Forget the White House for a sec. Where do your local candidates stand on GLBT issues?

[rucky]

If they take a stance at all, what is it? Is it worth supporting? Any key endorsements?

Here's my Dem candidate, Justin Coussoule, who's challenging John Boehner:

Q: You seem to have avoided talking about divisive wedge issues. Is that intentional?

Justin: It is to an extent. When I am asked directly by people, where do you stand on abortion or gay marriage or gun rights, I will give an answer. We have to be a little bit strategic as a campaign. I don’t post banners on those issues on my website, but I don’t hide from them. I don’t want to give that to Republicans. I don’t want to let them take initiative on them and let them make them what this election is about. I think that’s a trap we fall into as Democrats, letting discussion swirl around gay marriage and abortion, when what affects people’s lives is bread-and-butter issues. Unemployment in the 8th district is 13%. Why don’t we talk about that rather than abortion?

I’ve been asked on occasion, more so by progressives who I think want to confirm I am not a Blue Dog, are you pro-choice, are you for human rights? I think in economic times like this that are even more pronounced in this district, those are the issues that are on peoples’ minds...

Q: Where do you stand on those social issues for those that want to know?

Justin: I’m for equal rights. I support right of gay and lesbian people to marry, no exceptions or parameters. I think we need to eliminate DADT. As far as abortion, I have no idea what a woman goes through to come to that decision. Gratefully my wife and I have never had to make that decision. When a woman does, hopefully with counsel of family and doctor and significant other, I hope they’re safe, legal and increasingly rare. If you want a soundbite answer, I am pro-choice. We need to embrace policies that embrace and support life, not just before birth but care for children at every level. That’s where I get very frustrated with the other side.

http://www.ohiodailyblog.com/content/conversation-justin-coussoule-part-two

[MineralMan]

1. The ones I support are all for full equality.

I'm lucky in where I live. Not everyone is so lucky.

[ruggerson]

2. Both Senators, Governor and rep

are all pro-marriage equality.

[MountainLaurel]

3. Mine are the sort

Who secretly want gay people to be sent away to an island somewhere.

[Unvanguard]

4. Joe Sestak has a nonsensical split-the-difference civil unions stance

but is otherwise quite good; he has a 96% rating from the HRC and is a co-sponsor of the Respect for Marriage Act.

Dan Onorato (gubernatorial candidate in PA) supports "civil unions and domestic partnerships" (*sigh*), but had a good anti-discrimination record as Allegheny County Executive.

The Democrat running for the House is an opponent of Don't Ask Don't Tell and a supporter of civil unions, but I don't know much else about his stances, though I've looked.

[treestar]

5. Delaware:

LGBT for Chris Coons
Chris has always been a supporter of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community here in Delaware. As County Executive, he created an external Diversity Commission that reviews county policies and practices and includes a representative from the LGBT community. Chris has also ensured domestic partnership benefits in New Castle County government and supported LGBT issues debated in the state legislature. If elected to the US Senate, he will continue fighting for LGBT issues such as: marriage equality for all Americans, repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and the Defense of Marriage Act, and supporting the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) and Uniting American Families Act (UAFA).
http://www.chriscoons.com/communities/lgbt/

John Carney

Should Don't Ask, Don't Tell be abandoned as a policy?
CARNEY: “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” should be repealed. There should be no discrimination against anyone -- especially those brave individuals who are fighting for our country.

We also can’t afford to turn away the thousands of patriotic gay Americans who want to protect America at a time of such turmoil in the world.
http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20101021/NEWS/310210018/-1/NEWS12/John-Carney-on-the-issues

[rucky]

6. kick

[liberalhistorian]

7. Well, I live in South Dakota, which should

be pretty self-explanatory right there in terms of an answer. Sigh.