GLBT issues should be taken into account
What is going on in some citizens’ bedrooms is once again coming
under the legislative microscope.
The rights afforded to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and
transgender population in America is a highly controversial issue.
With the election nearing, some voters will be considering this
issue when choosing their presidential candidate.
“It’s definitely an issue that has to be considered,” said
sophomore Stephanie Gibbs, a political science major. “There are
other issues that I rank ahead of it, but it’s definitely an issue
I am considering going into the election.”
Beyond individual voters, GLBT organizations also feel that gay
rights are an issue that will heavily influence voters at the
polls.
“I think that gay rights, and gay marriage, are a huge issue
coming into this year’s election,” said Randy McCrillis, director
of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Student Services. “The
candidate elected this year, Kerry or Bush, will have a huge effect
on the future of gay rights.”
Although the economy, health care and the war in Iraq have been
some of the main focuses of this year’s campaigns, some students,
such as sophomore Matt Leigh, said candidates are weary of the
negative implications from taking a stance on the issue of gay
rights.
“It’s one of those issues that divide the voting population,”
said Leigh, a natural resource management major. “And neither
candidate wants to add another issue that may cause them to lose
votes in the upcoming election.”
Both candidates were forced to address the issue of GLBT rights,
and more specifically the topic of gay marriage, during the last
presidential debate.
“In a free society people, consenting adults, can live the way
they want to live,” President Bush said in the debate. “And that’s
to be honored. But, I believe in the sanctity of marriage, I think
it’s very important that we protect marriage as an institution,
between a man and a woman.”
Sen. John Kerry echoed Bush’s sentiments regarding the sanctity
of marriage, but he refuted the president’s desire to amend the
Constitution to further define marriage.
“The president and I share the belief that marriage is between a
man and a woman,” Kerry said. “I believe marriage is between a man
and a woman. But I also believe that because we are the United
States of America, we’re a country with a great, unbelievable
Constitution, with rights that we afford people, that you can’t
discriminate. You can’t discriminate in the rights that you afford
people.”
Although Kerry said he does not support gay marriage, he states
on his Web site, www.johnkerry.com, that homosexuals should be
granted benefits that heterosexual couples receive through
marriage, including access to pensions, health insurance, family
medical leave, bereavement leave, hospital visitation, survivor
benefits and other basic legal protections.
Bush’s official Web site, www.georgebush.com, does not contain
any information on his stance on civil unions or benefits he
believes should be granted to homosexual couples.
Beyond the presidential candidates themselves, the two major
political parties do not have an official stance on gay
marriage.
“The Republican Party does not support any legislation (on gay
marriage),” Bill Ray, spokesman for the Colorado Republican Party
said. “It is based on individual legislators, not the party
itself.”
Chris Gates, chairman of the Colorado Democratic Party, agreed
with Ray
“It’s an incredibly nuanced issue,” Gates said. “We do not,
however, believe that it is fair or right for one group of people
to be discriminated against based on their beliefs.”
Although gay rights and gay marriage are not currently regarded
as the primary issue of this election, McCrillis does not feel its
significance will be lost in the coming years.
“Gay rights will continue to be an issue in the future,”
McCrillis said, “(Gay rights are) an issue that will only gain
momentum and influence in the coming years.”
Despite the two parties’ stances on gay marriage, voters such as
Leigh feel that they will be forced to address the issue in the
future.
“It’s an issue that needs to be addressed as time goes on,”
Leigh said. “Homosexuals are a significant segment of our
population, and their needs need to be addressed.”
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.