Gays for Howard Dean: Quite comfortable

[Scott Lee]

Here is how "uncomfortable" Howard Dean is around the gay issue. Obviously Gays were not too uncomfortable in throwing their early support behind one of their staunchest defenders.
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Dean's quick start due to gay support
Early backers moved by tie to civil union law

Thomas B. Edsall, Washington Post Friday, January 2, 200



Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean's record-setting fund raising first took off in large part because of an outpouring of support from the gay community.

With just one exception, every fund-raiser Dean attended outside Vermont in 2002 was organized by gay men and lesbians, as were more than half the events in the first quarter of 2003, according to Dean advisers.

"The early foundation of Governor Dean's presidential campaign -- both in fund raising and organization -- was built by the support of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community around the country," said Dean finance director Stephanie Schriock.

The gay community "was the first to recognize Dean's strength of character after his leadership on Vermont's civil union legislation, and because of that, they were the first to open up their homes for events and ask their friends and colleagues to give money to this endeavor," she added.



more here -> http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2004/01/02/MNG8G426QI1.DTL

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While the politics surrounding the issue made Governor Dean "uncomfortable" (no small surprise with incidents like the Mathew Sheppard killing still fresh in the national psyche), The Governor has never shyed from standing up for Gay rights and recognition as equal contributing members to society.

Me? I'm very comfortable with that.

[molly]

1. What is different about his politics vs other DEM candidates?

please detail.

[Scott Lee]

2. Did Kerry sign a Civil Unions bill as governor?

Oh gosh, he didn't!

Next...

[windansea]

7. in a closet n/t

[molly]

9. You need to do your candidate homework

although Kerry was never a govenor, he did support gays for at least a decade longer than you "govenor" candidate.

[Scott Lee]

12. So you agree with me. Thank you.

Kerry never signed any pro-Gay legislation into law.

[Bombtrack]

19. That's probably because Mike Dukakis didn't bite it before Kerry ran

for senate, thus going to federal office and making decisions that directly affect 280 million people and indirectly 6 billion people instead of stewing in Montpelier and ruling over way too few people for his huge ego like the good doctor

[Bombtrack]

18. Kerry was never a governor

. Or should I say, he was never a governor of a state while that state's supreme court made a ruling requiring some form of domestic partnerships for homosexuals.

[quaker bill]

17. Kerry did nothing that involved personal or political risk.

Dean did.

[Scott Lee]

20. And that, good friend, is the greatest distinction between them

[Bombtrack]

25. Kerry faught in a war that he apposed so people like Dean didn't have to

And from what I here, some people actually got hurt in that little skurmish

But your right, that was nothing compared to the armageddon of death-threats in Vermont

[BobbyJay]

3. Gays for Dean!! Onward to victory!!

Howard Dean landslide 2004!!!!

[tedoll78]

4. My partner and I..

support him.

The man had to wear a bulletproof vest for signing that bill. He could've called the state Supreme Court's bluff and refuse to sign it, but he did anyway. That's courage.

Having said this, I think ALL of the candidates are good on gay rights issues. All would appoint high-quality Supreme Court justices. All would sign non-discrimination legislation. All would seek to end Don't Ask-Don't Tell. All would support hate crimes legislation. I just think that Dean has the best chance of beating Bush. That's all. If others differ with me in that opinion, I'm perfectly fine with that; you won't find me picking a fight here. And I gravely hope that we all unite after the nomination is decided, no matter who it may be.

[jonnyblitz]

27. I am gay and a Desert Storm Vet for Dean. n/t

[Democrats unite]

5. It is safe to say He does not have the Gay vote locked up

I happen to be Gay and know quite a few that are supporting Clark, and even More supporting Mary Mosley Braun.

[Dookus]

6. this gay man...

isn't supporting him either. I want a real liberal - Wesley Clark.

[mzmolly]

10. "Real Liberals" voted for Reagan, Bush 1 and Nixon?

huh? Interesting new perspective.

[Dookus]

11. Try

to find something from within the last 15 years.

Instead of raising that silly canard again, why not find some real ISSUES to discuss?

[Democrats unite]

15. Ok they want to go back that far lets talk Dean the Draft Dodger.

eom

[Dookus]

16. Nope...

I wouldn't do that. Because they do it doesn't mean we should. Dean did not dodge the draft. Nor did he serve. People can make of that what they want. *I* am not going to raise it, and I don't think you should, either.

I'm hoping to raise the level of discourse here, not get into a tit-for-tat.

[Scott Lee]

21. POOP.

[mzmolly]

8. Thanks Scott...

http://www.jfklibrary.net/pica_essay_winner_2001_dziczek.html

Here is a nice essay that you may have seen on the subject of Dean and Civil Unions.

"An unlikely gay rights advocate, Dean seemed politically infallible. The Yale graduate assumed the Governor’s position in 1991 and over 9 years developed every politician’s ideal resume. Dean made Vermont the forerunner in welfare and health care reform and made it first, nationally, in childhood immunizations. Dean also eliminated his state’s sixty-four million dollar deficit and still managed to cut taxes. No one was surprised that Dean won reelections easily with seventy percent of the vote (State of Vermont). With his performance and popularity as governor, he could have run for President. Why did Howard Dean risk his political future with the signing of one bill?"

[Scott Lee]

13. Great essay, mzmolly. Thanks for posting.

But you know....this might just show that some Dean detractors are "uncomfortable" with the facts about Howard Dean and support for the Gay community.

*snicker*

[beyurslf]

14. I co host the meetups here in Wichita.

My other host os also gay. I would estimate we have at least 4-5 other queers in the meetings every month (out of 30-40).

[molly]

23. Are you saying that Howard Dean is the ONLY candidate

supporting gays? I don't think so!

[Bombtrack]

22. So in other words, Dean is milking that about-face on gay issues

from it being a thorn in his side, to revisionist history as a gay-rights champion. But I know I know, some screwball called in a death threat so that makes him Ghandi

[molly]

24. WTF are you talking about?

[Bombtrack]

26. talking about a typo

I put the name of an american hero substituted for a complete asshole, my bad

[molly]

28. Sorry..

:hug:

[Moderator]

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