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Thanks to each of you who voted this year. I would also like to extend a
big thank you to all of the volunteers who worked so hard to bring about
a change in this election – those who worked to register voters, to
enter information in our database, and the over 300 volunteers who came
to the GLBT Action Center at Lyndale United Church of Christ yesterday.
We made a difference. Voter registration and turnout has never been
higher. Despite the discouraging news (from a GLBT perspective) at the
national level we will be facing the 2006 elections with a stronger,
better organized, and more coordinated progressive movement than ever
before. We will continue to fight, and we will fight harder.
The Bad News
Late this morning, Senator John Kerry conceded the race to President
George Bush. While I know that some of you getting this may have voted
for President Bush, it is important to recognize that on the issue of
GLBT rights, he is not our friend. In fact, he supports the Federal
Marriage Amendment barring legal recognition of same-sex relationships.
He has used his support of it in his campaign to stir up anti-GLBT
sentiment across the country in an effort to secure the votes of those
extremists who might not otherwise have voted. Among other things, he
has never supported the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, he has not
advocated for increases in federal spending for HIV prevention and the
care and treatment of people with HIV/AIDS, he opposes allowing same-sex
couples to adopt, and he supports the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.
Yesterday, eleven states voted for constitutional amendments barring
legal recognition of same-sex marriage. In eight of those states, the
amendments were broader and bar legal recognition of same-sex
relationships – period. This calls into question civil unions, domestic
partner benefits, and potentially other legal bonds between same-sex
couples. Those supporting these measures did so by warning of the
involvement of "activist judges" in determining the course of
same-sex
marriage. Ironically, many of these constitutional amendments will end
up in court anyway.
The Good News
Despite the disturbing results of yesterday's election, there are
indications that the tide is changing in favor of GLBT rights. This
morning, I learned from Cheryl Jacques of the Human Rights Campaign –
that exit polling from yesterday indicates that 61% of respondents
support some type of legal recognition for same-sex couples. While they
are not supporting marriage, they are supporting legal recognition of
some sort. This is a huge step from four years ago and indicates what we
have accomplished by continuing to come out and generating community
conversation about our relationships and our families.
Here in Minnesota, we have really positive news. The Minnesota House of
Representatives has had a significant shift in this election. Thirteen
incumbent candidates who voted against us on the proposed constitutional
amendment were defeated. And, even more encouraging is the news that all
but one of the incumbents who voted with us on the constitutional
amendment won their campaign for re-election (the one exception – Rep.
Jim Rhodes, St. Louis Park was defeated by a candidate who is equally
GLBT supportive – Steve Simon). Clearly, Minnesota's voters are voting
for fairness for all Minnesotans.
We are very pleased with the outcome of the 56 endorsed candidates of
OutFront Minnesota Action (the PAC connected to OutFront Minnesota).
Thirty-eight (68%) of our endorsees won.
The Fight Continues
We at OutFront Minnesota, look forward to working with all of you this
year and next. We are so very proud to work in a community that can turn
out 300+ people to Get Out the Vote; 3,000 people for OutFront
Minnesota's GLBT Lobby Day when the state human rights statute is
challenged; and 4,000 the next year when an anti-marriage constitutional
amendment is proposed for the ballot. In all cases, all of us working
together were able to defeat those measures.
We still have a lot of work to do, and OutFront Minnesota will work to
keep you informed. We will continue to update you with regular emails
and keep our website current with up-to-date information. Be sure to
watch for information about our Lobby Day, to be held mid-winter.
When we all work together – we can make a JustFair community for
everyone in Minnesota.
Ann M. DeGroot, Executive Director
OutFront Minnesota |
