judges he will appoint.

If you don't think so or don't know, just remember that Trump has said he will appoint far right judges in the mode of Antonin Scalia who are virulently anti-abortion.

Those kinds of people aren't exactly known for being LGBT allies.

[heaven05]

14. well, how many gay people

voted for this clown? 14%%%% percent. That's a lot of people. All minorities who voted for the trumpfuhrer to take over ameriKKKa and make it white again will only have themselves to blame when their fuhrer and his cabinet/administration surrogates turn on them. This election was truly a disaster of EPIC proportion for ALL americans.

[0rganism]

15. pro-gay? really? so far the only pro i've seen from him is pro-Donald J. Trump

maybe gays won't be first on his list of people to throw into the volcano to impress his followers, but they'll be high on the list for his cabinet and scotus picks. enjoy the next four years, Mr. Tafel, i'm sure they'll be very enlightening.

[Behind the Aegis]

18. It's these assholes used by the right, mostly, who will justify anything done to us.

They will also be used by others to show how the GLBT community shouldn't be scared or on alert. I have read other articles and comments, almost always from straight people (the ones who self-identified or didn't ID has GLBT) politely petting our collective heads telling us "it will be OK" or "we are being unrealistic." They have never given two shits about us, or lives, and certainly not our rights, so I am not surprised by their casual dismissal and condescending comments.

[Solly Mack]

19. I think his VP and cabinet picks say otherwise.

Pence is already doing more to govern than his so-called boss, and from everything said, will continue to do more.

Then there are the possible court picks.


So, no.

Or, if they understand it better, nyet.

[Behind the Aegis]

20. Thank you!

You get it!

[DemocratSinceBirth]

21. Let's see what Drumpf does regarding President Obama's executive action expanding glbtq rights.

[Eugene]

22. Trump has not shown a nuts and bolts interest in governing and policy making.

The people he proposes to delegate those tasks to are downright scary.

Jeff Sessions at Justice defending LGBT civil rights? I don't think so.

Betsy DeVos advancing LGBT-inclusive policies at Education? Not going to happen.

There are serious concerns the Mattis will roll back LGBT progress in the military.

Putin-friendly Tillerson at State advocating LGBT rights (or human rights in general)
in our foreign policy? He record at ExxonMobil is justifies deep concern.

[hatrack]

23. Ah, yes, the Log Closet Republicans, desperate for any rationalization they can find . . .

This stance doesn't even rise to the level of "pathetic".

Neither do they.

[edhopper]

25. He endorses

"religious liberty" laws. So that is a big "No".

[no_hypocrisy]

26. Like bargaining with Death

You wish you can change a decision already made.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

27. Log Cabin Republicans... AKA Poster Children for Cognitive Dissonance

[smirkymonkey]

29. One thing is certain - he certainly won't FIGHT for gay rights.

He may not be outwardly hostile to them, but you can't expect a malignant narcissist like Trump to put his neck on the line for anyone if others try to take those rights away.